Methadone FAQ
What is Methadone?
Methadone, an opiate derivative, is a medication that is often used as a substitute for other opiate narcotics, such as heroin, that a patient may be addicted to.
How is Methadone Used?
Methadone is normally produced in a liquid form, but can also come in tablets as well. It is taken orally according to a prescribed schedule, and unfortunately, because of its effects, it is sometimes stolen and used for illegal purposes.
What are the Effects of Methadone?
Methadone’s effects are basically a watered-down version of the effects of heroin. It delivers the same basic effects (euphoria, warmth, good feelings) but on a much less intense level. Other effects of Methadone include pupil contraction, a drop in body temperature and a drop in heart rate. If taken on a regular basis as part of a treatment, Methadone has actually been found to block the euphoric qualities of heroin, which makes it useful in treatment situations. However, it does have the potential of being misused due to its effects, the fact that it can be addictive and the fact that it is an opiate derivative.
Is Methadone Addictive?
Unfortunately, methadone is addictive. Many people who are in treatment for heroin have transferred their heroin addiction over into a methadone addiction, and continue taking the drug for years out of fear for withdrawal symptoms that will start once they stop taking it. However, methadone doesn’t have to be the new addiction for heroin addicts, and a gradual reduction in the dosages accompanied by treatment can help cure a methadone addiction. People can become addicted to methadone in many ways. Here are a few examples:
- Taking more than the prescribed amount
- Combining methadone with other drugs, or combining it with alcohol
- Continuing to take heroin and using methadone to get an extra “high”
- Selling the prescribed methadone to pay for heroin
Why Was Methadone Maintenance Created?
Methadone treatment was originally conceived of as a way to help get people off of heroin in 20 days, and today, methadone treatment centers survive only if they are profitable. The sad truth is that modern methadone treatment programs are in it for the money, and if they are not profitable, then they will lose the financial aid they need to stay afloat. They are given a certain number of patients that they are allowed to treat, and if they are treating less than this number, they have no incentive to help anyone beat their addiction, because they need those people to stay in the program to provide the center with money. Although treatment centers claim that they help treat other maladies, such as reducing the spread of HIV, the truth is that they are doing virtually nothing for their patients, and may even be causing them additional harm by exposing them to the possibility of developing a methadone addiction.
Methadone Rehab at Orchid Recovery Center
At Orchid Recovery Center, we offer treatments that help women beat their methadone and heroin addictions and return to a life that is normal and free of substance abuse. To aid in this endeavor, we employ a team of top physicians and therapists who deliver cutting-edge holistic therapies and treatments that give you the best possible chance of making a complete and life-long recovery. Contact us at Orchid Recovery Center today.
Further Reading