Meth is Used in Treatment of Narcotic Withdrawal
Methadone has been proven to be successful for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. It has street names such as “juice,” “fizzies” and “meth.” This drug has been long valued for treating heroin addiction and for soothing chronic pain, yet in recent years, this drug is being abused by recreational drug users and has been the cause of many overdoses and deaths.
What is Methadone?
Methadone belongs to the opiate family of drugs. It’s commonly used to treat dependence on other opioid drugs that include heroin, morphine and codeine. Methadone is synthetic, which means it is made from chemicals in a lab. It was developed in Germany during World War II and was first intended to be used as a pain reliever.
Using methadone as a means of addiction treatment was first developed in the 1960s. For several years, Canadian regulations around the prescription of methadone were so restrictive that very few doctors offered the treatment. People who wanted this treatment often had to wait months or years. In the 1990s, changes were made to make things easier for doctors to provide methadone treatments. The success of this program has led to a decrease of heroin-related deaths.
Methadone maintenance is not a cure, it’s a treatment. That means through the treatment process, the person who was dependent on opioids needs to receive medical and social support until they are stabilized. They also need therapy to get to the root of their addiction otherwise the problem that got them into addictions to begin with, is still there.
How Does Methadone Make You Feel?
When people start this treatment, some feel the euphoria and sedation that are common to all opioid drugs. As treatment progresses, a stable dose of methadone is established and tolerance to these effects develop. In time, methadone blocks the euphoric feeling of heroin and other opioids which in turn reduces the desire to use these drugs.
Those in treatment often describe the feeling of being on methadone as “normal.” Methadone treatment does not interfere with thinking, so the person can continue to work and carry on with their life. There are some side-effects that may include sweating, weight gain and constipation.
Is Methadone Addictive?
Some people argue that this is an opioid therefore it can be addictive. Others say it’s as powerful as heroin. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, methadone fails to meet the full definition of “addictive” when looking at how and why the drug is used.
Are there Long-Term Effects of Using Methadone?
Methadone is long-term treatment. This treatment varies anywhere from a year or two to 20 years. A new study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers say that methadone is a possible cause of sudden cardiac death even when it isn’t overdosed but is taken at therapeutic levels primarily for relief of chronic pain or drug addiction withdrawal.
According to information provided by the National Drug Intelligence Center in the U.S. , individuals who abuse methadone risk becoming tolerant of and physically dependent on the drug. When these individuals stop using the drug they may experience withdrawal symptoms including muscle tremors, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
For any concerns regarding methadone addiction or abuse, contact the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health at 1-800-463-6273.
