Opiate Addiction: Methadone Facts

Question: Why the difference in treatment for opiate addiction and alcohol addiction?

(Posted by: needful thing on 2009-10-04 23:59:26)

Ok addiction is really really nasty. I want to know, why is it that a person who used to use heroin is given the option of methadone maintenance treatment, but an alcoholic is given nothing but AA. The rationale of mmt is to allow the addict to live a productive life. But this option is not given to alcoholics, who use for the same reason as opiate addicts. WHY ???? If I'd have had access to heroin, I probably would have used it instead of alcohol. My question is referring basically to the fact that alcoholics are told not to drink and have to face reality without help, but opiate users have methadone. Sexy mama, alcoholics can die from withdrawal, because it is a physical addiction. Just like heroin. Emotional weakness has nothing to do with it. How many H addicts use again when faced with emotional problems?

Posted by: facepalm on 2009-10-05, 00:07:52

Because it's specifically for heroine addicts and alcohol isn't an opiate

Posted by: sexy mama on 2009-10-05, 00:13:38

They are two different chemical dependencies. The withdrawls are completly different. An alcoholic can be talked into rehabilitation cause it is an emotional weekness to the alcohol. Heroin is a physical dependancey if some one tries to quit cold turkey they become terribly sick. So to get them down they need to do it slowly with a opiate like substance

Posted by: ? on 2009-10-05, 00:51:42

They actually have a few medications for alcoholism. Antabuse is one old one. But the draw back is, you get violently ill if you do drink alcohol, some cheeses, and a few other kinds of food. I know there are at least two more medications for alcoholism. Yes, a lot of treatment places base their system on 12 stepping (A.A.) I was forced by the court to attend 100 meetings. N.A is a much better place for me, and I find the people or less god reliant or preachy. As for H, its better to just go cold turkey for two weeks. The symtoms depending on length and doseage used really affect how you will detox. A 60 dollar habit is fairly east to kick, and if you get up to 150 or 200 a day, its not going to be a pretty site. I'm sure you've heard of the diahrea, shakes, chills, vommiting, and over an all ache incompasing your body.