Methadone Addiction
Many people go from Heroin Addiction to methadone addiction. They continue
with this "treatment" for years, fearing the withdrawal that will
occur when they stop. Methadone does not have to be the way of life for former
heroin addicts. Gradual cessation followed by a drug-free program of rehabilitation
may be the answer for many sufferers.
Critics point out that methadone patients are still addicts, and that methadone
therapy does not help addicts with their personality problems. In many cases,
the use of multiple drugs and a strong psychological dependence undermine the
gains made. Some addicts manage to resell the methadone they receive in order
to buy heroin. This and other illegal diversion have resulted in methadone joining
the group of addictive drugs sold on the street.
Fraudulently acquiring methadone is becoming common practice among many individuals
with Drug Addictions. Addiction to methadone can take several forms:
- conning a doctor into prescribing a higher dosage than is required
- taking more than the recommended dosage
- taking methadone in combination with other drugs, including alcohol
- using methadone as a "top up" drug while continuing to take heroin
- selling prescribed methadone in order to buy heroin
In blind trials, users who were given both drugs orally were unable to distinguish
between the effects heroin and methadone. An added problem for those using methadone
to recover from Heroin Addiction is withdrawal. Withdrawal from heroin should
be over after seven to ten days. Withdrawal from methadone though, can take
up to a month or even longer.
Ironically, the methadone used to control narcotic addiction is frequently
encountered on the illicit market and has been associated with a number of overdose
deaths. Tolerance and addiction to methadone is a dangerous threat, as withdrawal
results from the cessation of use. Many former heroin users have claimed that
the horrors of heroin withdrawal were far less painful and difficult than withdrawal
from methadone.
A serious problem with much of the methadone prescribing in the past was that
heroin addicts were often given sufficient methadone to last one week, or even
one month. As a result, addicts commonly sold their prescribed methadone in
the illicit drug market. School children have been found in possession of this
drug and several have died. It is more common practice today to require addicts
on methadone maintenance programs to collect their prescription from a clinic
or pharmacy daily, and to swallow their dose under observation. This is to prevent
methadone from entering the illicit market.
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