Methadone Research Paper

Coupled with its effectiveness, MMT is a much safer treatment for clients. Especially when compared to the alternative of having an untreated opiate addiction, as remaining untreated has many severe and even fatal risks. Clients who are part of a MMT program are less likely to be using illicit or prescription opiates, which have an extremely high risk of overdose.(source) Also, methadone is taken orally, meaning there is

MethadoneMethadone is a far-reaching-histrionism opioid dosage. Unlike recreational drug, junk, oxycodone, and other habit-forming opioids that continue in the conceive and extent for only a lacking tempo, methadone has outcome that last for days. Methadone origin suspension, but—inasmuch as of its steadier control on the mu opioid receptors—it generate least toleration and allay desire and compulsive dope application. In title, methadone therapeutics watch to renormalize many aspects of the hormonal disruptions found in give individuals (Kling et al., 2000; Kreek, 2000; Schluger et al., 2001). For exemplify, it temperate the outré hydrocortisone accent answer (scatter above) that enhance the control of revert in stressful situations.Methadone manipulation subject regression degree, aid

Suboxone is picked up at the local pharmacy and it is much more convenient, because Methadone clinics are only open for limited hours, usually very early morning hours to late morning. For some who work this can be inconvenient. Having to go to the Methadone clinic daily to get your dose may seem inconvenient, others find it a lot less inconvenient than the chase for opiates. Waking up at 5 am, searching for your opiates until late evening hours, then usually only finding enough to get you through until the following morning at 5 am when you will begin your desperate search all over again. This makes the daily trip seem worth it.

The most essential reason of methadone being such a controversy is that methadone has potential side effects, such as “drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision”, and thus can put someone under the danger of an automobile accident. It is true that the defendant may be convicted of DUI by methadone due to his inconsistent driving, but the conviction depends on a two-part test by the prosecution. First, the blood test conducted at a state-approved and certified lab must show “appropriate threshold levels of the drug in the defendant’s system” (Goodnough 1). Secondly, the police and the prosecution must prove that the driver who tests positive for the medication was impaired to “the point that he or she was incapable of safe driving” (Goodnough 1). However, both of these tests are subjective measurements of one’s level of impairment, and therefore, cannot avoid having some uncertainties.

Zamorak Stephenson, a recovering addict, uses methadone everyday to keep him off of opioids and heroin, and says, “it’s great”. Addicts that go to methadone clinics want to help themselves, and to turn their lives around, most do not want to continue the bad choices and habits they have made before. That being said, there are a lot of regulations that the clinics have to follow. People can not loiter around the clinics, and patients have to keep the drugs in lock boxes going to and from the clinics. Zamorak Stephenson says he keeps his drugs in a steel safe so nobody can have access to his doses. Stephenson says, “methadone clinics are wonderful tools for those who want to be free of opioid addiction, but don't have their lives together enough to completely live a sober

Since Methadone is still an opioid, many people are still overdosing while using Methadone. However, those who are overdosing from Methadone are not in a Methadone Maintenance program, but casual users are accessing and using Methadone, just as similar as a heroin user accessing and using heroin (Gagajewski & Apple, 2003). Methadone is a prescription drug that can be easily bought on the streets and can be fatal when not taken correctly. Thus, many people are overdosing on Methadone, but are not in the MMT. Therefore, drug users not in treatment have a higher mortality rate than those in a MMT program (Caplehorn, Dalton, Haldar, Petnrenas, & Nisbet, 1996). Overall, Methadone programs save lives in the long-term view.

“In 1949, Isbell and Vogel, working at the U.S. Public Health Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, showed methadone to be the most effective medication for withdrawing addicts from heroin (Joseph, Stancliff, & Landgord, 2000, p. 347). Further studies revealed that administering methadone to an addict for seven to ten days had a relapse rate of more than 90% when treatment ceased. “By 1998, the number of methadone patients in the United States had increased from the original six research patients in 1964 to about 44,000 patients in New York Stated and 179,000 patients worldwide” (Joseph, Stancliff, & Landgord, 2000, p. 347). The number of individuals enrolled in MMT continues to increase as the methadone clinics and the overall effectiveness of MMT gains

Post World War II New York City was faced with a major heroin epidemic with over 151,000 names listed in the Narcotics Register (Herman). As a medical response, methadone was developed to treat heroin addiction (Herman). Today methadone maintenance treatment has grown to become a popular therapy for drug addiction as well as pain management. Methadone has helped many people to create new lives for themselves, yet there is still debate over the success of this program. Methadone assisted treatment should be seen as an effective program in combating opioid addiction due to its health and social benefits for both users and the community.

This project will focus on using Methadone as a pharmacological treatment strategy as well as the normal non-pharmacological treatment strategies to

Methadone is legal and as long as it is used as directed, it is also safe.

In the video Opiate Addiction: Understanding Replacement Therapy, Scott Farnum talks about methadone replacement therapy. There were many topics covered in this video and the topics were introduced in a psychoeducational format. The topics covered included a brief history opioids, brain chemistry, post acute withdrawal syndrome, abstinence based treatment programs verses harm reduction, and how an individual asses the damages of opioids on the brain. As a counselor in training, I found all the information useful because I have not studied methadone replacement therapy in detail.

Methadone is an opioid and it is given to Heroin addicts to help wean them off of Heroin. Methadone doesn’t cause the exact “high” that Heroin may cause accordingly it can assist addicts thus they don’t have a longing to take it considering they are addicted to the ingredient not the high. Other forms of medication to help treat people addicted to opioids is Buprenorphine. If an individual is addicted to Heroin and is on Methadone for twenty-four hours it prevents them from getting high on Heroin. Methadone also will be much milder and safer than Heroin. Methadone prevents the severe withdrawal that Heroin has but that is not to say that Methadone itself doesn’t have a withdrawal. Methadone has a slow mild withdrawal and it is cheap compared to heroin and it’s also long lasting.

“Meth is a very strong drug that attacks the central nervous system stimulant.” “The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission (“HOW METH DESTROYS.” 1) Meth is also potent an easy to make only thing you need is a few boxes of cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, red phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze are among the ingredients most commonly used. Longtime meth abuse causes brain damage, various oral cancers and oral infections, as well as psychotic behavior, and various skin conditions; it also decreases nerve sensitivity.

Methaqualone is a very dangerous drug. When the drug is combined with alcohol, the combination can be lethal. This does not stop people however. It is most common to mix this drug with alcohol, when this happens it's known as luding. As with any drug, after awhile you can develop a very high tolerance for it. Methaqualone is dangerous for the user, especially if it is used daily. The user will continually try to get the same effects as the first time they did the drug. By doing this they must take higher and higher doses to reach it. This can lead to the user becoming addicted to the drug.

One of the most devastating side effects of drug addiction and abuse is depression. Depression is the result of chemical imbalance, environmental influence, or a combination of both. Using heavy and very highly addictive drugs as heroin, cocaine, opium and many other will cause sudden mood changes, deterioration of the immune system, nervous breakdowns, unusual flares of temper and many other side effects. Besides physical side effects, drug addiction can create problems in a person's social circles. The person may run into many conflicts with his family and friends, resulting in desire for isolation. This in turn will create more problems since the person will have no social support. Furthermore, drug addiction is a financial strain especially for teenagers. When a person is addicted to drugs he will do anything to obtain money to fulfill his needs.