Methadone is a prescription drug works by alleviating the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. A stable and sufficient blood level of methadone stops the chronic craving for opioids. Since methadone has a much longer acting ‘high’ than some other opioids, such as heroin, one oral dose daily prevents the beginning of opioid withdrawal symptoms such as: anxiety, restlessness, runny nose, tearing, nausea and vomiting for about 24 hours or longer.Methadone reduces the euphoric (ecstatic) effects of other opioids (cross tolerance), without necessarily causing euphoria, sedation or analgesia. This means, self-administered illicit opioids will not lead to euphoria, making it less likely that they will either use illegal opioids or overdose.
stig·ma (st g m )
n. pl. stig·ma·ta (stig-mä) or stig·mas
1. A mark or token of infamy, disgrace, or reproach: "Party affiliation has never been more casual . . . The stigmata of decay are everywhere" Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. See Synonyms at stain.
2. A small mark; a scar or birthmark.
3. Medicine A mark or characteristic indicative of a history of a disease or abnormality.
4. Psychology A mark or spot on the skin that bleeds as a symptom of hysteria.
5. stigmata Bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain corresponding in location to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, usually occurring during states of religious ecstasy or hysteria.
6. Biology A small mark, spot, or pore, such as the respiratory spiracle of an insect or an eyespot in certain algae.
7. Botany The receptive apex of the pistil of a flower, on which pollen is deposited at pollination.
8. Archaic A mark burned into the skin of a criminal or slave; a brand.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stigma
There is a lot of social stigma about methadone usage. It is used on the street but it is still a drug that is administered by doctors to help with the overcome of heroin addictions. It is given in small amounts just enough to work. Because the ‘high’ lasts longer than other opiates the person using methadone only has to take it at the most once a day to stop the side effects of heroin withdrawal. People believe that drugs like that no matter what they are for are bad. Also, people think that methadone is no better than heroin.
“it is likely that you would again hear negative opinions, such as "that stuff doesn't work," or "that stuff is no better than heroin." http://www.medicalassistedtreatment.org/
If we as a society paid more attention to the fact that they are trying to help kick their habits then the fact that they are using methadone they will feel better about going to the doctors and getting help, then trying to do it on their own. If they think that people are just going to hassle them more about using methadone they will not seek help and will most likely die on the streets.Methadone is quite like nicotine replacement therapy for smoker trying to quit. They are given the gum or the patch that give s them lower amounts of nicotine then smoking with very little side effects.
“NRTs are used (in conjunction with behavioural support) to relieve withdrawal symptoms—they produce less severe physiological alterations than tobacco-based systems and generally provide users with lower overall nicotine levels than they receive with tobacco. An added benefit is that these forms of nicotine have little abuse potential since they do not produce the pleasurable effects of tobacco products—nor do they contain the carcinogens and gases associated with tobacco smoke. Behavioural treatments, even beyond what is recommended on packaging labels, have been shown to enhance the effectiveness of NRTs and improve long-term outcomes.” http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/nicotine4.html
The difference between methadone and nicotine replacement is that you must have a doctor’s prescription in order to obtain the methadone and you can just get the nicotine gum or patch just by going to the pharmacy. This is so that people just don’t come in and buy meth and go and sell it on the streets. It is also so that the person having to take the methadone to stop heroin can only have the amount he needs to get better. The doctors need to be able to keep an eye on the patents so that things do not get out of control. Meth vs herion. which one is better?
7 comments:
ummm, uhh,
they should not be allowed to use meth as a medicine to help a heroine addiction.
its pointless.
There is a difference between meth and heroine, and its not that the "high" last longer.
If the person currently using heroine is going to take meth to help stop using the heroine, and they fail, there is a higher chance they will be addicted to meth and use it as a dependancy.
"Today, an estimated 1 million Americans are addicted to heroin. About 120,000 people take methadone, a synthetic opiate, to control their heroin addiction. About 20% of methadone patients continue their methadone treatment for more than 10 years. "
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/methadone.htm
"Methadone addiction is a serious problem. In blind trials, users who were given both drugs orally were unable to distinguish between the effects of heroin and methadone. As compared to other opiates, such a heroin, in which the withdrawal period is a week to 10 days, heavy methadone users can expect to not recover for up to 5 or 6 weeks.
Many former heroin users have claimed that the horrors of withdrawal from heroin were far less difficult and painful than withdrawal from methadone. "
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/methadone.htm
Another illegal drug sold on the streets should not be prescribeds to treat another illegal drug addiction.
I agree with you. I really do. I do not think that they should treat heroin addiction with methadone and that they should create something new that will take away the symptoms of withdrawal. They have other ways for treating heroin addiction such as: detoxification, LAAM, and behavioural therapies. Some of these may not be as effective as Methadone, but, at least they are not taking more drugs that they may abuse again.
“A variety of effective treatments are available for heroin addiction. Treatment tends to be more effective when heroin abuse is identified early. The treatments that follow vary depending on the individual, but methadone, a synthetic opiate that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has a proven record of success for people addicted to heroin. Other pharmaceutical approaches, like LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol) and buprenorphine, and many behavioral therapies also are used for treating heroin addiction.” http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/heroin/f/herion_faq09.htm
Everything also depends on The quantity and the kind of substances used, the severity of the disorder and the consequences, Simultaneous physical and/or psychological disorders, The strong and weak characteristics of the patient, the patient's motivation, the social surroundings of the patient (friends, acquaintances, colleagues, family, etc.) http://web4health.info/en/answers/add-heroin-treat.htm
I believe that if the patient is willing enough to stop, that he/she with a little bit of help can do it, no matter what. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY! =)
I really do not think treating a heroine addiction by using methadone is an appropriate way to deal with this kind of addiction. Both of those chemicals going into your body can create more dangerous effects than what you started with.
And i agree with Jamie saying that drugs sold on the streets should not be used for medical uses. This is ridiculous by how many people are being affected by the uses of these two dangerous drugs.
You both are right and i think this should stop.
There are ways to treat an addiction without all of the drugs. :)
- Jess
yea jess totally.
i was talking to my computer guy yesterday (getting it fixed) and we got on this topic because he asked me how school was going. he stated that theses drugs (methadone perscribed by a doctor) is so good for these guys because now that they have no chance of dying and they can still get their "high", their set for life. they will just keep taking the meth with no worry of dying and become addicted AGAIN.
I dont underdstand how doctors think its right to prescribe more drugs to get people off of more drugs?
it just isnt "clicking"
people who are stupid enough to start using heroine should not be helped unless they are serious about wanting to get off of it.
one piece of advice doctors should give people is just simply dont do it.
i do smoke, and i am addicted to it,
smoking is harder to quit than heroine- taken from my cigarette pack.
and if people can smoke for many years without methadone, they can quit heroine without meth also.
to quit smoking, people use methods that keep them busy, writing down why they want to quit, and writing down everytime they have a smoke, and why they had one.
this is what heroine addicts should use.
NOT METH.
Points to consider...
1. Meth is not the short for for methadone... Meth is crystal meth and is made in a lab in someone's house... with rat poison etc. Methadone is made at a pharmaceutical company is pure and controlled in dosage
2. Withdrawl from heroin is very hard... the withdrawl can actually (and usually) will kill you... the aid of the drug eliminates this possiblility (usually)
3. Comparing quiting smoking and herion... two different things... smoking is terrible and the habit is acceptable (for the most part)because of this it is harder to quit... the withdrawl albeit uncomfortable will not kill you
in response to Ms. F.
using heroine can kill you also.
if they continue to use methadone to treat heroine addictions, i bet more people will become addicted to methadone.
you can die while using methadone aswell.
"Deaths occur more frequently at the beginning of treatment in methadone programs; they are usually a cause of excessive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by concomitant diseases (hepatitis, pneumonia). Methadone generally entails the entire spectrum of opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Respiratory depressions are dangerous. The released histamines can cause hypotension or bronchospasms. Other symptoms are: constipation, nausea or vomiting, sedation, vertigo, edema."
http://www.heroinaddiction.com/heroin_methadone.html
methadone also has a physical dependancy.
"As an opiate, regular use of methadone causes physical dependency - if you've been using it regularly (prescribed or not) once you stop you will experience a withdrawal. The physical changes due to the drug are similar to other opiates (like heroin); suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users feel sick when they first use the drug. If you are a woman using methadone you may not have regular periods - but you are still able to conceive. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours (if you are using methadone you will not withdraw for this period) and can remain in your body for several days."
-http://www.heroinaddiction.com/heroin_methadone.html
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