Methadone, administered on a daily basis as part of a comprehensive recovery program, can be successful in treating addiction to any opioid drug.
Persons on methadone are helped to overcome the debilitating influence of illicit opioids and lead more healthy, productive normal lives.
Methadone prevents opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduces drug craving.
Research has demonstrated that the majority of patients receiving adequate methadone doses decrease or eliminate their use of other psychoactive substances.
Methadone, along with individual, group and/or family counseling provide important treatments for dealing with the problems of drug abuse. Long-term retention in methadone maintenance treatment also is vital for allowing enough time for such approaches to exert their beneficial effects.
Studies indicate that more than 80% of people enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment for longer than 12 months no longer use heroin. Continued treatment results in a reduction of criminal activity, improvement in health status and reduction in hospital visits.
A comprehensive examination of the economic benefits and cost of methadone treatment revels the benefits to cost ratio of 4:1; $4.00 in economic benefits for every $1.00 spent on methadone treatment.
2. How long does a patient need to stay in methadone maintenance treatment?
Patients should have established resources in the community (employment, housing), positive sober supports (family, friends) and access to ongoing mental health and medical treatment before considering discontinuation of methadone treatment.
It is very difficult to set a period of time as to how long a patient needs to stay in methadone maintenance treatment. Discontinuing methadone maintenance treatment is a voluntary decision based on individual circumstances and desire.
Time in treatment is an individual matter. Habit OPCO finds that most patients are in treatment between 2-3 years, however, success can be seen within months. This success comes not only from the daily administration of methadone but also from a commitment to counseling.
3. What are the benefits of methadone maintenance treatment?
A stable maintenance dose of methadone does not make the patient feel either 'high' or drowsy, so the person can socialize, work or go to school, and generally carry on a normal life.
Methadone can be taken orally once daily or in split doses, helping to limit exposure to injection-borne diseased like hepatitis and HIV.
At adequate doses, methadone's gradual, long-lasting effects eliminate opioid withdrawal and drug craving, unlike the rapid ups and downs of short acting opioids which lead to strong craving for more drugs.
Daily drug-seeking becomes unnecessary, and the euphoria-blocking effect make other opioids undesirable.
Once a stable dose is reached, there is little change in tolerance to the therapeutic effects of methadone, so it does not take increasingly more of the medication to achieve the same results.
When properly prescribed by an experienced physician, methadone is safe with minimal side effects.
4. How is success measured in methadone maintenance treatment?
The goal of methadone maintenance treatment is to help opioid-dependent persons cease their use of heroin and /or
other opioids and lead more stable, productive lives in recovery. However, good methadone maintenance treatment programs strive to help patients
achieve many more objectives, including:
Abstinence from all addictive substances - including alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and others.
Decreased criminal behavior
Improved physical health
Improved mental health
Improved family relationships
Stable housing
Improved job skills and additional education
5. Can my family be involved in my treatment?
Habit OPCO encourages participation in treatment
by family members or others who provide a positive
support. Family can offer much support and
encouragement to a loved one in methadone treatment and
this is a valuable part of an individual's recovery. Family
members or companions are encouraged to participate in
clinic events and to take part actively in family and/or
couples counseling. Program staff also is available to
provide family or friends with education about addiction,
methadone and methadone maintenance treatment. Many pamphlets, fact sheets and
other information are available at program sites to help
educate those with an interest in participating in a loved
ones' treatment.
6. Is my treatment confidential?
Habit OPCO strives to protect all individuals seeking treatment with the greatest possible privacy.
The federal government enacted laws to ensure the strict confidentiality of information and records related to persons receiving drug treatment and prevention services. These standards are adhered to in all Habit OPCO programs and sites.
All such protected health information shall be considered privileged and confidential and shall be made available only in conformity with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including federal laws governing the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
7. Is methadone addictive?
Methadone is a medication and if used properly it can help people make changes in their lives. Methadone is the most widely used treatment for heroin and other opioid addictions.
While a person is physiologically dependent on methadone, the effects of methadone are different from other addictive opioids.
A misconception is that methadone treatment is a replacement of one drug for another. Methadone's steady, stable action in the brain contrasts sharply with the excess and repeated cycles of 'highs' and 'lows' produced by heroin and other opioids, which result in craving and mood swings.
While continued heroin use can result in escalating tolerance and increased drug seeking behavior, there is no change in methadone tolerance over time.
