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Florida Methadone Clinics Serve Many

Posted on March 25, 2011 | Comments Off on Florida Methadone Clinics Serve Many

florida-methadone-3Florida currently hosts opioid treatment clinics in about 30 of its largest and most popular cities. The state is ranked 4th nationally in population with an estimated 18.6 million people residing in The Sunshine State. As is typically the case, the number of suboxone-approved physicians considerably outnumber actual “clinics” that dispense methadone or suboxone. The Miami area, for example, has about 60 such suboxone-approved doctors treating opioid addicted persons.

Florida is one of the most visited states in America as a vacation destination, and attracts millions of visitors annually from all around the world. For opioid treatment clients traveling to Florida, guest dosing is a common occurrence and relatively easy to set-up. This is usually accomplished by speaking to one’s primary counselor (or possibly the dispensing nurse) at one’s home clinic.

The staff at the home clinic must fax a request for guest dosing to the travel destination clinic. Bear in mind that many clinics require at least 72 hours advance notice to arrange for guest dosing, and a client must always produce a picture idea at the travel clinic verifying their identity in order to receive medication. Guest clinics typically charge a little more than normal dosing fees due to the administrative time & expense involved in setting up a visitor’s guest dosing.

For a complete listing of Methadone.US Florida cities, visit our Methadone Clinics By State page. There, you will find a number of Florida hot spots with methadone clinics and Suboxone (buprenorphine) providers listed near the bottom of each city page. Also see the page, Florida Methadone Clinics.

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Posted in Addiction Recovery, Buprenorphine, Florida Methadone Clinics, Methadone, Methadone Guest Dosing, Methadone Programs, Methadone Treatment, Opiate Treatment, Recovery

Methadone is Not Meth or Methamphetamine

Posted on March 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Methadone is Not Meth or Methamphetamine

methadone-medicationI was speaking with someone the other day about methadone and they asked me if methadone was the same thing as “meth”. They had heard about “meth labs” on the news and people being arrested for manufacturing “meth” in their homes to sell illegally on the street. This individual was wondering if “meth” and methadone were the same thing. They are not!

“Meth” is a slang term often used in print and TV media to refer to the illegal drug crystal methamphetamine. Crystal meth is a highly addictive stimulant drug that can lead to devastating effects for its users (paranoia, hallucinations, heart attack, stroke, and death). Addiction often develops rapidly, and users are left with severe depression and fatigue as they crash following use of the drug. Crystal methamphetamine wreaks havoc on the brain’s neurotransmitters, and it is estimated that around 20% of those who abuse it develop psychotic symptoms similar in appearance to schizophrenia.

Unfortunately, crystal methamphetamine can be manufactured relatively easily. Consequently, it has sprung up around the country as small home operations began to make and sell the drug for easy profit.

It is easy to see how the general public could confuse methadone and “meth”, not realizing they are completely different substances. It is important that people understand the two have no connection, and that “meth labs” are referring specifically to the illegal production of crystal methamphetamine, not methadone.

Methadone is a leading medication-of-choice in the treatment of opioid addiction. As stated on this site numerous times, methadone is one of the most well-researched medications in history with a proven track record of efficacy in helping opioid dependent individuals avoid illicit opiate use and live productive lives.

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Posted in Addiction Recovery, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Safety, Methadone Treatment

Methadone Plus Counseling Equals Treatment

Posted on March 16, 2011 | Comments Off on Methadone Plus Counseling Equals Treatment

methadonetruthThe two primary components of opioid addiction treatment are opioid replacement therapy (methadone or suboxone) and behavioral health counseling. Each of these therapeutic interventions address very different aspects of one’s addiction. And one intervention, without the other, is generally not sufficient to promote lasting recovery from opioid addiction. Both must work in unison to produce meaningful, lasting change.

When entering treatment, most clients are initially very focused on their physiological dependency to opioids and the associated withdrawal symptoms that emerge when their drug supply runs out. Recurrent opioid withdrawal takes priority over most all other considerations. Consequently, addicted people place much emphasis on their methadone dose due to its ability to provide relief from painful opioid withdrawal. There is such a clear connection between methadone dosing and symptom relief that clients often assume that dosing alone is the complete answer to their addiction problem.

However, this is a false & inaccurate conclusion. Real recovery involves not just the absence of withdrawal symptoms, but deliberate changes in thinking, attitude, and behavior. Without improvements in these areas, a majority of clients will relapse again and again, and consequently be unable to sustain progress over time.

There is an old saying in the recovery field that goes “You can’t go back to being the same person you were … because that person became addicted.” What is meant by this is that one cannot afford to remain stuck with the same old ways of thinking and living. It was those old ways that led down the addiction path. In order to experience lasting quality recovery, one must adopt new approaches to living and coping with life. It is the development of these new approaches, skills, and tools that will allow a person to deal with life using healthy methods … instead of drugs.

Counseling not only teaches key skills for managing life, but aids clients in developing inner resources that will empower them to achieve new things that were previously not attainable. Many clients dedicated to personal recovery become much more complete people, more capable, and ultimately more satisfied. Addiction sucks the life out of individuals day by day, but recovery brings people back in contact with life & opportunity, and opens doors that were previously shut tight. Counseling is an extremely important piece of the recovery puzzle. Counseling facilitates positive change and positive results.

Use counseling to learn more about yourself. It will allow you to become better educated on managing the disease of addiction, and it will strengthen you in numerous ways, if you let it.

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Posted in Addiction Counseling, Addiction Recovery, Buprenorphine, Drug Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Programs, Methadone Success, Methadone Treatment, Opiate Treatment, Relapse Prevention, Suboxone

Balanced News on Methadone Treatment Benefits

Posted on March 13, 2011 | Comments Off on Balanced News on Methadone Treatment Benefits

methadone-clinic-4The Kitsap Sun, a newspaper based out of Bremerton Washington, has published an article on the advantages of methadone replacement therapy in dealing with Washington State’s opioid addiction problem. The article reporter is Josh Farley, and he did a nice job of presenting the facts around methadone’s benefits.

Josh interviewed Ron Jackson, the Executive Director of Evergreen Treatment Services, an opioid treatment clinic in Seattle, Washington. In the article (and embedded video), Mr. Jackson describes how methadone treatment incorporates counseling, and is not just medication-assistance alone. The general tone of the article was fair and fact-based, and it recognized the various ways in which methadone treatment participation helps to stabilize addicted individuals’ lives. Articles of this nature are a welcome relief from the fear mongering that some media outlets resort to when referencing methadone.

For the Kitsap Sun report, several methadone clients came forward to share details of their lives & addictions, and to specifically address how utilizing methadone provides needed support in becoming free of illicit drugs. The Kitsap Sun article pointed to an increase in methadone program enrollment in recent years estimating that about 270,000 patients are presently participating in methadone maintenance nationally. Another opioid treatment advocate was quoted as saying there are approximately 1200 methadone clinics operating in the United States.

These growing numbers indicate the value of methadone treatment in America. People with opioid dependencies need interventions that are effective and life-altering. Methadone works. Thanks to the Kitsap Sun for their journalistic integrity, and for their interest in portraying opioid addiction treatment in a fair & balanced light.

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Posted in Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Blog, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone News, Methadone Programs, Methadone Treatment, Opiate Addiction, Opiate Treatment

Methadone Treatment Clients Aim For Better Lives

Posted on March 12, 2011 | Comments Off on Methadone Treatment Clients Aim For Better Lives

methadone-recoveryI just read a news article about a proposed methadone clinic that is being met with community resistance, this time in Dade County, Georgia. The county is located in the northwestern tip of the state, and would provide treatment to people living in north Georgia, southern Tennessee, and northeastern Alabama.

Somewhat disturbing were several comments by readers of the article in which the proposed clinic was forecasted to be harmful to the community. One person wrote that clinics “do not help people”, and another writer stated that the clinic “would bring more unsavory characters into the county.”

A second article on the Dade County clinic, with an accompanying news video, showed an interview with a local store manager in a neighboring county. This store manager is located across the street from an existing methadone clinic. In the interview, the man said “Keep you eyes open and your ears open and watch out for people … because that (methadone) is some bad stuff.” The TV interviewer then asked the man had he observed any problems related to the clinic’s operation and he responded “I’ve not noticed any real bad things or anything happening around here.” He then goes on to say later in the interview “They’re (methadone clients) not causing any trouble.”

The TV interviewer for News Channel 9 also added that a number of local people she had interviewed for the piece (who did not want to appear on camera) confirmed that the clinic “had not had a negative impact on the area.”

This exemplifies the irrational fear & unjustified public condemnation of methadone that is often the norm in small communities. The reality is that the store owner referenced above had not seen anything troubling (per his own account), and the others interviewed said the clinic had brought no negative impact to the area. Think about that.

These community members, many of whom are obviously harboring unwarranted fears and suspicions, would most likely change their opinion of methadone clinics & methadone clients if they could simply meet them. The condemnation of those we do not know is an age-old problem, as are hate, harsh judgment, and fear of the unknown.

Discrimination is something that Americans have faced before. Discrimination against addicted people seeking help is sort of odd logic. Most people seem to believe that addiction is something far away and removed from their communities and their lives. But it isn’t.

Importantly, methadone maintenance blocks the effects of other opiates, stops withdrawal sickness, helps addicted people feel better emotionally, and allows them to go to work, raise their families, pay their mortgage, and become productive again. That clinic across the street is not a drug haven. It is a place where people, with good intentions and genuine hope, begin to reclaim their lives. They’re willing to step onto a new path leading to a drug free life. Is this really so terrible?

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Posted in Drug Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Programs, Methadone Treatment, NIMBY