Methadone Stabilization Summary

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Vital Signs. TEMPERATURE: 101.0, Blood Pressure- 127/179, Heart Rate-129, Respirations- 185, Weight-215. Situations 96% on room air. Pain Scale- 8/10. HEENT-Normal cephalic, atrumatic pupils equally round and reactive to light. Extra ocular motions intact. ORAL: Shows oral pharynx clear but slightly dry mucosal membranes. TMS: Clear. NECK: Supple, No thrangegally or JVD. No cervical, subclavicular, axilarry or lingual lymphinalpathy.

Currently in Ontario there are approximately 30,000 people, between the ages of 15 and 49, using illicit opioids on a regular basis. (Hart 2007) Opioid use is a costly and dangerous social problem and is the fastest growing drug problem in the country. The good news is that there is a treatment that has been proven by research and evidence to be effective. Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is a long term treatment program used to treat opioid dependence and addiction.(Source) MMT works by preventing withdrawal symptoms in opiate users. It also prevents the euphoria the user is seeking from other opiates. MMT uses the drug of Methadone to do this. Methadone is a synthetic opioid commonly used to treat opioid dependence.(Source)

America has a major problem with opioid addicts, and many facilities are helping the addicts by providing safer options to taking the drugs their bodies crave. Methadone clinics are places where people addicted to opioids can receive medicine-based therapy. Opioid use, drugs such as heroin, morphine, and prescribed painkillers, has increased in the US with all age groups and incomes. People become addicted to these drugs when they are prescribed, recreationally used with other addicts, or they are born addicted. Many health institutions are addressing this issue with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted

When concerning the patient situations there are some important facts that need to be reviewed. The important facts about this case is the patient was a 16 years old guy that got in an automobile accident. The patient stated that he was in a methadone treatment program. A methadone are drugs approved for use in treating opioid dependence patient such as

Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) is used with opioid dependency and is an opioid replacement therapy. MMT typically replaces heroin with Methadone which is a cleaner substance than heroin, and is used to avoid withdrawal and allow the user to function normally within society. MMT has been around for the last 50 years, and research studies have been conducted to address the benefits and the complications associated with this replacement therapy. This paper will examine some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with MMT and reflect on personal ideals in accordance with MMT.

“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.

Dr. Perry Kendall’s stated in a report that the mortality rate for people in opioid substitution treatment is about half of what it is for those using street heroin. (“globeandmail”) Another doctor, who has been administering the program as part of his family practice for several years states the rate of success is poor, the nature of the work often frustrating and the paperwork required under new rules is daunting. But the reward is the amazing transformation of those who are helped by methadone, says Dr. Jeff White. (“thetelegram”) Equally, a confident experience is expressed from a recovering addict himself, Jared stated to a Newfoundland based newspaper, The Compass that the methadone program had a super positive impact on his life. Going on to say in a separate interview with The Advertiser, that the first year everything went as well as it could have with him not doing any drugs. (“Advertiser”) This is just a few examples on how the methadone program has continued to play a positive impact on lives when given the

1. The patient was admitted on 12/16/2015, however the patient last visit to the program was on 02/28/2016.

The purpose of this briefing memo is to provide recommendations to Council of City ABC on certain aspects it may or may not include in its zoning provisions with regard to methadone clinics and dispensaries. In the following sections I will provide my input on the provisions laid out by council.

During the last seven months whilst working at a men’s shelter (Cornerstone Community Association, in the heart of Oshawa, which some may say is the drug capital of the Durham Region) many of the shelter guests (men who stay in the shelter) have disclosed being on the methadone maintenance program, stating as a result of being addicted to opioid drugs. I have chosen to write about this psychoactive drug because I want to explore, become more knowledgeable and more confident when talking about this complex drug.

D-The patient arrived on time for her session. Reports stable on her dose. This writer discussed about tapering off on her methadone, at which the patient is willing to consider doing, but needs more time. She then says, " I might consider doing it next month, but not right now......I was doing it before, but it stopped....just want to take my time." The patient then discussed about having to go to SSA to obtain the payment for the funeral cost. The patient is upset about the small amount she is about to receive. This writer discussed the grieving process of her loss of her husband and also, her mother in law. The patient appeared to be annoyed with her son for not participating in his grandmother funeral arrangement and also, not showing

A psychiatrist in a methadone clinic in Northeast Washington, D.C. works with patients who are addicted to drugs. Some of her patients suffering from addiction

It was stated in the presentation that the sample sized used for the study was 175, but of the 175 study participants 44 discontinued treatment 16 in the methadone group and 28 in the buprenorphine group leaving 131 participants, the proper sample size could have been identified on the slides to give the reader a more accurate idea of the sample size used.

The patient arrived on for his counseling session. Reports stability on his current dose and denies the need for a dose increase or decrease when offered by the writer. The patient was made aware that he will be reassigned to counselor, Scott effectively immediately as his new assigned counselor will schedule his next session. The patient reports of no update with his medical pertaining to a referral to another PCP as he is currently still seeing the same medical provider.