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Methadone Treatment
December 30th, 2009
Drugs authorized to be legally distributed are present for the purpose of providing health benefits to one’s body. Medical professional prescribe drugs to make their patients feel better. These drugs do not however provide only benefits. These drugs may, for example, help an addict in the detoxification and withdrawal process but these may also in turn become another substance of abuse in the long run. Drugs like these should be prescribed with close and careful guidance by the physician.
A synthetic opioid used to cure individuals suffering from pain is known as methadone. It is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. Heroin gives off an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to call for an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilizing factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behavior and to discontinue heroin use. Methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for about 24 to 36 hours. However, it is only effective in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs. Methadone blocks the high from heroin but it does not provide the euphoric rush.
Through the test of time, methadone has been successful in reducing crime, death, disease, and drug use. For one, methadone is recognized to be the most efficient cure for heroin addiction. It also prevents HIV/AIDS. It may be trivial, but methadone maintenance treatment reduces the occurrence of injecting and needle sharing. Moreover, methadone treatment reduces unlawful behavior and almost eliminates heroin use.
But, just like any other opioid drugs, extensive use of methadone and without correct guidance could possibly lead to tolerance and eventually cause drug dependency. When taken under medical prescription and under a physician’s care, research suggest that long-term methadone maintenance treatment use is medically safe.
The onset of methadone treatment programs is known to be fatal because they are usually a reason of abusive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by concomitant diseases (hepatitis, pneumonia). Methadone generally entails the whole spectrum of opioid side effectswhich includes the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Respiratory depressions are quite harmful. The released histamines can cause hypotension.
Methadone dependency occurs when the body tolerates the substance thus, asking for higher dosage in the long run. And, once the practice is stopped, withdrawal would occur. The physical changes due to the drug are the same to other opiates; suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users feel sick when they first use the drug. A woman using methadone cannot have regular periods but there is still a possibility of conceiving. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours and can stay in your body for several days.
According to an article by two doctors addressing the question, “is methadone more likely to kill you than heroin?”, stated that methadone is not an innocent substance. One’s methadone continuation is another’s poison. Essentially, it depends mainly on the tolerance of the person. A lenient individual could take in methadone without feeling any ill effects, but not a non-tolerant person. Moreover, as a precaution, it is sensible to begin with low dosage and slowly increasing it, if the necessity to use methadone really arise. Also, it was stated in the article that methadone has been used unlawfully in the streets as a substitute for heroin. Thus, causing more death than heroin.
The methadone substance is used to correspond to addiction but tolerance can occur which can lead to one’s dependency upon the substance. That’s the danger of this drug. You think it’s safe but you suddenly becoming dependent to it.
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Vancouver’s landmark heroin study could transform addicts’ lives January 1st, 2010
Good luck with that Vancouver. Most people who are addicted stay addicted until they seek full recovery, Heroin has been around for a long time and will continue to do it’s best for those who suffer from addiction. Methadone pretty much has the same effect . Thinking that we can use Heroin as a source of treatment to me is foolish addiction dictates the agenda, just like recovery it’s one or the other. Below are a few people I interviewed and they share there experience with Heroin, methadone and Harm reduction,
This first interview is with two recovered addict and one who is still struggling, talking about the methadone program here in Vancouver. we are all close friends who have had extensive histories with Heroin and Methadone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x72Ao1v2Z8
Next I interview a young man who has used Heroin most of his life he recently relapsed after eleven month’s clean time this video is quite graphic
The Harsh Reality of Drug Addiction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuNWCPDrJsM
Next we have a woman named Lisa she has been on all the current Harm reduction program’s available in Vancouver’s Downtown eastside
this is a sad sad story this poor woman only has her addiction to look forward to in her life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuNWCPDrJsM
Last but not least we interviewed more woman who talk about the pro’s and con’s of Heroin vs. Methadone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7mAvgPz_4
You be the judge the whole reason for these videos is to bring some truth out about the addiction support services that are in use here in Vancouver. My research has been on a personal level for over twenty five years in addiction as well as these and many more video interviews. Thank you recovered addict
March 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Thanks for the videos!