What Is Methadone?

Methadone is a synthetic agent that works by occupying the brain receptor sites that have been affected by heroin and other opiates. Its main functions are to block the euphoric and sedating effects of opiates, relieve craving, and relieve major withdrawal symptoms. It is a medication that is released slowly and can only be taken once a day. With stable dosing, it will not cause euphoric effects or intoxication.

There is no denying that methadone treatment comes with its health risks. Because methadone is an opioid-based medication, long-term use has detrimental effects on the liver and kidney. Side effects from the drug can also prevent a patient from thinking clearly or leave them with less energy when the medication takes effect. Once the drug begins to wear off, it is also very likely that an individual may begin to experience withdrawal effects in the mornings before they receive their dose.

Methadone Treatment

Methadone treatment programs began in the 1960s, with the idea behind it being that the addict would undergo a 20-day opioid detox. Deemed an insufficient time span for successful detox for a number of reasons, the 20-day treatment was extended indefinitely. When the public became familiar with methadone being used medically and how these treatment clinics worked, it sparked a new concern over why our state's tax dollars were being used to help those with drug addictions maintain their opiate use. As a response to the concerns of the public, the government created strict regulations for the legal use of methadone in methadone treatment centers.

While methadone treatment is used widely across the country for the handling of opiate drug addiction, there are questions about whether this is the safest drug treatment for addicts. It is highly effective as a harm reduction tool, but, after a certain period of time, there is still the risk of withdrawal symptoms and addiction. Because methadone is an opioid, withdrawal is always likely to occur and addicts who have had experience with stronger opioid withdrawals could fear the withdrawal associated with methadone and may try to stay on the drug as long as possible in order to avoid being uncomfortable again. Unfortunately, the longer an individual stays on a medication, the more the body becomes used to it and requires higher and higher doses in order for treatment to be effective. This puts a patient at great risk for another possible addiction, caused by the methadone treatment itself.

Methadone Treatment Programs

Unity Recovery Center understands that addiction is complex and that without even intending to do so, a patient can become addicted to a drug or medication. As safe and convenient as we would like to believe methadone treatment is, it can easily be responsible for sparking or compounding an addiction. As with other opioid medications, tolerance and dependence usually develop with repeated doses. This means that no matter how well monitored methadone treatment is, the use of methadone, even if administered under the care of the clinic itself, is still risky and could easily lead a patient to more issues, on top of the ones they are trying to be treated for.

When this happens, a patient is no longer safe seeking addiction treatment in an outpatient facility and drug rehab is necessary. The patient will need a treatment program that can handle the physical aspects of addiction and correctly tend to the mental aspects as well, but in a closely monitored environment. Unity Rehab understands that there is no "one cure for all" and tailors its treatment programs accordingly. After an initial psychological assessment, a patient is given a treatment program that has been specifically designed to meet his or her individual needs depending on their addiction situation. For example, if a patient became inadvertently addicted to methadone during routine methadone treatment, a 12-step approach and holistic therapies may be sufficient. But in the case that someone was misusing methadone during treatment, or taking such in an effort to cope with deeper issues, group and individualized therapy will need to be incorporated into their treatment program. This helps determine why a patient is abusing drugs and treats them for these issues, thus preventing the cause of future drug abuse. With the perfect blend of mind and body therapy, Unity Rehab's treatment programs handle all aspects of the disease and can provide any patient the best chance at a full recovery.