Drug Methadone

by osakasteve

Addiction treatment requires a careful and systematic approach for it to yield positive results. Treatment at the addiction clinics are considered as the best form for patients who have been under the influence of any addictive substance. A person addicted to heroin, for instance, requires a carefully planned treatment methodology to help them recover efficiently along with a continued abstinence to the drug. One of the preferred treatments at the heroin addiction clinics is that of the methadone treatment.

Methadone, a drug itself, is used for treating narcotic addicts. The drug is known to relieve the addicts of the drug dependency as well as the withdrawal symptoms. It is profoundly used against heroin addiction along with a few other opiates. Countering the withdrawal symptoms experienced by recovering patients is a daunting task, and requires a hands-on technique for the patient to cope with the recovery process.

Methadone administration is done on a daily basis and although it is highly successful in keeping the addicts off their substance abuse, there is a risk of the addict developing an addiction towards this replacement drug. Although, this new addiction is not as dangerous as the narcotic itself, it is nonetheless an addiction, which is why a treatment concerning methadone must be cautiously monitored.

The statistics show a tremendous increase in the number of addicts successfully recovered from heroin or morphine addiction but are now addicted to methadone. Researches throughout the period of 1999- 2005 show a percentage increase of 600% in the misuse of methadone as a substance of abuse showing 4,462 deaths in the year 2005. Even with the number of cases on the rise, methadone is still the preferred treatment for heroin addiction. One of the reasons that contribute heavily to this cause is because the heroin addiction clinics are run by private institutions.

Although, the addiction to methadone is not as damaging as that of an addiction to alcohol or an opiate, it is nonetheless harmful for the addict. Separate methadone treatment centers deal with the methadone addiction. A person trying to recover from the methadone addiction may show severe withdrawal symptoms such as that of complete disorientation, drowsiness, breathing difficulties, coma, and in extreme cases may even suffer from asphyxiation, which may result in death when treatment is not rendered at the appropriate time.

Methadone treatment comes with the need to have supervision from trained medical professionals, failing which, the addiction may turn into a severe abuse similar to that of an opiate abuse. Using methadone also increases the number of side effects that are observed from the constant abuse. Some individuals may not intentionally succumb to the addiction. The person may continue with the dosage as prescribed, constantly increasing the dosage to increase the efficiency of the treatment, thereby developing a strong immunity towards the drug, increasing the chances of an addiction.

Addiction clinics need to understand that the chances of an addict becoming dependent on methadone are high. The treatment procedure must be carefully planned before execution, keeping the addiction history of the patient under consideration. Drugs such as that of Buprenorphine and Levomethadyl Acetate can be the other drugs of choice against methadone. Early steps are necessary to prevent an upcoming pandemic menace.

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