Methadone Addiction

Drugs authorized to be legally distributed are present for the purpose of providing health benefits to one’s body. Medical professional prescribe drugs to make their patients feel better. These drugs do not however provide only benefits. These drugs can help an addict in the detoxification and withdrawal process but these may also in turn become another substance of abuse in the long run. Drugs like these should be prescribed with close and careful guidance by the physician.

A synthetic opioid used to cure individuals suffering from pain is known as methadone. It is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. Heroin gives off an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilizing factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behavior and to stop using heroin. Methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for about 24 to 36 hours. However, this is only successful in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs. Methadone blocks the high from heroin but it does not give the euphoric rush.

Through the test of time, methadone has been successful in reducing crime, death, disease, and drug use. For one, methadone is known to be the most effective treatment for heroin dependency. It also prevents HIV/AIDS. It may be trivial, but methadone maintenance treatment reduces the occurrence of injecting and needle sharing. Moreover, methadone treatment lessens criminal behavior and almost eliminates heroin use.

But, just like any other opioid drugs, extensive use of methadone and without proper guidance could possibly lead to tolerance and eventually cause drug dependency. When taken under medical prescription and under a physician’s care, research suggest that long-term methadone maintenance treatment use is medically safe.

Deaths occur more frequently at the beginning of treatment in methadone programs; they are commonly a cause of excessive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by related 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 quite harmful. The released histamines can cause bronchospasms.

Methadone dependency occurs when the body tolerates the substance thus, asking for higher dosage in the long run. And, once the habit is discontinued, withdrawal would occur. The physical changes brought by the drug are the same to other opiates; suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users experience sickness 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 and can remain in your body for several days.

According to an article by two doctors addressing the question, “is methadone more likely to kill you than heroin?”, stated that methadone is not an innocent substance. One’s methadone continuation is another’s poison. Actually, it depends chiefly on the lenience of the person. A tolerant person could take in methadone without feeling any ill effects, but not a non-tolerant person. Moreover, as a precaution, it is wise to start with low dosage and bit by bit increasing it, if the necessity to use methadone really arise. Also, experts have found out that methadone has been used illegally in the streets as a substitute for heroin. Thus, causing more death than heroin.

The methadone substance is used to correspond to addiction but tolerance can occur which can lead to one’s dependency upon the substance. That’s the danger of this drug. You thought it’s safe but unknowingly, you have become dependent to it and you couldn’t seem to get away with the drug.