Methadone Info Needed Please

elkpark · May 12, 2005

You and your friend are correct that methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) just swaps one addiction for another (addiction to methadone). Methadone can be used to gradually taper people off narcotics completely, but most clients of methadone clinics are doing maintenance treatment, which consists of continuing the person on a scheduled, prescribed daily dose of methadone.

The (supposed) advantages of MMT vs. using street drugs are that it's legal; it's safer than using street drugs (you know exactly what you're getting, no impurities/contaminants, no questions about dosage, no safety problems related to shooting up, etc.); it's tightly regulated and controlled by the federal and state DEAs; methadone has a long half-life, so only one dose a day is needed; and, supposedly, methadone satisfies the physiological need for an opiate without the euphoria associated with so many other narcotics when they are used "recreationally," so it decreases/eliminates the pleasurable aspect of using (although I have heard plenty of addicts tell me otherwise and methadone is abused illegally/recreationally by plenty of people).

There can be a lot of value to swapping one addiction for another! Think of all the people who quit smoking and become habitual gum-chewers. And anyone who has watched people scarfing up the coffee and doughnuts at an AA meeting can appreciate the (rather cynical) observation by lots of us who have worked in drug/alcohol treatment that part of how AA works is by switching your addiction from alcohol to sugar and caffeine ... :) It's a question of the relative risks of the addictions in question (this is the basis of the "risk reduction" approach to dealing with chemical dependency and other dangerous lifestyles). Is MMT better than getting off narcotics completely and being clean and sober? Clearly, no. Is it better than continuing to use? Heck, yeah. Obviously, your friend would prefer the "clean and sober" option for her husband (any sensible person would), but that's not her choice to make -- it's his. If the husband is not willing to pursue actually quitting at this time, then the choices are 1) continuing to use illegally with no supervision or contols or 2) being in a MMT program. Which is preferable to your friend?

I'm afraid I don't know offhand of any good websites or sources of detailed info, as you requested. I'm sure you can tell by the tone of this post that I'm not a huge fan of MMT, but that's just one opinion. You may also want to do a search for other threads on this board that talk about MMT (I believe there are some), and review what others have had to say. Best wishes to your friend and her husband in this difficult and painful situation --

PicklesRN, RN · May 13, 2005

You and your friend are correct that methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) just swaps one addiction for another (addiction to methadone). Methadone can be used to gradually taper people off narcotics completely, but most clients of methadone clinics are doing maintenance treatment, which consists of continuing the person on a scheduled, prescribed daily dose of methadone.
The (supposed) advantages of MMT vs. using street drugs are that it's legal; it's safer than using street drugs (you know exactly what you're getting, no impurities/contaminants, no questions about dosage, no safety problems related to shooting up, etc.); it's tightly regulated and controlled by the federal and state DEAs; methadone has a long half-life, so only one dose a day is needed; and, supposedly, methadone satisfies the physiological need for an opiate without the euphoria associated with so many other narcotics when they are used "recreationally," so it decreases/eliminates the pleasurable aspect of using (although I have heard plenty of addicts tell me otherwise and methadone is abused illegally/recreationally by plenty of people).
There can be a lot of value to swapping one addiction for another! Think of all the people who quit smoking and become habitual gum-chewers. And anyone who has watched people scarfing up the coffee and doughnuts at an AA meeting can appreciate the (rather cynical) observation by lots of us who have worked in drug/alcohol treatment that part of how AA works is by switching your addiction from alcohol to sugar and caffeine ... :) It's a question of the relative risks of the addictions in question (this is the basis of the "risk reduction" approach to dealing with chemical dependency and other dangerous lifestyles). Is MMT better than getting off narcotics completely and being clean and sober? Clearly, no. Is it better than continuing to use? Heck, yeah. Obviously, your friend would prefer the "clean and sober" option for her husband (any sensible person would), but that's not her choice to make -- it's his. If the husband is not willing to pursue actually quitting at this time, then the choices are 1) continuing to use illegally with no supervision or contols or 2) being in a MMT program. Which is preferable to your friend?
I'm afraid I don't know offhand of any good websites or sources of detailed info, as you requested. I'm sure you can tell by the tone of this post that I'm not a huge fan of MMT, but that's just one opinion. You may also want to do a search for other threads on this board that talk about MMT (I believe there are some), and review what others have had to say. Best wishes to your friend and her husband in this difficult and painful situation --

Elkpark...

Thank you *so* much for the info. I never have been a big fan of Methadone.

I guess one concern I have for my friend is her own career. I'm just concerned that her S/O will get back on drugs and something will happen to jeopardize my friend's career. She worked very hard to get where she is and I don't want to see anything happen to her hard work and efforts. Since you have been in the rehab business you know what this stuff can do to family. It's just a very difficult situation. My friend loves her S/O deeply but there is a trade off in my mind with being in love with an addicted person, it's a trade off of a piece of sanity. I just feel so very sorry for the both of them, I wish I could help.

elkpark · May 14, 2005

I guess one concern I have for my friend is her own career. I'm just concerned that her S/O will get back on drugs and something will happen to jeopardize my friend's career. She worked very hard to get where she is and I don't want to see anything happen to her hard work and efforts. Since you have been in the rehab business you know what this stuff can do to family. It's just a very difficult situation. My friend loves her S/O deeply but there is a trade off in my mind with being in love with an addicted person, it's a trade off of a piece of sanity. I just feel so very sorry for the both of them, I wish I could help.

One thing you can do to help your friend is to encourage her to attend (at least try) Al-Anon meetings. Al-Anon is the "sister" organization of AA (founded by the wife of the man who founded AA), and is a support/education group for family members and loved ones of people with addictions. While it is not necessarily right for everyone, I have seen it help a lot of people. Your friend can get help and support from Al-Anon regardless of how her husband is doing with dealing with his own problems. If Al-Anon is not listed in your local telephone book, call the AA number, and they can tell you when/where Al-Anon meets in your area. Best wishes.

MMT Advocate · May 22, 2005

Unfortunately, Methadone Maintenance Treatment is misunderstood, even in the medical community.

Methadone saves lives. It allows those with the medical disease of opiate addiction to live a normal life.

MMT (Methadone Maintenance Treatment) has been studied for 40 years. It is NOT a substitute for illicit drugs. Methadone is frequently compared to insulin, and opiate addiction to diabetes.

There are several good resources about MMT online. One of the best is the National Institutes of Health Consesus Statement concerning the treatment of opiate addiction. It can be found at

http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/108/108_statement.htm#2_1._What

If you have any questions or concerns about medication assisted treatment (methadone or buprenorphine), I will be happy to answer them.

Terri Martinez

Director

Addiction Treatment Watchdog

[email protected]

PicklesRN, RN · May 22, 2005

Unfortunately, Methadone Maintenance Treatment is misunderstood, even in the medical community.
Methadone saves lives. It allows those with the medical disease of opiate addiction to live a normal life.
MMT (Methadone Maintenance Treatment) has been studied for 40 years. It is NOT a substitute for illicit drugs. Methadone is frequently compared to insulin, and opiate addiction to diabetes.
There are several good resources about MMT online. One of the best is the National Institutes of Health Consesus Statement concerning the treatment of opiate addiction. It can be found at
http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/108/108_statement.htm#2_1._What
If you have any questions or concerns about medication assisted treatment (methadone or buprenorphine), I will be happy to answer them.
Terri Martinez
Director
Addiction Treatment Watchdog
[email protected]

How does it not replace one addiction for another? I've seen people when they quit Methadone, it isn't pretty.