The Downside Of Methadone Maintenance Programs

In addition to being produced as a highly effective pain reliever, Methadone is also promoted as an alternative for heroin.  Quite honestly, Methadone is often called man-made or synthetic heroin, and its use as a substitute for heroin in Methadone maintenance programs was designed to to reduce the illegal drug trade of actual heroin and its negative impact on society. 

While the initial intentions of Methadone maintenance programs were good, the reality for addicts participating in them means a life of continued addiction with one drug taking the place of another.  Once in a Methadone maintenance program, there can be very little if any work to get heroin addicts sober through a methadone detox program in spite of the truth that the physical side effects of Methadone are very harmful, while not mentioning the mental impact of the drug.

A common trait of Methadone users (or addicts) is “unfeeling”.  Methadone is a very powerful narcotic, and its numbing effects last much longer than heroin.  While this enables for dosages schedules in Methadone maintenance programs to be spread apart to days rather than hours, the results are that the Methadone user is not a fully functioning member of society.  To get there, the addict has to undertake methadone detox and additional addiction programs and exit the addictive cycle that goes along with with a methadone maintenance program. 

Because Methadone invades the bone marrow where red blood cells are made in a person’s body, continual Methadone use is harmful to the Methadone user’s body resulting in calcium deficiencies and loss of other essential minerals to maintain a body’s health.  During the time the Methadone user is ingesting Methadone, the pain and damage caused by the drug’s physical side effects are not felt because Methadone was initially designed as a pain killer.  In Methadone detox, however, the pain relieving effect of Methadone is taken away.   As a result the side effects of Methadone use become painfully apparent during Methadone detox.

Methadone detox is meant to be safely taking an addict off of Methadone, and therefore heroin, and getting them on the road of a clean and sober lifestyle.  Because Methadone withdrawals are almost always 4 times the length of heroin withdrawals and more complicated than a heroin withdrawal, a structured Methadone detox program is always needed for the addict to get clean and sober.

During Methadone detox the provider treats the mental aspects of the dependency as well as the physical aspects of the drug dependency.  The painful physical side effects during Methadone detox are one of the main reasons many people on Methadone never get clean and sober.  Lacking the aid of a structured Methadone detox program, the addict will only go back to using to prevent the pain of withdrawing.
Methadone detox programs can provide counseling to deal with the mental effects of the Methadone dependency as well as other treatments to take care of the physical side effects of withdrawals.  While

Methadone detox is considered to be one of the most difficult kinds of detoxes, Methadone detox can be attained with the aid of the correct Methadone detox program in which mild sedatives, therapeutic treatments, and over the counter pain relievers are applied to safely cause a successful Methadone detox in a supportive and safe place. 

Why Not Live Drug Free

Methadone Detox Can Get Your Started

Methadone is considered a schedule II opioid which is most regularly connected to Methadone maintenance programs intended for heroin addicts. It is also used to get rid of pain and is an ideal replacement for morphine any time patients encounter unpleasant side effects. As with other opiates, tolerance to Methadone will increase with usage and there is the chance of abuse for people who are seeking to use Methadone strictly for the “high” it produces.

With Methadone maintenance programs, addicts usually are provided regular doses of Methadone in order to lessen the withdrawal symptoms and associated cravings for other opiates like heroin. There has been well documented success in treatment for heroin addiction utilizing Methadone, and the purpose behind these types of programs are all well intentioned. The basis of the program was that in the event that addicts were being supplied with regular doses of Methadone, they would need less heroin ( or even none at all) and end up being less likely to break the law to obtain their heroin fix. Also addicts would be less likely to share needles with other heroin users which can cause the spread of infectious diseases like AIDS and HIV.

The problem with Methadone maintenance programs is that they neglect to handle the issue of addiction and the social impact it can produce. Instead of working to get addicts off all drugs completely, Methadone maintenance programs perpetuate the vicious loop of addiction by replacing one drug with another. So, the men and women that work at the Methadone clinic that are there to “help” addicts are essentially only there to ensure the addicts keep coming back. Methadone clinics, for the most part, are for profit businesses whose sole function is to provide Methadone. So they have no interest in getting individuals off of Methadone. That would be like McDonalds abruptly attempting to wean people away from Bic Macs.

Another issue with Methadone maintenance programs is that many individuals who receive specific dosage amounts of Methadone to aid them with their opiate withdrawals use only a portion of their dosage and sell the rest on the street. This contributes to the rising illegal drug trade. And quite a few individuals in these kinds of programs actually see-saw in between heroin and Methadone. Since there is usually no counseling associated with this particular type of maintenance addicts in Methadone maintenance programs have no way out of their heroin/Methadone maintenance program. While Methadone maintenance programs have had success at getting people to reduce or do away with their usage of heroin and other illegal opiates, presently there are very few programs out there that work to get people off of Methadone. So, addicts wanting to be completely drug free have trouble finding programs to help them.

There exists light at the end of the tunnel, however, as more drug treatment programs are offering Methadone detox which is the initial step in getting off of Methadone and becoming completely drug free. Methadone detox programs can last anywhere from 10 days to two weeks, and they will include a physical, prescription detox medications, and one-on-one and group counseling. Methadone detox programs can be 12 step based or follow other recovery philosophies. If necessary, they can be followed up with longer term residential addiction treatment.

Seek Help At An Alcohol Treatment Center

Detoxing Without The Aid Of An Alcohol Treatment Center Can Cost You Your Life

Stopping cold turkey if you were a heavy drinker without the help of an alcohol treatment center can be painful and even life threatening.  The physical and psychological effects of alcohol withdrawals during alcohol detox are one of the biggest reasons that alcoholics or those that regularly abuse alcohol will never get sober.  The surroundings provided by an alcohol treatment center are not only a safe way to get sober, the trained professionals at the alcohol treatment center can provide you with the tools necessary to stay sober past your alcohol detox. 
Psychological symptoms of alcohol withdrawals during alcohol detox can include nervousness, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, and bad dreams.  Physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawals during alcohol detox can include nausea and vomiting, headaches,  insomnia, rapid heart rate, abnormal movements, tremor of the hands (AKA “the shakes”), and loss of appetite.  This encompasses just the milder effects of alcohol withdrawal during alcohol detox, but if not felt while surrounded by the security provided by an alcohol treatment center they can be usually complicated to force an alcoholic to just continue drinking to prevent the pain and misery of their withdrawals.
Quitting cold turkey without the help of an alcohol treatment center if you have been misusing alcohol for a extended period of time can cause severe alcohol withdrawals during your alcohol detox.  Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms during an alcohol detox for anyone whose body has become physically dependent upon alcohol can include a state of hallucinations and confusion known as delirium tremens (AKA “the DT’s), high fever, seizures, and even death.  The critical element to getting sober in a comfortable setting and preventing the severe effects of alcohol detox is to enlist the aid of an alcohol treatment center.
An alcohol treatment center will provide detox medications such as benzodiazepines (mild sedatives) which will reduce the effects of withdrawals during alcohol detox.  The alcohol treatment center will also supply you with nutrient supplements (vitamins) that will reduce alcohol detox symptoms like the shakes.  Professional alcohol detox services like those given by an alcohol treatment center usually encompass a seven day period during which trained professionals will monitor your vital signs and prevent the more severe effects of alcohol detox from endangering your life.   Additionally, by entering into an alcohol treatment center to undergo your alcohol detox you won't be surrounded by the people, places, and things that usually trigger your drinking.
An alcohol treatment center and an alcohol detox are only the first step in your journey of recovery from what is more than likely years of alcohol abuse.  When you take advantage of the support of the trained professionals at the alcohol treatment center you will not only ease the pain and misery of your alcohol detox (and possibly save your life), you will also understand the next steps are in your journey of sobriety.

September Is National Recovery Month

Addiction Treatment And Recovery

Recovery for many people struggling with substance abuse issues begins with getting clean and sober.  If they have been abusing drugs or alcohol for most of their life, then oftentimes this path of recovery begins with a stay in a residential drug and alcohol detox center followed by longer term addiction treatment either in an inpatient addiction treatment center or in an outpatient setting.  This is followed by continuing work to grow in their recovery and build the life that they deserve.

Recovery is a lifelong process.  So the stay in an addiction treatment center is just the first chapter in the journey.  For most people truly interested in living their life clean and sober, the journey of recovery is not viewed as a burden but rather an opportunity for growth.  It's a chance to grow above and beyond their previous life which was shackled by their substance abuse issues.

The emotional maturity developed in recovery allows recovering addicts to be honest with themselves and to set boundaries in relation to people and their surroundings.  While some may believe this to be a life less lived, those that have sunk far enough down in their addiction know that the serenity provided by honesty and taking life one day at a time far outweighs anything that might have been missed in their old life.

The path of recovery is a long one, but one that is not to be viewed as a burden.  If we move forward taking care of today and being excited about the challenges of tomorrow, we will find that life will begin to have a meaning all its own-not one we force upon it by following what we think others want for us.

If you're struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, and therefore life, take the first step in your journey of recovery by contacting an addiction treatment center.  It could be the call that opens up a whole new chapter in your life that brings you unexpected joy.

What Is Detox?

The First Step At An Addiction Treatment Center

When you give your body the chance to rid itself of the chemicals that are the by-products created when your body motabolizes drugs and alcohol, it is considered detoxification (AKA detox).  This is usually the initial step in an alcohol and drug treatment program at an addiction treatment center.  The method of disposal of the toxins includes urine, sweat, and breathing.  So drinking lots of fluids, especially those with electrolytes, is critical during the detoxification process.
The detox process should be done at an addiction treatment center where trained addiction specialists can monitor the person undergoing the detox process.  Residential addiction treatment centers have been shown to be a cost effective and successful approach to pursuing drug and alcohol detox, and they are usually much more comfortable than a hospital setting. 
The detox process should be following up by addiction alcohol and drug treatment at the addiction treatment center if the addict is expected to have the best chances for long term sobriety.  One-on-one counseling with an addiction specialist and group therapy with other addicts are common practices at almost all addiction treatment center.
It is critical that the addict's motivation for seeking help at the addiction treatment center are in the right place.  If the addict is only seeking help as a result of outside pressure, then their chances of success at sobriety will be minimized.  Experience demonstrates that an addict must have reached such a low point in their addiction that their level of internal despair is motivating them to make the necessary changes in their life.  If the addict can make it through the drug or alcohol detox at the addiction treatment center and then not forget how miserable their life was when they were drinking or using, they will be motivated enough to pursue further alcohol and drug treatment and their chances of long-term sobriety will be increased.

The Journey

No one gets to choose the path of their journey in life, but we have learned that when we expect the unexpected we are provided with some amount of serenity.  We can do our part today to make our tomorrow better, but there are always going to be situations out of our control either because we have no control over others or because God's hand moves the game pieces in a direction we had not even fathomed.
Developing the patience to deal with these situations allows us to move forward in life without blame or resentment-and possibly reduced disappointment when things didn't go "our way".  Becoming excited about the future in spite of the uncertainties, means our tolerance for ourselves and others no matter where we are in life will have increased exponentially. 
We certainly didn't choose the path of addiction, but the opportunities for growth that our lives have provided would certainly have been different if we had gone in another direction.  We may have asked "why me?" in the past, but we have come to learn that for some questions there just aren't any good answers, and we accept where we are and who we are and move forward with these unanswered questions as important way points in our journey.

Factors To Consider

When Looking For Sacramento Addiction Treatment

When searching for Sacramento addiction treatment, there are may facets you should consider including location of the facility, effectiveness of care, amount it will cost, and the type of Sacramento addiction treatment that will be provided.  Many people seeking addiction treatment in Sacramento may initially require detox treatment, especially if they have been abusing drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time.  Their body will have become accustomed to their drug of choice (including alcohol).  So stopping cold turkey can be a shock to their system resulting in adverse effects to their physical and emotional state.  In most Sacramento addiction treatment centers, the initial phase of addiction treatment is usually a medically aided detox treatment after which group counseling or one-on-one treatment is provided.
When determining which Sacramento addiction treatment program to send your loved one to, cost and quality of care don’t necessarily have to be mutually exclusive.  Many social model Sacramento addiction treatment programs are operated with very low overhead without sacrificing the professionalism of the addiction treatment.  Many people in the field of addiction treatment are recovering addicts themselves.  So low cost doesn't have to mean low quality in any Sacramento addiction treatment facility you decide upon.  When addicts treat other addicts, the success rate of the addict being treated has been shown to be much higher.
The place where the addiction treatment center you choose can be critical as well.  While it might seem suitable to have your loved one close by during their addiction treatment, this might lead to negative consequences on their journey of recovery.  For one thing, it can be too easy for them to walk away from the Sacramento addiction treatment program when they begin to recover from their years of drug or alcohol abuse because they are familiar with their surroundings and can reach out to friends they used to use or drink with. 
Look for an affordable, medically aided addiction treatment program in Sacramento which includes counseling for long term recovery and includes a detox treatment step-one that is there to help you or your loved one recover from the detrimental effects of drug or alcohol abuse.  Take full advantage of the counseling services offered in the Sacramento addiction treatment program.  Counseling is usually offered for the addict as well as their loved ones.  After all, addiction is a family disease and addiction treatment should encompass the needs of the whole family.