Posts Tagged ‘addiction’

Question by takeospikes2004: How is methadone the answer to hydrocodone addiction?
Obviously, by asking this question the history is that I was trying to can a ~70mg a day addiction to hydrocodone, and my doctor offered up the “solution” of methadone. But from a lot of things I have read so far, the withdrawal from methadone is at best equal to that of hydrocodone and at worst the most potentially dangerous withdrawal among all pharmaceuticals. It’s commonly used and overrated in my opinion for treating opiate addiction because… In a lot of cases it boils down to this: patient wants to quit X drug but cannot afford to cope with the severe withdrawal effects that come with it, so doctor prescribes Methadone to eliminate patients desire for “X” and get the patient on something that has a less intense withdrawal based on the fact that it has a longer half life therefore the withdrawal has a longer duration, but during that duration it’s not nearly as bad as the instant flood that hits you with other opiate withdrawal. BUT if all indications seem to point out that this IS NOT the case and methadone is in fact MORE dangerous than a lot of these drugs, what makes it the drug of choice for treating withdrawals? It makes no sense at all… It seems to me that the patient is better off trying to eventually “taper off” the drug that got them into this entire situation    Read more...

NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkaw said, “The results of this study represent a promising step toward an effective medical treatment for cocaine addiction.”

Many experienced drug rehab professionals are not so enthused about the prospect of a new wonder drug that will treat cocaine addiction with any success.  “It is just history repeating itself in regard to drug addiction,” said Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the Narconon Arrowhead residential drug rehabilitation program, Rebecca Pool, C.A.D.C..  “In the 1800’s heroin was invented and promoted to treat morphine and opium addiction.  Morphine addicts became heroin addicts.  Methadone, developed by the Nazi’s during World War II, was promoted as a cure to treat heroin addiction in the early 1970’s. Subsequently heroin addicts became methadone addicts.  Then came suboxone to treat methadone addiction leading to methadone users getting hooked on suboxone and so the story goes. Developing new drugs to treat drug addiction has not worked, history tells us that.”    Read more...

Methadone is a prescribed drug used to treat major pain. It also aids in the treatment of people addicted to heroin without experiencing unbearable withdrawal symptoms. Heroin causes an overload of dopamine to be released into your brain. This causes addicts feel an unending need for the drug to continue the high. Methadone can satisfy this need for an opiate, but without the feeling of ecstasy that comes with using heroin. Although people who use this treatment drug are in effect transferring their dependence from one drug to another, they aren’t as unstable or experiencing intense impulses as when they used heroin. As soon as the desire to use heroin is completely gone, the patients are weaned from of the methadone, but this can take up to several years to complete.    Read more...

Treatment For Methadone Addiction in the News

Treatment For Methadone Addiction: Garrettsville man faces drug charge
Methadone is a schedule II controlled substance that is often used in the treatment of recovering heroin addicts. According to the press release, Spence was on bond from a pending court case in Geauga County where he is facing charges including …
Read more on Ravenna Record Courier

Treatment For Methadone Addiction: Stuart medical assistant charged in writing prescriptions for narcotics for …
Investigators quoted Rodriquez as saying she has an addiction and used all the drugs herself. In June she sought treatment at an outpatient rehabilitation facility. Since then she hasn't written any more prescriptions, according to the reports. …
Read more on TCPalm

Find More Treatment For Methadone Addiction Information…

There are over 6 million people in Tennessee and for such a large area this seems less dense than other areas of the country. Like other states the amount of people entering Tennessee alcohol and drug rehab facilities is continuing to rise.

There are a couple ways to look at this. While this is good that those that need substance abuse help are getting it, but on the flip side it’s and indicator of the mounting drug abuse problem.  Prescription drugs are of major concern across the country, with many kids becoming addicted to prescription pain killers and later turning to the street for heroin.

There were just over 9,000 treatment admissions in 2008, and that number climbed to more than 10,000 in 2009. Additionally in 2007 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) s indicate that 151,000 Tennessee citizens reported illicit drug dependence or abuse within the past year.    Read more...

Methadone Addictions in the News

Methadone Addictions: Babies born into drug addiction
Dr Fuller said babies exposed to opiates such as heroin, methadone and some prescription medication for chronic pain often suffered the most from withdrawal symptoms within a short time of birth. But he said other withdrawal from other drugs including …
Read more on Geelong Advertiser

Methadone Addictions: Letters | Doctors must learn that addiction is a long-lasting illness
But the failure to realize the dangers of stopping treatment, methadone or buprenorphine, seems to be something of an epidemic problem. Here, the doctor views the patient a “success” and is willing to stop treatment and risk the possible return to a …
Read more on PNW Local News

Methadone Addictions: Discrimination in recovery
Newman added that eighty-five percent of narcotics addicts in US have no access to methadone treatment. “My doctor can treat a patient for pain relief with methadone, but if he does so for addiction, it is illegal," he said.
Read more on Examiner.com    Read more...