Answer Addiction

Tag: methadone maintenance

  • Dear Sarah: A Letter to a Friend Who Can't Get Clean

    Dear Sarah: A Letter to a Friend Who Can't Get Clean

    Two and a half years pass, and you have just gotten out of jail again. I know it won’t be your last time, but I wish it were.

    To the Most Interesting Girl I’ve Ever Known:

    Do you remember the first day that we met? I do. I was sitting on a couch with a few other girls and we were watching a movie. That was pretty much all we could do to pass the time in detox. It was my first rehab and your fifth. That night you came out of the bathroom in ridiculous unicorn pajamas and your hair was wrapped in a towel. I didn’t even realize you were there until you started violently throwing up into a trash can. Everyone was watching you and shaking their heads. I found it sad that these women were judging you for getting sick. After all, we were all there to get better…weren’t we?

    I wasn’t. You weren’t either. I was in rehab because I had nowhere else to go and you were there because your parents forced you to get clean.

    The next day, you wandered into my room, jumped up onto my bed, and we talked about everything. We talked about how miserable it was to be stuck in this building when all we really wanted to do was to go out and get high. We didn’t want to be there, but it was really the best option for both of us at that time. 

    I learned so much about you during our time in that place. I found out that you were three years younger than me and that when your dad died, he left your mom an obscene amount of money. You have never lived in a house with less than five bedrooms and have never gone hungry. All your clothes came from the mall and you judged people based on what their teeth looked like. Your mom was used to you going to rehab every other month and she would make sure that you had plenty of cigarettes and nice things to wear.

    I had nice things to wear, too. My dad made sure that I had new clothes and nice shampoo for my first trip to rehab. I was homeless but far from hitting rock bottom…that came later. We bonded over our love of superficial things and our misery there. You confided in me that you were a new mother and embarrassed about it. You did not want to be a mom and you shot up every day during your pregnancy. You gave birth to a little boy three months early because you went into withdrawal and weren’t able to get your dope that morning. It pissed you off because you didn’t like children and still didn’t want any.

    I understood and didn’t judge you because I didn’t want children, either. I knew that if I were ever pregnant, there would be even less time and money for me to get high. After social services told you that your drug use prevented you from keeping the sick baby in your care, your mom adopted your son and took on all of the responsibility that you didn’t want to have.

    I understood you and you understood me.

    We were moved together to the residential area of the rehab program where they took away our comfort medications and forced us to interact with the other women there. That didn’t last long. We didn’t want anything to do with these women who had hit their rock bottom. We didn’t want to hear their sad stories or participate in anything therapeutic. If we talked about other people there, it was to judge or make fun of their appearance.

    Looking back on my behavior during this time, I am remorseful and embarrassed by our cruelty. We were both sick and should have taken advantage of the help that was being offered, but we weren’t ready. We fed off each other, encouraging destructive behavior. A few days after being moved, we were kicked out of that rehab together for buying drugs from a man in a different unit.

    Do you remember sitting on that curb in the sunshine with our freedom and trash bags full of clothing? A guy that you knew picked us up and bought us each a gram of heroin and a brand-new bag of needles. He then took us to a hotel in a sketchy part of town and we stayed there for the next three days. We looked at each other as we pulled out of the rehab parking lot and smiled so big. We had won our freedom and were now able to get as high as we wanted without consequence.

    We didn’t think about the fact that we’d both just screwed up a really good chance to fix our lives and to rebuild the trust we had broken with our respective families. We weren’t thinking about anything past the three days that the hotel was paid for. We bonded and became closer during that long weekend. You overdosed in the bathtub and I brought you back. The first thing you said to me was, “where’s my shit?” I laughed, you laughed, and we continued to get high. After being kicked out of the hotel we went our separate ways but continued to stay in touch. You went home to your big house and I continued to crash where I could because it was getting cold out. We even planned our next rehab stay together!

    We really had our priorities straight, didn’t we?

    The next “vacation” we took together was a bit more successful. We didn’t get kicked out, but we came close. We didn’t take it seriously and continued to judge people, something that I’m still ashamed of. You told me you’d been arrested twice since we’d seen each other last, both times for felony possession. You saw your son and he’s walking now, but you still hate being a mom. I nod and agree, it sounds like a hassle to me at that time in my life. We graduate from this 30-day program and go our separate ways again. You go back home again to your fancy house and I go to a sober living facility, something I wasn’t ready for. You came to visit me often and took me out for coffee on my birthday.

    I got kicked out of that place too and had to stay on a lot of different couches, each more desperate and filthier than the previous. My parents were done housing me because they saw me getting sicker with each visit. They saw me lose weight and gain track marks and strung out boyfriends while you were sleeping in your childhood home with a fridge full of food. I never compared myself to you and I never complained about my situation, especially to you. In rehab, we judged people like me; I had become one of the unfortunate. I was someone whose addiction had completely taken over her life. I was paying for my heroin with money that I stole or earned in ways that I don’t like to talk about. You paid for your drugs with money that your mom handed you and if that wasn’t enough you stole it from your stepdad.

    Maybe I was a little jealous.

    The following summer I hit my rock bottom. I won’t tell you how it happened, but it was brutal. The drugs we so enjoyed doing in your car ended up taking my soul and my self-respect. I decided that I needed to change and right after making that decision I met the man who changed my life. I’d started taking methadone a few months prior to meeting him and finally my life was starting to make sense. I had a home, a job, and someone who loved me unconditionally.

    I still called you every few weeks to check in. You told me you were still getting high and that you overdosed a few times and that you had just gotten out of jail again. We laughed about it and then we didn’t talk for almost six months because we were both so busy with life. The next time I called you, you kept talking about how “nasty” the girls in jail are and how they’re missing their teeth and you’re sick of having to pee in front of your probation officer.

    I didn’t tell you that the damage I caused to my own teeth led to them all being pulled and replaced with porcelain ones.

    You asked the last time I used and when I said eight months, you yelled at me. “How?! You were the WORST! You LOVE getting high!”

    I told you about the methadone and how it was really helping me fix my life. You said you will never be on that stuff because you don’t want to have to take something every day. I wish you would at least try. If not methadone… just try something. 

    I tell you I’m pregnant and getting married and you are in disbelief again. You say my child will have issues and I won’t be able to bond with him. In the same conversation, you get upset because I don’t invite you to my baby shower. My husband doesn’t want us to see each other and I agree with him. You are now dangerous for me and the little life that he and I built together. Perhaps you always were. I imagine you falling asleep or getting high in the bathroom as I open presents.

    I am a different person now and happy about it, a different kind of selfish.

    Two and a half years pass, and you have just gotten out of jail again. I know it won’t be your last time, but I wish it were. You don’t look three years younger than me anymore. We don’t talk on the phone because we don’t have anything to talk about. I know how you feel about the medication I take and that’s okay. I have a family now and a home, and I wish that one day you’ll get to have the same things. I want you to know that the unconditional love that your child has for you is better than the best heroin you’ve ever done. I want you to know that eventually, once you stop using, you can enjoy things again. Sushi is amazing. Sleeping in late is amazing. Not being sick and desperate every morning is amazing, too.

    We might never see each other again but I just wanted you to know that I still think about you and that if you give it a chance, you can find happiness too. You deserve to have a good life, we all do. Just try, okay?

    Your friend always, 

    Mary

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • My Methadone Pregnancy

    My Methadone Pregnancy

    I listened to what my doctor told me. I did my research and I am at peace with my decision: getting off methadone while I was pregnant just wasn’t an option.

    The last time I stuck a needle in my arm was three whole months before I conceived my son, and I’m grateful that he’s never experienced me in active addiction. I say three whole months as if it were a lifetime, but it really is to anyone in early recovery. I was fortunate, I stopped using heroin before I found out that I was pregnant. I had just turned 29 and was in a stable relationship with my now-husband.

    For many women, getting on methadone doesn’t happen until they find out they’re pregnant. Their options are to either keep using or get into treatment. I started taking methadone five months before I stopped using and faced a bit of a learning curve. It was difficult to separate myself from the lifestyle and the people who I interacted with on a daily basis. I also had a needle addiction, and there’s no maintenance medication for that.

    When I decided to stop getting high, I immediately started trying to fix everything that I had destroyed. I was in a new relationship with someone who understood that I was broken and he took me to the methadone clinic every day. We met shortly after I got clean and he never once judged me for my past actions or made me feel bad for taking methadone during my pregnancy. Every expecting mom who takes opioids knows that if you just stop taking them, there is a high risk you will miscarry. Your baby experiences the withdrawal symptoms more strongly than you and in many cases they just aren’t strong enough to withstand it.

    Making The Best Painful Choice

    I was in a heartbreaking situation, but I needed to do what was best for the baby. I can see the comments already: How could you continue to take a medication like that while pregnant?! How could you do that to a tiny human, he’s going to withdraw! I heard this from my mother and a few other opinionated individuals who believed it was appropriate to weigh in on my treatment. I listened to what my doctor told me. I did my research and I am at peace with my decision: getting off methadone while I was pregnant just wasn’t an option.

    The doctor at the treatment facility gave me a ton of information as to what to expect with my continuing treatment. She told me that as the baby grew, I would most likely need to take more methadone to accommodate the increased blood volume. I needed to pay attention to my symptoms and try to tell the difference between normal pregnancy discomfort and methadone withdrawal. I was really grateful for her kindness and advice, especially in the beginning.

    After I had my baby, I found out that there are many online support groups for pregnant women on maintenance medication. These sites provide information on symptoms, what is normal, the rights you have as someone who has struggled with opioid addiction, and more. It’s especially important to know what your hospital’s protocols are for infants going through opioid withdrawal. I know a lot more after giving birth than I ever did in my pregnancy.

    I Would Judge Me, Too

    I was afraid that Child Protective Services would be getting involved during and after my pregnancy, but I was assured by my OB-GYN and the doctor at the methadone clinic that as long as I stayed clean, I would have nothing to worry about. Still, as someone who has worked in the medical field, I knew the stigma attached to my condition. I worried at every appointment that people would look down on me and talk negatively about me after I left. I mean, I was an ex-heroin addict who was pregnant and who was continuing to put something addictive into my body. I would judge me, too.

    My apprehension was unnecessary, my OB-GYN was very supportive. She referred me to a high risk maternal/fetal medicine doctor who I also saw regularly. I went to every appointment, took my methadone as prescribed, and continued to go to therapy.

    When I was about 10 weeks along, I told my parents I was pregnant. I wish I waited a little longer, but I was so excited to be a mom. Their reaction was concern that once my baby was born, he would go through withdrawal from the methadone. I tried not to take it as criticism and judgement, because their concerns were valid. I felt very guilty and scared that this little soul was going to suffer and it was all my fault.

    My stepmother threw me the biggest, most elaborate baby shower that I had ever been to. She invited all of her friends and they brought me nice gifts and things I didn’t know I needed. I remember eating the cherry cake she’d ordered especially for me and starting to cry. This party was thrown for me by a woman who I’d lied to and stolen from during my addiction but none of that seemed to matter to her. She invited her friends because I only had one or two left. I’d cut contact with everyone from my previous life when I stopped using.

    I chose to not go to meetings or participate in any 12-step activities because I did not want to be around other people who were struggling in the same way I was. I know that NA is a great support system and helps many people stay clean, but it wasn’t the right fit for me. Of all the resources available to me, I was the most successful with just the support of my husband, my parents, and our church.

    Induction

    At my 37-week appointment, the doctor found that I was low on amniotic fluid and decided I should be induced that day. I was ready, even though I was afraid of the pain and even more afraid that the painkillers wouldn’t work due to the methadone.

    My husband and I hustled over to the labor and delivery wing of the hospital, excited and nervous. As expected, when I got there, I was drug tested. It was mandatory since I had a recorded history of heroin use but it still made me sad.

    The induction process was incredibly painful. I remember not wanting to ask for anything to help with the pain because I didn’t want to be judged, but as soon as I felt my cervix start to stretch, I stopped caring what anyone thought. It was brutal. After 18 hours of agony, I received an epidural. I was exhausted and excited and running on encouragement from my husband.

    Before I knew it, I was 10 centimeters dilated and surrounded by doctors who were telling me to push with each contraction. A few minutes after they set up their delivery equipment, he was here! I have never cried harder than the moment they handed me this pink, messy, angry little person. He was gooey and gross and perfect. I felt so much at once; it’s hard to explain those first few moments. He was on my chest for about 45 minutes before they cleaned him up and took him to the NICU because his blood sugar was low.

    Because I had methadone in my system during my pregnancy, we had to stay for an extra five days so they could monitor my baby for withdrawal symptoms. I spent that time trying to breastfeed, learning to hold a baby properly, and getting sleep.

    My New Baby, in Opioid Withdrawal

    I would like to end this by saying that we went home after the five days and lived happily ever after, but that’s not the whole story. My husband and I went home but our little boy had to stay for an extra two weeks. He started to show signs of methadone withdrawal around day five.

    There are lots of myths about babies in withdrawal and what they look like. Yes, some are inconsolable and have tremors, but that isn’t always the case. I wasn’t able to recognize the symptoms in my baby because he didn’t match the picture in my head of a baby in withdrawal.

    He had a high-pitched cry; I held him against me and nursed him constantly. Sometimes it calmed him down, sometimes it wouldn’t.

    In the hospital, they use a chart called the Finnegan Scale to assess the severity of withdrawal and determine if the infant needs medication, and my son’s symptoms indicated that he needed to be medicated. The doctor in the NICU told us they were going to start my baby on a small amount of morphine to calm him down and make him more comfortable. I didn’t want them to give him morphine, but I felt more strongly that I didn’t want him to suffer.

    Seeing my baby for the first time after he was medicated gave me some peace. I knew that was best for him, just like taking my methadone was best for him during my pregnancy. It’s hard to convince someone unfamiliar to the world of maintenance medications and opioid addiction that I did what was right for my baby, but I know I did.

    He started getting better immediately and every day he received a little less morphine. My husband and I were lucky enough to have a private room in the NICU and be able to be with him 24-7. The most important things I did for his recovery were keeping him close to me (skin to skin contact), keeping the lights low, and the noises to a minimum. They recommended that I breastfeed as often as possible and my baby had an amazing nurse who taught me how to do this. She constantly encouraged me and kept me informed about his treatment.

    A Healthy, Happy Boy

    Per hospital protocol, my husband and I were interviewed by social services. I had to be completely transparent with them and give my doctor at the methadone clinic permission to speak with them. They even came to look at my home to make sure that it was a safe place for my baby to be. I went through a variety of emotions during this time. I felt violated, angry, insulted, and even confused. I had passed every drug test for the past year and my ability to be a good mom was being questioned. The whole process lasted about a week and then we never heard from them again. I was told that the only reason that social services (CPS or DYFS depending on your state) were contacted was because there were traces of methadone in his meconium.

    Our baby boy has been growing and thriving ever since we brought him home. I still have guilt about his first few weeks in the world, but that’s okay. I try to tell myself that he wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t get on methadone in the first place, but that might just be me justifying it. I now have a smart, healthy, beautiful two-year-old little boy who never stops smiling. When he gets older, I will have to explain to him why he got sick right after he was born. I hope he understands and forgives me.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How Do I Find Methadone Hydrochloride Addiction Treatment?

    How Do I Find Methadone Hydrochloride Addiction Treatment?

    If you are looking for information about methadone hydrochloride, this guide is for you.

    1. What is methadone hydrochloride?
    2. How to use methadone hydrochloride
    3. What are the side effects of methadone hydrochloride?
    4. What precautions should be taken?
    5. Does methadone hydrochloride cause addiction and abuse?
    6. What are the slang names for methadone hydrochloride?
    7. Does methadone hydrochloride cause withdrawal?
    8. How to treat methadone hydrochloride addiction
    9. What is methadone hydrochloride rehab?
    10. Is residential methadone hydrochloride rehab better?
    11. How to find a suitable methadone hydrochloride rehab center?
    12. Conclusion

    Opioid addiction has become a common problem when we talk about mental health issues today. While opioid medicines are quite useful, they also have a high likelihood of causing addiction in patients. One such opioid medicine is Methadone Hydrochloride. Here’s everything you need to know about the medication and how to treat Methadone Hydrochloride addiction if it occurs.

    WHAT IS METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE?

    Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid analgesic that can help in treating moderate to severe pain. It reduces pain by altering how our brain perceives and responds to it. It’s also used for the treatment of addiction to other opioids, like heroin. Methadone Hydrochloride is only prescribed after a careful examination of the patient.

    Being an opioid analgesic itself, Methadone Hydrochloride is not recommended to be used without a doctor’s prescription. Methadone Hydrochloride works by preventing the withdrawal symptoms that are caused when a person stops taking an opioid medicine. Thus, Methadone Hydrochloride is also commonly a part of the opioid treatment and rehabilitation program.

    HOW TO USE METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE

    Before using Methadone Hydrochloride, make sure your doctor gives you clear instructions about how to use the medicine. You should ask all the questions that you have regarding Methadone Hydrochloride.

    Methadone Hydrochloride comes in the form of a tablet and is supposed to be taken by mouth. It can be taken with or without food. However, if you’re experiencing nausea or vomiting as a result of taking Methadone Hydrochloride without food, try having it after meals. You may also lie down for a couple of hours soon after having Methadone Hydrochloride to avoid nausea or vomiting. If these measures don’t work, you can ask your doctor about what can be done to reduce these side effects.

    A specified dose of Methadone Hydrochloride is prescribed based on the condition of the patient and various other factors. So, take Methadone Hydrochloride in the dose prescribed by your doctor. It is always recommended to not miss a dose. Methadone Hydrochloride should be taken consistently while following all the instructions until the course is completed.

    You’re supposed to dissolve one tablet of Methadone Hydrochloride in 4 ounces of water (120 ml) or an acidic fruit drink. Drink the juice or water as soon as you dissolve Methadone Hydrochloride in it. If you see any leftover medicine in the cup, add a little more water or juice to it, dissolve the medicine and have the mixture.

    You shouldn’t prepare the mixture in advance to have it later. Methadone Hydrochloride tablets are supposed to be dissolved in liquid only when you’re taking it immediately after. Do not swallow, chew, or inject the solution.

    Methadone Hydrochloride is only supposed to be taken as prescribed by the doctor. While many opioid medicines are taken when the patient experiences the first signs of pain, Methadone Hydrochloride is not supposed to be taken for sudden, breakthrough pain.

    WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE?

    Since Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid analgesic, there are certain mild, as well as rare yet serious side effects associated with it. While you can take some measures to reduce mild side effects when administering Methadone Hydrochloride, you should stop taking the medicine and report to your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects. If your loved one suffers a Methadone Hydrochloride overdose, call the emergency number of your country/state immediately. Here’s a list of the most common mild and serious side effects that you should beware of.

    MILD SIDE EFFECTS

    • Constipation
    • Dizziness
    • Drowsiness
    • Lightheadedness
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting

    If you’re experiencing constipation because of Methadone Hydrochloride, make sure you have plenty of water. You should also have a diet rich in fiber; and, if needed, get a laxative prescribed by your doctor. In case you’re feeling drowsy soon after administering this medicine, avoid performing any task that require focus.

    For nausea and vomiting, you can take the measures mentioned under the ‘How to use Methadone Hydrochloride’ section. Either take Methadone Hydrochloride after meals or lie down for a while after taking it.

    SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

    • Abdominal cramping
    • Difficulty urinating
    • Kidney problems
    • Dark stool
    • Difficulty in clotting of blood
    • Loss of appetite
    • Weight loss
    • Unusual lethargy
    • Confusion
    • Mood swings
    • Hallucination
    • Allergic reaction
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Fainting

    While this is a list of some of the most evident serious side effects, this is not a complete list. You may experience a rare and serious side effect outside this list. When you do, make sure you stop taking Methadone Hydrochloride and visit your doctor immediately. A Methadone Hydrochloride overdose can also cause death. This is why it is important to monitor doses and take immediate action when you experience a serious side effect.

    WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN?

    When taking an opioid analgesic like Methadone Hydrochloride, it is important to follow the instructions from your doctor. Knowing and following precautions helps in reducing the likelihood of side effects. With that said, here’s a list of precautions that are to be taken when taking Methadone Hydrochloride.

    • The most important precaution that one must take is to take the prescribed doses seriously. A doctor prescribes an opioid like Methadone Hydrochloride only after ensuring that it would benefit the patient. The doses are determined after assessing the patient’s health condition, weight, and many other factors. Thus, the dose that has been prescribed is supposed to work the best for you. So, make sure you don’t take Methadone Hydrochloride more frequently than suggested or miss a dose.
    • Your doctor may prescribe other pain medications or even other opioid analgesics for conditions like cancer. Make sure you ask your doctor about administering all the prescribed medicines in a way that prevents a chance of a negative drug interaction.
    • If you’re taking Methadone Hydrochloride or any other opioid medications for the first time, it always has to start with low strengths. This is because administering high strengths of Methadone Hydrochloride suddenly can result in a potential overdose, which can have dangerous outcomes like shallow breathing, fainting, and even death.
    • Patients are supposed to stop taking Methadone Hydrochloride as soon as their course ends. When a patient takes Methadone Hydrochloride even after the course is done or takes the medicine in higher doses or strengths than prescribed, it indicates Methadone Hydrochloride abuse.
    • Store Methadone Hydrochloride such that it is out of the reach of children and anyone else besides the patient or the caregiver of the patient. This is because people might recognize opioid medicines for their ability to cause intoxication, and thus abuse Methadone Hydrochloride.
    • Many patients may feel drowsy after administering Methadone Hydrochloride. This is why it is always recommended to avoid any task that requires focus or good vision. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery as this can cause an accident when you’re under the influence of the medicine.

    DOES METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE CAUSE ADDICTION AND ABUSE?

    Since Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid analgesic, it carries with it a high risk of Methadone Hydrochloride addiction and abuse. When patients take this medicine for a long time or in increased strengths, they might develop dependence, and thus addiction.

    Opioid drugs have a peculiar way of acting on our brain. We have opioid receptors in our body, and when we take an opioid analgesic like Methadone Hydrochloride, opioids in the medicine attach to the receptors. Gradually, these receptors get habituated to their interaction with opioids. In higher than prescribed doses, opioid medicines may also cause a feeling of euphoria. These combined effects can lead to Methadone Hydrochloride addiction in patients.

    Once patients get addicted to Methadone Hydrochloride, they start taking the medicine in higher doses or continue the medicine even after the course is completed or when the doctor instructs the patient to stop administering the medicine. As a result, patients start acquiring Methadone Hydrochloride through illegal means or go to many doctors to get a prescription to buy the medicine. This is what we call Methadone Hydrochloride abuse.

    Many people also use Methadone Hydrochloride and other opioid drugs for recreational reasons. Since opioids have the ability to cause intoxication, it becomes one of the choices for many young adults and teens who look for recreational substances. Thus, the general population is also prone to Methadone Hydrochloride abuse when taking it without having a health condition that requires the drug as part of treatment.

    WHAT ARE THE SLANG NAMES FOR METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE?

    People who abuse Methadone Hydrochloride may purchase the medicine illegally. When purchasing opioids, both sellers and buyers use certain code names for different kinds of opioids so that the transaction can be carried out without drawing attention. These code names are known as slang names or street names.

    If you hear a loved one using these slang names on calls or exchanging texts that have one of the names, you might suspect possible drug abuse. Knowing the slang names can help you identify addiction and abuse problems and take needed action. With that said, here’s a list of common slang names that might be used for Methadone Hydrochloride.

    • Methadose
    • Done
    • Dolls
    • Dollies
    • Junk
    • Metho
    • Jungle Juice
    • Fizzies
    • Maria
    • Juice
    • Meth

    DOES METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE CAUSE WITHDRAWAL?

    When patients take Methadone Hydrochloride or any other opioid medications for a prolonged time, they can develop Methadone Hydrochloride tolerance as well as withdrawal symptoms when they stop administering the medicine. Tolerance can be defined as a need to administer a drug in higher doses for it to deliver the desired outcomes. As we keep taking an opioid medicine, it gradually fails to provide relief from pain or withdrawal symptoms of other opioids. Thus, we feel the need to administer medicine in higher doses to maintain the desired effects.

    People who are used to having a certain dose of Methadone Hydrochloride experience Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medicine. Withdrawal symptoms typically start a few hours after the patient stops taking the medicine. Early Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal side effects are mild and don’t cause much discomfort. However, about a week after quitting opioid consumption, people tend to experience more intense Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal side effects.

    While some common early withdrawal symptoms of Methadone Hydrochloride are nausea, fevers, flu, etc., the later Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal symptoms can be as extreme as severe body aches, diarrhea, anxiety, and opioid cravings. Many people go back to administering opioid medicines because of the cravings can continue for days after stopping.

    Since health professionals who are licensed to prescribe opioids understand the nature of opioid withdrawal, they only prescribe opioid medicines in the right doses and strengths that shouldn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. However, the problem can arise when the patient doesn’t follow the doctor’s instructions properly.

    This is also one common reason a doctor doesn’t prescribe a high dose and suddenly ask the patient to stop taking Methadone Hydrochloride. This creates a high likelihood of causing Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal symptoms which can then lead to a cycle of relapse and other addiction problems. Instead, doctors gradually decrease the dose or strength of the medicine as the patient approaches the completion of the course, so that his body is able to deal with the absence of the medicine.

    HOW TO TREAT METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE ADDICTION

    While methadone has a reputation as one of the medicines that help in treating opioid addiction by preventing withdrawal effects, this medicine also carries its own risk for addiction since it is an opioid analgesic.

    Methadone Hydrochloride addiction is a critical problem and can have serious repercussions when left untreated. This is why identifying opioid addiction and seeking professional help is imperative. Since opioid addiction is so complicated and has the potential to cause problems on all levels–physical, mental, emotional, social, etc.–doctors always counsel their patients before prescribing Methadone Hydrochloride.

    A doctor would always tell the patient about how taking higher than prescribed doses or taking the medicine even after completing the course can be dangerous. Our bodies respond to opioids in a way that the patient would need a lot more than just willpower to fight the addiction and abuse problems.

    Since opioid addiction affects the patient on both physical and mental levels, professional intervention is often needed to treat Methadone Hydrochloride addiction. Mental health professionals who have experience in treating opioid dependence come up with a systematic approach to treating abuse and addiction so that the root cause of the addiction can be addressed and dealt with.

    Rehab treatment is often thought to be the best solution for Methadone Hydrochloride addiction. Here’s more about Methadone Hydrochloride rehab facilities.

    WHAT IS METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE REHAB?

    A Methadone Hydrochloride rehab will offer treatment that involves imparting counseling to the patient such that the patient develops healthy life skills to deal with the addiction. Rehab care primarily focuses on therapy or counseling to bring about this change. Medicines may be used to make sure the patient doesn’t have to deal with painful Methadone Hydrochloride withdrawal side effects.

    The mental health professional picks one of the therapies for the patient based on a careful assessment of the problem and the patient’s specific needs. Some of the common kinds of therapies involved in treating Methadone Hydrochloride addiction are listed below.

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    This therapy aims at identifying negative patterns of thinking associated with opioid addiction and resultant behavioral issues. Through this treatment, the therapist assists in helping the patient make mental and cognitive changes to unhealthy patterns thereby helping to modify addictive thoughts and behavior.

    • Motivational Enhancement Therapy

    Some patients most evidently lack motivation more than any other factors involved in quitting their addictive habits. For such patients, Motivational Enhancement Therapy aims at keeping them constantly motivated so that they cooperate with the health professionals and stick with their treatment plan.

    • Contingency Management

    Many people are motivated to adopt healthy habits and work on their addictive habits only when they get the incentive to do so. With the help of Contingency Management therapy, therapists look for the factors that would serve as an incentive to the patient. When the patient shows a positive change in behavior, they receive an incentive which further entices them to repeat such behaviors.

    Besides these common therapies, many health professionals also include family therapy so that the patient can receive unconditional support from loved ones to encourage the development of healthy life skills. There are two types of Methadone Hydrochloride rehab solutions: inpatient/residential and outpatient services.

    While inpatient services aim at providing housing along with treatment, the patient only visits the therapist a few times a week when they opt for outpatient rehab service.

    IS RESIDENTIAL METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE REHAB BETTER?

    For patients with opioid addiction, inpatient or residential rehab treatment is sometimes better than outpatient services. The biggest problem with opioid addiction is drug cravings that cause patients to go back to their addictive behavior over and over, despite their efforts to quit. While outpatient rehab centers offer the same therapeutic solutions to their patients, after the patient walks out of the center, they can easily access opioid medicine, which then defeats the purpose of therapy.

    A residential Methadone Hydrochloride rehab center would not only impart the needed therapy to the patient but also give the therapist or other health professionals the ability to monitor the patient’s behavior 24/7. Such observations can lead to better behavioral assessments as to whether or not the treatment plan is progressing as planned.

    The patient has absolutely no access to opioids or any other addictive substance during their stay at a Methadone Hydrochloride rehab center. This compels them, even more, to be responsive to therapies and medicines and develop healthy life skills. Thus, over time, the patient gains the ability to refuse drugs and resist cravings. This can yield better outcomes and high chances of the patient living a drug-free life, even after they leave the rehab facility.

    What’s more, the patient lives with other people who struggle with addiction. Patients experience a more comfortable living environment that is away from social prejudice and stigmatization. Gradually, as the patients develop life skills to manage their addiction problem, they are better equipped to adjust to social norms and conform to society.

    HOW TO FIND A SUITABLE METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE REHAB CENTER?

    While it is clear that residential Methadone Hydrochloride rehab is often more useful in treating opioid addiction, it is also tricky to find one that actually helps in a complete recovery. Two of the major issues that people consider while looking for rehab centers are effective treatment and the costs involved.

    While many rehab centers would take in opioid addicts and claim to offer the best Methadone Hydrochloride addiction treatment, you can’t go by words alone. Make sure you check if the therapist and health professionals in the rehab center have experience in treating opioid addiction specifically. This is because opioid addiction is very different in nature from other kinds of addiction. Thus, only a specialist would be able to come up with an all-inclusive treatment plan that ensures the highest possibility for recovery from Methadone Hydrochloride addiction.

    We often hear that rehab facilities are only for the rich. However, there are decently priced rehab facilities as well. The cost of a rehab treatment depends greatly on the amenities that the facility provides. While you can find many Methadone Hydrochloride rehab centers that offer decent living conditions and effective treatment approaches at a fair price, you can also find high-end facilities that offer all manner of luxuries. The choice greatly depends on the financial capabilities of the decision-maker.

    You can also check if your insurance company covers rehab expenses. Many insurance companies have changed their policies and now also cover mental health disorder treatment to encourage more people to take mental health problems seriously. This also depends on the laws and regulations of your state or country.

    CONCLUSION

    Methadone Hydrochloride can be useful to manage moderate to severe pain as well as opioid addiction. However, it is up to your doctor to decide whether or not to prescribe the medicine. When taking Methadone Hydrochloride, it is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions. This reduces the chances of side effects as well as Methadone Hydrochloride addiction, abuse, dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

    If a patient develops Methadone Hydrochloride addiction or a person abuses the medicine, rehab treatment can be helpful in treating addiction. In fact, it is highly recommended to get treatment, since addiction can lead to bigger problems like an overdose. An opioid overdose can cause death. Methadone Hydrochloride rehab centers help patients in recovering from addiction by designing a treatment plan that best suits them. By integrating physical and mental treatment, the therapist and other health professionals strive to help the patient develop healthy life skills.

    As a result, when the patient returns home from a residential rehab center, they are more able to live in society without succumbing to drugs, and carry on a normal life.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Luxury Rehab Guide for Methadose Addiction

    Luxury Rehab Guide for Methadose Addiction

    Use this handy guide to find out everything you need to know about Methadose

    1. What is Methadose?
    2. What are the slang terms for Methadose?
    3. How do you use Methadose?
    4. What are the consequences of a Methadose overdose?
    5. What should you avoid when using Methadose?
    6. Methadose side effects
    7. What are the other drugs that can negatively interact Methadose?
    8. What is Methadose addiction?
    9. How long does Methadose stay in your system?
    10. What is Methadose withdrawal?
    11. What is Methadose rehab, and is it useful?
    12. How can you choose the right rehab center?

    What is Methadose?

    Methadose is an opioid that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The synthetic painkiller can have several health risk factors that can lead to respiratory disorders when abused. Methadose reduces pain by directly acting on the brain stem and can suppress an individual’s autonomic respiratory drive. This medicine is strictly regulated, and is only available through a valid prescription provided by your doctor or pharmacist.

    What are the slang terms for Methadose?

    Many opioids have code names or slang terms. These code names are often used when painkillers are sold illegally. Medical professionals need to know about painkillers and their slang terms so that they can diagnose the symptoms of Methadose overdose before the situation gets worse. Here are some of the standard slang terms that are used for Methadose:

    >> Amidon

    >> Dollies

    >> Dolls

    >> Fizzies

    >> Mud

    >> Red Rock

    >> Tootsie Rolls

    How do you use Methadose?

    To get the most positive Methadose effects, you have to follow the dosage and instructions that are provided by yout doctor. Methadose usually comes in tablet form for oral consumption. One dose of Methadose is equivalent to 40 mg. As mentioned before, it’s prescribed for pain management that is caused from injuries and terminal diseases like cancer. Methadose is also used to help patients who suffer from opioid dependence to detox. Unlike other opioids which may have short half-lives and require frequent dosing, Methadose’s long duration and slow onset enable it to remain in a person’s system for up to thirty hours once ingested. This means that the patient will have to take a dose only once a day.

    Here are some crucial points you should know before you take Methadose:

    >> Avoid taking the medication if you have severe asthma or breathing problems

    >> Avoid taking the medication if you have any stomach or intestine problems

    Methadose side effects can result in a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder, and it’s necessary that you get your heart checked regularly during treatment.

    You must inform your doctor beforehand if you have any of the following conditions:

    • Heart problems
    • Lung disease
    • Head injury, seizures, or a brain tumor
    • Any mental illness or substance addiction
    • Liver or kidney problems
    • Urinary issues
    • Gallbladder or pancreatic diseases

    Avoid using this medicine during pregnancy because there are chances that your baby will become dependent on the drug as well. This will be dangerous for the baby once it’s born because it can experience life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for many weeks. If you’re taking Methadose after giving birth, then you must avoid breastfeeding because the drug can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness and breathing problems for the baby.

    When you receive your Methadose prescription, ensure that you follow the medication guide that comes with the drug. Avoid using Methadose for longer than necessary or taking a larger dose than prescribed. You should consult your doctor if your current dose is ineffective.

    Never share your painkillers with another person; your painkiller has a dosage that is specially formulated based on your current health and current condition. If you misuse Methadose, it can lead to addiction or overdose which, in extreme cases, can cause death. You should keep the medicine in a place where children cannot gain access to it easily. Selling the drug without a prescription is against the law. Ensure that you consult your doctor in case you have any questions about the medication or the dosage. 

    This medication is available in liquid form, and to consume it orally, you have to use a marked spoon or medicine cup that comes with the bottle. Do not use a household spoon for taking the medicine because the dosage will not be correct.

    Methadose can cause addiction when taken for a prolonged period.  Cessation can cause withdrawal as well. If you stop using the drug suddenly, then the withdrawal symptoms can be intense, so ask your doctor to taper the dosage. This way, the withdrawal won’t hit as hard.

    If, in any case, you miss a dose, then you will need to take it as soon as possible. Nevertheless, if you missed your dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, then you can skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosage schedule. Avoid double doses. If you miss the treatment for three days in a row, then you should consult your doctor immediately because you may need to start with a low dose again.

    What are the consequences of a Methadose overdose?

    During a Methadose overdose, you should contact emergency services and poison control right away. An overdose, of any kind, can be fatal, especially if the patient is left unattended. The symptoms for overdose include the following:

    • Slow heart rate
    • Drowsiness
    • Muscle weakness
    • Clammy skin
    • Shallow breathing

    What should you avoid when using Methadose?

    Avoid Methadose abuse (using it for non-medical reasons), you should also avoid combining it with alcohol because this can cause dangerous side effects and can lead to death. Once the medicine begins to take effect, you should avoid operating any heavy machinery. The drug can make you tired, and operating any heavy machinery can cause accidents and serious injuries. Also, avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit products because they can cause adverse side effects.

    Methadose side effects

    If you begin to notice any side effects or allergic reactions when you take Methadose, like hives, difficulty in breathing, inflammation of your face, lips, throat or tongue, you should seek emergency help immediately.

    Side effects can include:

    • Shallow breathing
    • Constipation
    • Dizziness
    • Fainting
    • Heart palpitation
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting

    What are the other drugs that can negatively interact Methadose?

    Painkillers can react with many other drugs, and they can result in intense side effects. If these side effects are not resolved, then they can lead to death.

    >> Any other narcotic painkillers or cough suppressants

    >> Sedatives like Valium or Xanax

    >> Drugs that make you drowsy

    >> Drugs that affect the serotonin levels of your body

    You should also inform your doctor if you are currently taking any antibiotic, antifungal, heart, blood pressure, seizure, or hepatitis C medicines. Any over-the-counter drugs and vitamins should also be mentioned when consulting your doctor

    What is Methadose addiction?

    Addiction does not happen suddenly. Instead, it happens gradually over time. When you’re on a medication, it’s vital that you update your doctor on any issues that you’re facing. This way, your doctor can monitor your progress while on the dose he has given you. If you feel that your pain has not improved, then you will have to consult your doctor once again to adjust your dose. 

    It’s illegal to give your medicine to someone else. So, keep the unused medicine away from children and in a safe and secure location. If you show signs of overdose, get help as soon as possible.

    Patients who take Methadose have a high chance of getting addicted to the drug. The severity of the addiction depends on the dosage of the opioid. Methadose tends to create a mental and physical dependency on the drug.

    Because Methadose comes with a high risk of addiction, it’s classified as a schedule 2 substance in the United States. It’s categorized as a schedule 1 drug in Canada, and other countries as well. It’s illegal to use any methadone-based drugs in Russia.

    How long does Methadose stay in your system?

    Methadose takes a long time to clear your system. The way your body reacts to the drug, along with the duration of its stay in your system, depends, in part, on your physiology and medication history. It can take anywhere from 8 to 59 hours for the drug to metabolize. Urine tests can identify Methadose from 24 hours to 7 days after the last dose. Blood tests can detect Methadose for three days after the last dose.

    Methadose requires a prescription and you must only take the amount required. If you excede the prescribed dose, there can be big problems; people can get addicted to this drug easily, especially if there is no medical reason for them to use it anymore. An addict can experience increased dependency on the drug, and this means that their situation goes from bad to worse.

    What is Methadose withdrawal?

    Methadose is a type of methadone hydrochloride medication. When taken in moderate doses, it helps with pain and has a positive effect on the patient’s well-being. However, this does not negate the fact that the drug can be addictive and dangerous when taken more than prescribed. Methadose requires medical supervision and should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription.

    Once you know the severity of addiction and withdrawal symptoms, you will probably notice that any attempt at self-treatment is pointless. It’s hard to have a level of commitment to stop the addiction by yourself, without any help or support. Substance abuse can lead to addiction which is a behavioral disorder that often requires professional help, and it’s rarely something that can be cured immediately. Prescription drugs that are used for recreational purposes, more often than not, lead to addiction. When substance abuse takes over a major portion of your life, then it’s helpful to accept that you have a problem and that you need help.

    Common withdrawal symptoms are:

    >> Sedation

    >> Insomnia

    >> Vomiting

    >> Low blood pressure

    >> Swelling of the hands and feet

    >> Mood swings

    The symptoms of Methadose withdrawal can appear as flu-like symptoms. Withdrawal can cause emotional complications as well. During withdrawal, you will experience intense drug cravings, and this is where you will usually experience a relapse. The first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. From there, accepting professional therapy and medication often becomes easier, and the results can be positive as well.

    Many factors can lead a person into addiction. Here are some of the common risk factors for addiction:

    • Friends or family members who have struggled with addiction
    • Abusive or traumatizing domestic atmosphere
    • Mental health illnesses
    • Use of alcohol or drugs at an earlier stage in life

    Addiction is not a lost cause, and just like any behavioral disease, it can be treated with the right facilities, medication, and professionals. The journey of sobriety is not comfortable, and many obstacles may come your way. Your mind might rebel through most of the detox process, and your restraint and willpower will be tested to what may feel like a breaking point. Nevertheless, once you get through the dark and tedious phases, you will most likely feel that sobering up is the best decision you’ve made.

    What is Methadose rehab, and is it useful?

    Once a patient has accepted that they have a problem, it is easier for them to accept help. Rehabilitation centers benefit many patients who are addicted to drugs and are trying to overcome substance abuse. To begin an effective rehab treatment, you will probably have to detox. Detoxification causes withdrawal, and the process can be brutal. If you go through detox on your own, there is a high likelihood that you will cave and relapse into addiction once again. 

    Hence, having professional and medical help when going through detox can be important because the chances of relapse are lower.

    When you go for Methadose addiction treatment, the first step is creating a plan. The only way this plan can be effective is if you accept that you have a substance abuse problem. Once you do, you have to have the conviction to go through the withdrawal and recovery process. It’s never too late to get help; the earlier you accept that you have an addiction problem, the better it is for you. Rehabilitation centers are one of the many options that help with addiction and mental health recovery.

    Rehabilitation treatment will guide you through the recovery process with the help of detoxification and therapy. They will also assist when you’re going through the withdrawal process and help ensure that you don’t give in to your cravings. Self-treatment is not the best course of action, especially when you’re going through intense withdrawal symptoms.

    Listed below are three types of rehabilitation centers that are available for addiction and substance abuse treatment:

    Inpatient Rehab centers:

    Inpatient treatment involves a patient being admitted in a hospital-like scenario. Once admitted, they usually have to undergo intense therapy for a set period with 24/7 supervision. This includes medical counseling, medication, and medical assistance. This treatment will require the patient to be admitted into the center so that they can fully and safely recover.

    Outpatient facilities:

    In this treatment option, the patient can visit the center whenever they have an appointment. These facilities don’t require constant supervision or guidance. They are perfect for patients that don’t have a severe addiction and can survive through their daily routine without being triggered into a relapse. These sessions are done with the help of professionals, and they help ensure that you’re on the right path to recovery.

    Residential treatment centers:

    These are quite similar to inpatient treatment facilities, except that they are held in a residential complex. The environment and facilities of a residential center are really different from a hospital rehab center and more like a home. The approach of such rehab centers is all-inclusive, and the patient gets to live in a secure environment that takes them from the detoxification process which is carried out under supervision and on to treatment which includes therapy and, perhaps, medication. Staff and medical professionals help you get by and encourage you to complete your journey through sobriety. A residential program provides a solid foundation for recovery for the patient and is strongly recommended for Methadose treatment. Residential treatment is the most popular treatment plan, however, this plan can be expensive. 

    You can opt for rehab insurance policies, and they help with any expenses you may incur while receiving treatment. It’s important that you find out if your treatment plan is included in the policy and if you have to pay any additional costs.

    How can you choose the right rehab center?

    Every patient is different; this means there is no specific treatment plan for everyone. You need to find a rehabilitation center that will suit your needs and enable the recovery you require. It all begins with meeting your doctor and formulating a plan. Through a well-structured plan, you can make an informed decision about the rehab center you choose.

    Listed below is a typical rehabilitation process from start to finish; this process is what most centers tend to follow:

    >> Admission into the center:

    This is the starting point of your journey to sobriety, and here, you will have to contact the rehab center and enroll in the facility. Treatment facilities are aware of the overwhelming thought process that patients go through when they want to admit themselves. So, they make the enrollment process as quick and comforting as possible because the last thing they want to do is overwhelm or intimidate the patient. All you have to do is contact the admission center and book your treatment.

    >> Intake

    When you enter the facility for the first time, you have to go through an administrative process. Here, you will be asked basic questions about your lifestyle, and you will be searched for forbidden items like drugs, alcohol, or weapons. The intake process serves as an orientation for the new patients, and they are introduced to the facility and the staff. This process aims to make the experience as friendly and comfortable as possible.

    >> Assessing the patients:

    This is where the professionals begin interacting with the patients. Medical and clinical staff members will begin the process by interviewing you and determining if you have any specific needs during your stay at the center. During the assessment, the patient is asked about their addiction, the drug they are addicted to, the duration of the addiction, and if they suffered from any other mental health problems before and during their addiction. This step is quite important because it helps the staff to create a customized plan that is designed for you and will help you get better.

    >> Detox:

    The detoxification process enables your body to eliminate any toxins that are present because of your addiction. This process will lead to withdrawal, and as your body begins to adjust and balance itself chemically, you will feel a certain amount of discomfort and pain. The staff at the rehab center will make your detox process as comfortable as possible and help you through this tough time, the length of which will vary, but expect it to last a week or so. Once the detox is done, the patient feels better and calmer. You will be ready to heal yourself physically and mentally once your system is clean.

    >> Patient Care:

    Once the detox stage is complete, you’re now ready for inpatient care. During this stage, there will be many single and group therapy sessions and services that will help you in the short and long run. In this stage, you will identify your triggers, learn how to handle them, avoid relapsing, and work toward achieving long-term sobriety.

    >> Aftercare services:

    When you leave the rehab center, you’re encouraged to join the aftercare program. This is done because stepping back into the real world after an intensive rehabilitation can be quite overwhelming, and it can trigger a relapse. Aftercare services will teach you how to handle your daily routine without giving in to substance abuse.

    If you or anyone you know is suffering from Methadose addiction, ensure that you get help from trusted sources as soon as possible.

    When you spot the addiction symptoms in the early stages, you can stop it from getting worse by getting admitted to an established rehabilitation center. All centers don’t charge the same rate, and some can be more expensive than others. Some of the best rehab centers may be out of the budget for most people. Not to worry; you may be able to take out short-term loans or insurance policies that will last you through the treatment period. You should ensure that the insurance policy you choose covers the treatment plan you want.

    If you or anyone you know is suffering from Methadose addiction, you can always reach out for help from capable rehab centers and their teams of professionals. Family and friend support is always welcome, but professional help can aid in getting you through the problem.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • 5 Ways That Methadone Maintenance Treatment Changed My Life

    5 Ways That Methadone Maintenance Treatment Changed My Life

    When you’re an IV drug addict, you risk overdose, HIV, endocarditis and other infections, amputations, abscesses, and more. When I was stable on methadone and stopped using, these risks just disappeared.

    Telling someone that you take methadone is a big deal. You’re not just telling them that you’re taking responsibility for your recovery and your health, you’re also telling them that in your pre-recovery life you probably stole, lied, and did some other terrible thing to support your addiction. You’re not just revealing you had an addiction, you’re saying that it got so bad that going to a clinic every morning to take medicine in front of someone is preferable to the life you were living.

    I am not here to argue about whether MMT (methadone maintenance treatment) is the solution to the opioid crisis because it’s not for everyone. But for me, it was a chance to have a normal happy life. Here’s why:

    1. It Gave Me Accountability

    When you start off as a new patient at any methadone clinic, you have to come every day. You also have to submit to drug testing and therapy, both individual and group sessions. These are all requirements if you want that little cup with your medicine that keeps you from getting sick. As an active drug user, I would have done absolutely anything to keep from getting sick. Show up someplace between 5 and 10 a.m.? No problem! Let someone watch me pee in a cup? Sure thing!

    I, like many people, started MMT as a way to keep myself from crippling heroin withdrawals. I wasn’t at all ready to get clean and stop using. But I had to make and keep appointments with the doctor at the clinic if I wanted to get more methadone, and I had to have bloodwork done if I wanted to keep being an active patient. 

    Slowly, after months of going to this clinic every day, the methadone built up in my body. My opioid receptors were full of methadone and the heroin that I was still putting in my body was no longer getting me high.

    Once I passed my first few drug tests, I was allowed to take a bottle home with me for the next day, which motivated me to keep attending my therapy sessions and to go to work so that I could afford transportation to the clinic. When I was using, the only accountability I had was to my drug dealer. I never would have gotten checked for diseases or spoken with a mental health professional.

    Without even realizing it, I was keeping commitments and getting the help that I desperately needed. Now, years after initially becoming a patient, I have other responsibilities like making sure my rent is paid and not forgetting that I need to renew my license plates next month. My priorities have shifted.

    2. My Health Improved

    I know that this one might sound like a contradiction to everything you think that you know about methadone. A lot of media still portrays people who go to methadone clinics as underweight, shaking, pale, and covered in track marks. This image accurately described me when I first started going, but over the years I’ve been able to change myself internally and externally. When I first started treatment, I was required to get bloodwork to check for the diseases that IV drug users expose themselves to. When I was injecting, I would occasionally get infections in my arms and sometimes end up in the hospital due to these or one of my many overdoses.

    Almost instantly after getting on a therapeutic dose of methadone, I started to care about my body and what I was putting into it. I started taking vitamins and eating food other than what I could steal from a gas station. I felt stable enough to look towards the future and start doing what was required for me to have a long and happy life.

    When you’re an IV drug addict, you risk overdose, HIV, endocarditis and other infections, amputations, abscesses, and more. When I was stable on methadone and stopped using, these risks just disappeared. I became lucid enough to take care of myself and to fix my body and the incredible damage that I had done to it. I’d had a terrible diet and had stopped caring about myself. Now, I take daily vitamins, get a flu shot, get an annual check up at an OBGYN, and try to eat healthy when I can. I also got extensive dental work to fix damage to my teeth from years of neglect.

    3. I Became a Wife and Mother

    This is a very specific and personal way that being on methadone has changed my life. In my addiction, I was in a toxic relationship that revolved around using together and endless dishonesty. We were together because it was easy. When I decided to stop getting high, he wasn’t ready to quit and the relationship ended abruptly. I met my husband shortly after and he took a chance on getting into a relationship with someone new in recovery. I wasn’t using anymore but I still had a lot of addict behaviors.

    I navigated through this new relationship, trying to be honest with my new partner. I wasn’t familiar with honesty in the beginning and he was aware of this and very patient with me. I learned what kindness and love really were for the first time without drugs involved. We also learned early into our relationship that we were expecting a baby boy. I stayed clean throughout my pregnancy, took my methadone as prescribed, and discussed my fears and worries with my therapist at the clinic.

    In two years, I went from living in a car, unable to feed myself, to a wife and mother. None of this would have had the chance to happen if I didn’t take the first step and start treatment.

    4. I Have a Relationship with My Parents

    It has taken years to earn back my parents’ trust. They’d stopped answering the phone when I called because I always asked for money. It became too painful for them to be an active part of my life. They were just waiting for that final phone call telling them they’d lost their daughter to her addiction.

    When I first started going to the methadone clinic, they were skeptical; they knew very little about how the medication worked. Then, after about six months, the begging for money stopped and the tone of our conversations changed. I called just to talk about my day and for the first time I didn’t ask for anything. They noticed that my living situation had changed – I’d gone from living in a car to staying in a cheap motel, then finally I moved into an apartment. I was awake during the holidays and not spending a half hour at a time in the bathroom trying to shoot up. I was gaining weight and smiling again.

    After I passed my first drug test, I wanted everything to go back to the way that it was before I started using. I had a hard time understanding why they didn’t trust me. Then I realized that it didn’t take a month for me to lose their trust, it was years of lies and heartbreak.

    I am now able to look back and see the hurt that I caused and ask for their forgiveness. I am a mother now and I couldn’t imagine watching my sweet happy child deteriorate the way that I did. I am grateful for this real second chance to have them be proud of me. But I didn’t get clean for them, I had to do it for myself. The great relationship that I have with them now is just an extra benefit.

    5. I Have Goals for My Future Self

    During my addiction, the only goal I had was to come up with enough money to stay high that day. I felt like queen of the world if I was able to have enough heroin for two days. That was my life for years: After finding money and drugs, I would work on shelter and then maybe food.

    Once I became stable on a therapeutic dose of methadone, I didn’t have to spend energy and time finding drugs because I wasn’t worried about withdrawal. I suddenly had all of this time to spend on making money and cleaning up all the messes I’d made.

    My primary goal for the first few months I was clean was to make sure I got to the clinic on time. It might sound like kind of a sad existence but without my medicine, I wasn’t going to be able to function. I know the term “liquid handcuffs” is used a lot in reference to methadone treatment and I understand the frustration of having to go to the clinic every day. But if you are completing all the requirements of your clinic, you get to work up to going biweekly or even monthly. The program is designed to give you a normal life.

    My next goal was to have a stable place to live and to be someone who others could count on. There were a ton of baby steps I had to take to get there and I was only able to do that initially because I started MMT. I did the rest of the work with my counselor, my church, and my husband.

    It’s been three years since I started treatment and I’m in the middle of my third term in college and my husband and I are looking into buying our first home this fall. My next goal will be to get off methadone completely, but I will not rush this process.

    I am so thankful that this form of treatment was available to me. Methadone should always be an option for those of us who have had a difficult time getting clean with other methods. There is still a huge stigma attached to MMT patients and clinics and I could say that another goal of mine is to help break that. It’s not a magical cure for opioid addiction, but it played a vital role in my recovery.

    What are your thoughts on methadone maintenance treatment? Share with us in the comments.

    View the original article at thefix.com