Methadone Addiction

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Next to Marijuana, National Drug Rehab Treatment Centers.org has found that the public has many myths about the effects of methadone and, mainly, about its supposed benefits. Methadone has been manufactured since it was first discovered by Hitler's scientist when they were no longer able to secure opium for the manufacture of morphine. Of course, a pain reliever of this strength was needed during the Second World War for the many soldiers that were at different stages of recovery from battle wounds. After the War, methadone wa used sparingly as a pain killer, but it's manufacture grew in the early 1970's when it was first used as a substitute drug for opiate, mainly heroin, addiction. There are more profits made from this form of treatment than any other drug treatment, if you can call the use of methadone a treatment.

The United States has added yet another menacing substance to the ever-growing problem of drug abuse. Methadone, a medication typically used as replacement or maintenance for opiate-dependent patients, has become the substitute drug of choice for heroin and the popular painkiller turned street drug, OxyContin.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network reported that across the nation, Methadone-related incidents requiring emergency room treatment has increased 37 percent between 2000 and 2001. Florida saw an 80 percent increase in Methadone related deaths in the same period, and North Carolina's fatalities increased eight times from 1997 to 2001. Virginia is witnessing similar trends, and data predicts that we will soon be seeing significantly more Methadone-related abuse than OxyContin.

For many years, Methadone was not considered an addictive threat because of the length of time (several hours) between taking it and experiencing the narcotic effect. Additionally, it has a sedative, rather than stimulant, effect. As an opiate-based painkiller, Methadone can serve as an adequate stand-in for heroin or OxyContin. This can be extremely dangerous due to the delayed and subtle effect of the "high". People can overdose because they don't anticipate or feel the actual damage being done until it is too late.Methadone addiction is a very serious and sometimes life threatening dilemma. Not only is it difficult for the addict, it is extremely hard on those around them who care about them. For the addict, admitting they have an addiction problem can be difficult. However painful this may be, it must be acknowledged as the first gradient to overcoming the problem.

The next hurdle is being willing to seek & accept help from an addiction professional. It can be hard for an addict to confront the fact that they can not do it alone. Once this fact is accepted, it is time to seek the appropriate professional treatment. Drug rehab programs based on the social education modality are highly successful. This means that individuals who are recovering from Methadone addiction are not made wrong for their past indiscretions, but are taught how to avoid future ones. They are provided with knowledge on how to change their lives and how to live comfortably without Methadone. Receiving treatment for addiction should be done in a safe & stable environment that is conducive to addiction recovery. Research studies show that residential treatment programs of at least 3 months in duration have the best success rates. 3 months may seem like a long time, but one day in the life of an individual addicted to Methadone can feel like an eternity. Addiction is a self imposed hellish slavery. The chains can be broken people do it everyday. You can be free!

Depending on your level of addiction to Methadone, you may neeed a specific type of treatment. There are many terms that are used to describe clinical actions related to Methadone. Some terms you may have come across are: Methadone Detox Center, a Methadone Rehab, Methadone Treatment, Methadone Addiction Treatment, Methadone Addiction Counseling, Methadone In-Patient Treatment and Methadone Out-Patient Treatment.Drug rehabilitation is a multi-phase, multi-faceted, long term process. Detoxification is only the first step on the road of addiction treatment. Physical detoxification alone is not sufficient to change the patterns of a drug addict. Recovery from addiction involves an extended process which usually requires the help of drug addiction professionals. To make a successful recovery, the addict needs new tools in order to deal with situations and problems which arise. Factors such as encountering someone from their days of using, returning to the same environment and places, or even small things such as smells and objects trigger memories which can create psychological stress. This can hinder the addict's goal of complete recovery, thus not allowing the addict to permanently regain control of his or her life.

Almost all addicts tell themselves in the beginning that they can conquer their addiction on their own without the help of outside resources. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. When an addict makes an attempt at detoxification and to discontinue drug use without the aid of professional help, statistically the results do not last long. Research into the effects of long-term addiction has shown that substantial changes in the way the brain functions are present long after the addict has stopped using drugs. Realizing that a drug addict who wishes to recover from their addiction needs more than just strong will power is the key to a successful recovery. Battling not only cravings for their drug of choice, re-stimulation of their past and changes in the way their brain functions, it is no wonder that quitting drugs without professional help is an uphill battle.

What are the origins of Methadone?

Methadone was originally developed by the Nazis during World War II. When the supply of opium was cut off, Nazi addicts like Hermann Goering (Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's designated successor) wanted to avoid the possibility of withdrawal. He instructed the German drug companies to produce a wholly synthetic opiate that didn't need to rely on the poppy. The chemists came up with a drug that not only worked, but also lasted a long time. As a result, Methadone has become the drug of choice for doctors who are trying to help users manage their opiate dependency. Heroin wears off after a couple of hours, thus requiring several hits each day. Methadone, on the other hand, lasts anywhere between 24 and 72 hours, depending on the dose that you take and on your individual metabolism.

Methadone is a (synthetic opiate) narcotic that when administered once a day, orally, in adequate doses, can usually suppress a heroin addict's craving and withdrawal for 24 hours. Patients are as physically dependent on methadone as they were to heroin or other opiates, such as Oxycotin or Vicodin. Each time an addict uses heroin, there is a cycle of consisting of intoxication, initially, followed by a period of normal mental functioning which then yields to the discomfort of withdrawal and craving (flu-like symptoms with pain, anxiety and depression).

The cycle that repeats every 4 to 8 hours with heroin is eliminated by expert methadone maintenance treatment. This is possible because methadone is released more slowly into the system and lasts much longer than heroin and most other opiates. Short acting opiates, like heroin, hydrocodone and morphine perpetuate and/or create abnormal processes in the brain, which interfere with feeling normal and functioning normally. Taking methadone, instead, stops most aspects of this destructive process while normalizing important neurobiological functions. After stabilization on the proper dose, methadone does not produce the rush or “high” associated with heroin abuse.

The most common side effects of Methadone are: drowsiness; lightheadedness, weakness, euphoria, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and slow or troubled breathing. Some occasional side effects are: allergic reactions, skin rash, hives, itching, headache, dizziness, impaired concentration, sensation of drunkenness, confusion, depression, blurred or double vision, facial flushing, sweating, heart palpitation, nausea, and vomiting. The least common side effects of Methadone are: anaphylactic reactions, hypotension causing weakness and fainting, disorientation, hallucinations, unstable gait, tremor, muscle twitching, myasthenia gravis. The risks include kidney failure and seizures. Symptoms of overdose are: marked drowsiness, confusion, tremors, convulsions, stupor leading to coma, cold and clammy skin, hypotension, bradycardia.

How do I identify a Methadone overdose?

The symptoms for a methadone overdose are similar to all potent opiates. Here are the signs of which you should be aware:

These are some of the symptoms of all opiate overdoses, but certainly those of Methadone. If you are observing these, you should call an ambulance and take the person to the nearest Emergency Room.