Methadone: Methadone Facts

Question: Whats your opinion on methadone?

(Posted by: on 2010-03-12 17:00:41)

I have to do a research paper on something that's somewhat controversial and I was thinking methadone..my cousin has a friend that recently passed away from overdosing on it and he was just 18...I hear a lot of women get so addicted to it that when they get pregnant they continue to take it even though it harms the baby...I guess the issue people have is it's giving up one addiction for another in some cases. What is your opinion on it? Do you think it should continue to be given out?

Posted by: calliel on 2010-03-14, 06:32:00

This is kind of a touchy subject for me personally. As I have known a few methodone clinic clients. Yes it does have a place in the medical world,but- just like any drug, it made it's way to the streets to be abused by self medicators. It affects different people differently. It made my ex-boyfriend snap into violent Episodes. While another person can functionquite well and be productive. Then some just can't seem to stay awake. A pregnant woman is told that if she is already on the drug when she becomes pregnant she CANNOT go off of it because the baby could be harmed if she tries. Its body is already used to the drug and is not strong enough while still in the womb to experience withdrawl safely. Once born a Dr. will be able to monitor the baby while it's first battle in life is battling a drug addiction. That is very sad. The problem I have with the clinic is that it is also a business and they want to keep their clients, because without the clients they won't have jobs themselves. I was able to speak wih my ex's counselor after he signed a full disclosure so that I could. Apparently he claimed he was addicted to other things in order to get into the clinic-when it was actually methadone that he was getting on the streets. But methadone is not a proper treatment for methadone, so he lied. He was being drug tested by the court and getting into the clinic meant he could smile and say "but it's legal now! " Also made it alot less expensive as it was now covered by the stat insurance! He's quite clever!!! But the particular counselors that I spoke with, basically tell you how to get more methodone by telling you what kind of symptoms you can experience if you don'thave quite enough! If you test positive for another drug they reward that with more methadone because "If you were at the level you need, you would not have a desire for anything else ". I do think there are people that need the drug for it's intended purpose (i.e. Getting off of more harmful drugs) but unfortunately it is abused by many who just like drugs!

Posted by: Kelle on 2010-03-12, 17:05:15

Methadone is a life saving medication for drug addicts who are serious about rehab. It does not cause a high or destroy body organs like the heroin, cocaine, alcohol does. whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/ publications/ factsht/ methadone/ camh.net/ About_Addiction_Mental_Health/ Drug_and_Addiction_Information/ methadone_dyk.html

Posted by: weasel_sponge on 2010-03-12, 17:20:25

I'm a proponent of harm-reduction, which is not a very popular position to take these days, but I believe that methadone clinics serve a purpose. First, methadone is a legal substitute for heroin and if available to those who would otherwise use heroin, it may have an impact on the various forms of criminal activity that often surrounds heroin use. Secondly, individuals who have access to methadone instead of heroin are more likely to quit using altogether; if individuals access methadone on a regular basis, they inadvertently access health care services and other forms of assistance, and the chance that they eventually find and/ or seek help or treatment greatly increases. Finally, the effects of heroin use are far-reaching; heroin use often impacts much more than the user's health, having an effect on the person's family and relationships, work and productivity. In an ideal world, no one would use, but in a less-than-ideal world, I would rather see people use methadone over heroin; I consider it the lesser of two evils.

Posted by: Lauren R on 2010-03-13, 00:41:29

I am an ex-morphine user (Never Heroin). Methadone is used for any type of Opiate-Narcotic addiction. I have been on Methadone for 7 years now. It has literally saved my life. I was 82 pounds when I walked into my first methadone clinic, My liver & heart were failing. I was also only 22 years old. I was an "Escort ". Selling my body was the lowest point in my life. I have never had the urge to touch another drug since Ive been on The Methadone Program. Most women on Methadone have Methadone babies instead of giving birth to a "Heroin Baby " I have had a " Methadone Baby " since I am now married and wanted children. I know myself all too well. I knew if I came off of the methadone for the baby, My baby would have been born a drug-addicted baby. My child as well and all of the other " Methadone Babies " were all born healthy and had no developmental problems. My son is in school now and he is a straight A student with no health problems. All of the other "Methadone Children " Are bright, And healthy also. Methadone does no harm to the fetus. The only problem we all run into is that the babies have to stay in the hospital for a few more days to slightly withdrawl off of the methadone. Some babies don't withdrawl at all. My opinion is, It is not that we are addicted to it and want our babies to be born while we take it. It is either taking it and having a semi-normal life, Or having a "Heroin " Baby that would be born with god knows what wrong with it. We are addicts and we know ourselves. It is either the Methadone, Or illicit drugs. Methadone also cuts down on crime, And HIV significantly. Yes, It should be given out under strict supervision.