Category Archives: Methadone

Opioid Addiction the Unwanted Companion

methadone91Many decent people have wondered how they ended up in the middle of an opioid addiction. Looking back, they retrace their past wishing they could undo some steps along the way. Facing opioid dependency becomes its own exhausting daily routine. Thinking about the past hurts, and looking forward brings worry. So one sits in the moment feeling a certain pain that just won't go away.

As addiction and its related problems fester, and infiltrate the important aspects of one's life, worry and anxiety become familiar feelings. These painful feelings will deepen addiction for some people as they become paralyzed with indecision and regret. Many fall further into their opioid dependency as they numb the pain with more drug use. This, of course, is not the answer.

If change is to occur, there are decisions which the addicted person must make. Addiction can be a devastating illness, yes. But addiction is also treatable, and this must never be forgotten. The progressive nature of opiate addiction means that the addiction worsens over time (progresses) unless the addicted individual does something to arrest the disease progression.

This is where treatment enters the picture. Many lives have been saved, and futures restored, by simply making the decision to get help. Getting help means accepting responsibility for choosing, and then staying the course. Methadone treatment programs, and other treatment options, are available. Treatment, and recovery, are not easy. But they are definitely worth the effort. Recovery brings light, opens doors, and reconnects one to the things that make life worthwhile again. This is the promise of recovery.

Seeking treatment may require some patience. Do not get discouraged. Sometimes, asking someone to help you find treatment resources can go a long way. Remember, you are worth it. And things can change. Methadone, suboxone, detox, inpatient rehab, and other treatment interventions are available. Step onto a new path.

Benzodiazepine and Methadone Considerations

safetyAnxiolytics are a frequently prescribed classification of drugs that are utilized to reduce anxiety and which may provide some anticonvulsant benefits for those at risk of seizure. The most common of this class are benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin, or Librium. These medications have helped many people who suffer with generalized anxiety or panic disorder.

However, there is some consensus that benzodiazepines are over-prescribed. They are typically provided on a short-term basis only since tolerance & dependency can develop with prolonged use. Of particular concern to opioid treatment providers is the potential for fatal overdose when "benz" medications are taken in conjunction with methadone.

This is a delicate issue in that many methadone clinics have adopted a policy that disallows any use of benzodiazepines while a client is receiving methadone. This decision came about several years ago, as a safety measure, when a number of client deaths occurred tied specifically to benzodiazepine and methadone use combined.

It must be said that there are methadone patients who have received & taken benzodiazepine medication responsibly and experienced no problem. But the medical and addiction treatment community have recognized a significant risk associated with the mixture of these two potent medications. Ultimately, a program's physician is the one who bears responsibility for which medications can be safely administered. When benzodiazepines are determined to be "too risky", this can leave a methadone patient feeling defenseless & concerned about their ability to manage their chronic anxiety. No doubt, unmanaged co-occurring disorders (and uncomfortable associated symptoms) can put clients at increased risk of drug relapse.

It is very important that treatment providers (opioid programs) give their clients ample support & alternative options for coping with their anxiety. There are non-addictive medications-of-choice for treating anxiety such as Buspar, and also a variety of cognitive-behavioral approaches that help clients learn to moderate their anxiety symptoms using newly developed skills.

In the end, opioid program clients put their trust in the expertise of the clinic physicians & staff who aim to help them. Sometimes, there is no perfect answer. And clinic staff must base a treatment decision on maximum client safety as well as factoring in liability concerns that could even jeopardize the clinic's existence. Benzodiazepines will remain a high priority topic for some time to come. They too, like methadone, are helpful medications. They too, like methadone, must be closely monitored and used appropriately.

Methadone Clinic Jobs

client78Methadone.US aims to serve a number of different purposes, including: educating the public on medication-assisted treatment, helping people to find methadone clinics & buprenorphine providers, and encouraging opioid dependent persons to commit to the recovery process as soon as possible.

You may have noticed that in addition to the above, Methadone.US has incorporated an employment section to aid professionals in locating job positions in the opioid treatment field. The job postings are updated daily, and highlight employment opportunities across the entire United States.

Our site is growing. Presently, contact information for methadone clinics and buprenorphine providers is being added daily to the Methadone.US database. More specialty sections and physician article feeds are soon to come such that site visitors can find new information & perspectives with each visit to the site.

It is estimated that over 2 million people in America are struggling with an opiate abuse or dependency issue. This number does not include their family members, their employers, the legal system, and beyond. All totaled, the presence & impact of opioid addiction on society is quite large. Hopefully, Methadone.US will help to make a difference … one person at a time. Thanks for visiting the site today. Your feedback is always welcomed on how we may improve.

Methadone Clinics in the Community

client79Methadone clinics provide a vital medical service to those with an opioid addiction. However, many people in society have a distorted view of what a methadone clinic represents. Clinics almost always operate smoothly and quietly while blending into the background of the communities in which they are located.

A recent article highlights the irrational fear, and obvious bias, that some uninformed individuals hold toward those in methadone treatment. Habit OPCO Inc. sought to open a clinic in Dunmore, PA but received considerable opposition even though the proposed site for the clinic was located in a commercial zone.

In reference to the proposed clinic, the town of Dunmore instituted an ordinance requiring that a methadone clinic not be constructed within a half mile of a church, school, playground, day care, senior center, charitable institution, liquor store, or any hotel that serves alcohol. These prohibitions show a serious degree of paranoia which only perpetuates unrealistic stereotypes of those who seek methadone treatment as a service.

Habit OPCO have challenged Dunmore's ordinance citing its discriminatory nature and that Dunmore are placing conditions on methadone clinics that are not applied to other medical facilities and services.

The stigma around methadone clinics, and their clients, is unfair and unjustified. Communities are actually safer when life saving treatments are made available to those with an opioid addiction. There is no reason for any community leader to take an alarmist position in regard to the opening of a methadone clinic. People with an addiction who are seeking help should not be discriminated against. In time, this will change. Fortunately, it already has in some communities.

Read the position of Methadone.US, here -> "A Message to the Community"

Methadone Resources and Answers

methadone82Interest in methadone as an opioid addiction treatment is continuing to grow. Many of the phone calls that clinics receive are based on direct word-of-mouth recommendations from current clients & former clients. I often perform telephone and walk-in triage for clients seeking methadone treatment at one of our local clinics. A majority of these individuals report prior efforts to address their addiction through traditional detox and/or intensive outpatient counseling. Some report multiple rounds of inpatient rehab.

I am often impressed with the readiness of callers to try something new. And it's clear that many feel they are running out of options and wondering if any treatment will ever work for them. In discussing methadone as an option, it is important to inform prospective clients that methadone is a powerful opioid replacement therapy, but that it may take several years before one can realistically attempt to taper off of methadone successfully. As treatment professionals, it is important to help educate on both the negative and positive characteristics of treatment choices.

Methadone.US aims to be a high-quality information resource on methadone treatment. There are several other very useful sites online which we recommend: