Hello all,
my son entered the methadone programme on a dose of 40 and in the past two years since then he has gone up to 80. it seems like any time he wants they just up his dose, he came down to 77 recently but I think he went back up again. There doesn't seem to much incentive to reduce.
What I wonder is do you know anyone who is actually off methadone? not just down to 30 but actually off it altogether? I long to see him happy, healthy and clean. He is 27
Hi, i asked myself the Same question when I quit. But yes while so many are on for rest of life, they don't have to be. There are people that quit, i did over year and half ago. I didn't think I would, but did. The longer he's on the difficulty of it becomes much more. clinics can be so shady. If he's content at a certain dose, and they try to talk him up thatd bad. But I don't know situation exactly. Forced to come off too soon is bad and staying on for long time is bad, sort of a catch 22. Will leave it at yes it is possible to beat. Good luck to you and your son.
Sioban,
Without a little more history of your sons opiate use its hard to say...The whole point when you go on methadone, IF he is truly sincere in wanting to be drug free, is to get to a dose that "holds him" meaning his being on a dose where he isn't craving street opiates. Once that is achieved, (and EVERYONE is different. Some are OK on 50 mgs while others may take 100 mg or more) the idea is to start working on why you used and wound up where you are in your life.
Many of us lost everything....homes, cars, family heirlooms, family.....
I lost that and more and from the day I started on methadone I never used again. That was MANY years ago and today I have a great life. Now I am an advocate. I own my home, I have a life and a fantastic relationship with my family. For me none of that was within my reach until I went on methadone.
You will see many stories on these boards along with many stories of how good methadone is. You will also read many stories from people who think it is the worst drug on the planet.... For those of us whose lives it saved I am glad it is available for those who need it.
If your son does the work needed to stay clean he should do fine. By work I mean, #1. staying clean and testing clean from illicit drugs, #2. going to the counseling that is required at least monthly at the clinic he attends,#3. attending meetings that should be available at the clinic as well as #4. attending outside meetings at NA (Narcotics Anonymous) or AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) #5. Not hang with the same people he was hanging with when he was using. He needs to have new friends that are clean.
If you have further questions go talk to the clinic manager. He or she should be helpful.
Hang tight and good luck!
granny
Without a little more history of your sons opiate use its hard to say...The whole point when you go on methadone, IF he is truly sincere in wanting to be drug free, is to get to a dose that "holds him" meaning his being on a dose where he isn't craving street opiates. Once that is achieved, (and EVERYONE is different. Some are OK on 50 mgs while others may take 100 mg or more) the idea is to start working on why you used and wound up where you are in your life.
Many of us lost everything....homes, cars, family heirlooms, family.....
I lost that and more and from the day I started on methadone I never used again. That was MANY years ago and today I have a great life. Now I am an advocate. I own my home, I have a life and a fantastic relationship with my family. For me none of that was within my reach until I went on methadone.
You will see many stories on these boards along with many stories of how good methadone is. You will also read many stories from people who think it is the worst drug on the planet.... For those of us whose lives it saved I am glad it is available for those who need it.
If your son does the work needed to stay clean he should do fine. By work I mean, #1. staying clean and testing clean from illicit drugs, #2. going to the counseling that is required at least monthly at the clinic he attends,#3. attending meetings that should be available at the clinic as well as #4. attending outside meetings at NA (Narcotics Anonymous) or AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) #5. Not hang with the same people he was hanging with when he was using. He needs to have new friends that are clean.
If you have further questions go talk to the clinic manager. He or she should be helpful.
Hang tight and good luck!
granny
Thank you both for your replies, I appreciate it and congratulate you on the work you have done yourselves.
The clinic wouldn't speak to me as he is 27. He is also on lyrica, he smokes hash a bit and I don't know if he is using other drugs but he says not.
I don't think he has really tried to work his way out of addiction. I think if they don't encourage him to go down in dose - he just won't - because he can't deal with the discomfort of it. two years seems a long time to be on methadone, now everyone says 'o maybe ten' which is terrible. It seems like a real trap and a huge waste of the years as he is a bit out of it on his dose.
I thought rehab would work but he opted for the methadone and anyway it doesnt matter what I think. I know it's better than heroin obviously but still...
The clinic wouldn't speak to me as he is 27. He is also on lyrica, he smokes hash a bit and I don't know if he is using other drugs but he says not.
I don't think he has really tried to work his way out of addiction. I think if they don't encourage him to go down in dose - he just won't - because he can't deal with the discomfort of it. two years seems a long time to be on methadone, now everyone says 'o maybe ten' which is terrible. It seems like a real trap and a huge waste of the years as he is a bit out of it on his dose.
I thought rehab would work but he opted for the methadone and anyway it doesnt matter what I think. I know it's better than heroin obviously but still...
addicts mom,
when I suggested you talk to the clinic,I meant to give you info on why methadone works, how they are dosed, etc. I know they wont give you info on him.
when I suggested you talk to the clinic,I meant to give you info on why methadone works, how they are dosed, etc. I know they wont give you info on him.
Ok, thanks will do.
Addicts mom,
Unfortunately some people can and do abuse methadone. If they aren't in a clinic that's worth a darn they will lie and keep get their doses raised higher and higher and they spend all day nodding. That also comes with big risks because if they have to drive cars or motorcycles it makes it that much more dangerous. Plus, if they are still using illicit drugs, heroin, oxy, etc, its even more dangerous for them. If your son is one of these, there isn't much you can do. Hopefully the clinic he attends is a good one who tests regularly and has monthly counseling with their patients. The group of clinics I belong to takes recovery very seriously. If you keep screwing up, testing dirty, not attending required things they will eventually, after many attempts at trying to help you, discharge you from the program. They know there are plenty of other clinics out there that will gladly take your money and let you do whatever you want.
As I have said I have been on methadone for many years and have stayed at the same dose for 90% of those years. While methadone is addicting it doesn't fall in to the same category as addictive drugs because you don't have to keep raising your dose. (In the beginning of treatment you may raise your dose until you get to a dose that "holds you", meaning your craving for opiates is gone) You will start feeling like a human being again, able to function in your life and are even able to, in most cases, hold down a job and join the human race. When you use drugs, such as heroin or any of the opiate pills over time the 1 or 2 pills you used to take don't get you high anymore and you need to take 5 or 6 and then 10 to 15 and more and more and more.
I may have suggested you read "your brain on opiates" which you may, with extensive searching, find in the pain pill board. It's easier if you go to the site search bar at the top of the page and enter the words "your brain on opiates". You said someone said your son may be on methadone for ten years? That is a possibility and reading that may help you and your son with why that could be a reality.
Hang tough, as you are right that being on methadone is better than still using heroin. The harm reduction there is a big thumbs up!
granny
Unfortunately some people can and do abuse methadone. If they aren't in a clinic that's worth a darn they will lie and keep get their doses raised higher and higher and they spend all day nodding. That also comes with big risks because if they have to drive cars or motorcycles it makes it that much more dangerous. Plus, if they are still using illicit drugs, heroin, oxy, etc, its even more dangerous for them. If your son is one of these, there isn't much you can do. Hopefully the clinic he attends is a good one who tests regularly and has monthly counseling with their patients. The group of clinics I belong to takes recovery very seriously. If you keep screwing up, testing dirty, not attending required things they will eventually, after many attempts at trying to help you, discharge you from the program. They know there are plenty of other clinics out there that will gladly take your money and let you do whatever you want.
As I have said I have been on methadone for many years and have stayed at the same dose for 90% of those years. While methadone is addicting it doesn't fall in to the same category as addictive drugs because you don't have to keep raising your dose. (In the beginning of treatment you may raise your dose until you get to a dose that "holds you", meaning your craving for opiates is gone) You will start feeling like a human being again, able to function in your life and are even able to, in most cases, hold down a job and join the human race. When you use drugs, such as heroin or any of the opiate pills over time the 1 or 2 pills you used to take don't get you high anymore and you need to take 5 or 6 and then 10 to 15 and more and more and more.
I may have suggested you read "your brain on opiates" which you may, with extensive searching, find in the pain pill board. It's easier if you go to the site search bar at the top of the page and enter the words "your brain on opiates". You said someone said your son may be on methadone for ten years? That is a possibility and reading that may help you and your son with why that could be a reality.
Hang tough, as you are right that being on methadone is better than still using heroin. The harm reduction there is a big thumbs up!
granny
