Methadone-Right or Wrong?

[admin]

Now that can be a hot topic. Many may choose to stay away from this topic, but it is one that must be addressed if we are going to have a forum on addictions.

Some will argue that methadone is a great option for those who are trying to quit opiates. Others will say it should not be an option. Most are probably in the middle. Addicts, counselors, recovered addicts, society itself will have varying opinions. So, jump in, share your opinion. We will certainly be sharing our own viewpoints on this subject based upon our own experiences of working with addicts for several years. As time has gone by our perspective has solidified.

It would be great to have some share who have been on methadone, are on methadone, quit opiates without methadone.

[lmdubois]

This is certainly an issue that one could be on both sides of the fence. For the most part methadone has been proven to be good for the community. Statistics on both crime and HIV bare out that methadone is effective in lowering these social ills. I don't think it is a long-term solution for the addict themselves. Bye the way I have been on the methadone program and I also quit heroin without methadone. I went "cold turkey" in jail. It was terrible but very effective. Had I been offered methadone upon entering the jail as a means to deal with my heroin addiction I would have taken it in a heart beat. I was going through withdrawals and would not have refused it. I am glad it was not available to me. Most people I know swear they will one day wean off of methadone, but they never do and they may be on it for the rest of their lives. I do know of one person who got off methadone.

[admin]

By own experiences of working with addicts is that methadone programs do reduce crime and the cost to society. Those who I have known that use methadone properly instead of heroin (it is still drug use, though legal if dispensed through a methadone clinic), are no longer purse snatchers, shoplifters, not going to the hospital for overdoses or abscesses, etc. Some of them even get a job and would be considered productive citizens of society.

However, that does not mean there is no cost to society. Many methadone users are getting the methadone for free (paid by society). Many of the methadone users I know have never dealt with the addiction issue, so they are addicted to methadone. They are taking excessive doses of methadone (paid by you and me), have an addict mindset, and walking zombies. So, it may be better for society, but I am not convinced that methadone treatment is best for most individuals. Actually I do not even like the term treatment. They are treating addicts by using methadone. They are providing addicts a legal drug regardless if the person wants to be treated for addiction or not. Many times I believe methadone clinics are drug suppliers rather than rehabilitators. If they are truly trying to help a person, why is it that most clinics will allow people to go on such high doses of methadone that it makes it almost impossible for a person to quit methadone? I will share more on that topic at a later date.

I will say that there are people I know that are alive because of methadone. And if a person is alive, they are a person who has a chance to know Jesus as their Savior, and to become truly free from ALL addictions.

In another post I will share how I believe methadone could be used effectively in regards to drug treatment in instead of drug supplier.

[admin]

On Saturday May 29, Larry and I will be talking about methadone on the There is Hope Radio show. Tune in on KGNW 820 AM at 7 p.m. if you are in the Seattle area. You can also listen live by going to http://www.kgnw.com.
You can listen to the podcast at: http://www.thereishoperadio.org/archives/