Ok, so after googling all about methadone treatment clinics ....pros and cons....I want some answers so maybe someone can help me to understand better. I am 28 years old and have never struggled with drug addiction. My wife however has struggled for a very long time. She has been clean for about 12 years except going to the methadone clinic the whole 12 years. She takes 135mg a day. After many talks between us, she has finally made the decision to try suboxone.... which at first I thought was great! I got to thinking about it though and am wondering why being moved to yet another substance is the necessary treatment plan for getting off methadone. I have done alot of research but I want a real persons' opinion on this matter. We have sat down with the clinic's medical Dr. and I have asked him point blank is there is a plan in place for getting these patients off of methadone at any given time in their lives.... his response was " addicts who use methadone as a maintenance drug lead more productive lives and have a much lower chance of relapsing over time so unless the patient decides they want to be weined off at their own decision, then no there is no plan in place for them to stop ......EVER!" Now, seeing as I have never been on drugs, I've never had to go through withdraws..... but I've done hours of research on it along with my wife explaining it to me in horrible detail, so I realize how harsh they can get. She is considering Suboxone for the first time in her 12 years of methadone treatment which I am trying to be so very supportive because i know this is a big deal to her.....I need help understanding why she can't or wont just have the clinic lower her dosage a little at a time until she gets completely off it. I know she's scared of the withdraws.... but is there another underlying reason as to why she won't just find a way to get off all treatment plans? I've seen people quit methadone at 30mg cold turkey (yes there were withdraws) but she is alive and well today. I've seen people quit hard core drugs cold turkey and they lead wonderfully productive lives without ever needing a treatment plan. I just don't understanding why another treatment plan is necessary. I want my wife too be happy, to be able to still say no without methadone or suboxone in her system. The clinic offers counseling but she never goes to the meetings so they are no help. We got married in May and joined our family of 3 (I have a 4 year old who calls her daddy) and I can't stand having to lie to her about where daddy is every morning. Broken promises have also been made to me that she would start the weining off process over 2 years ago and since has went down 5mg once (2years ago). Please give me some advice.
I need advice on how to deal with my wife on methadone?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by Akristinel
- Topics:
- clinic, methadone
Responses (1)
Your best bet is going to a specialist and going over this. You are asking a complicated medical question at a small question and answer site which is not a walk-in clinic and not populated by medical professionals.
What we think has a high chance of being dangerously wrong or no better than what you have already researched for yourself.
I can give you an opinion but what is it worth? You should have researched this before you married an addict and subjected your child to the environment.
Because whatever you've researched you should know that your wife is an addict. She is addicted to methadone just not heroin so she can function. But she is an addict nevertheless. She should have been in psychotherapy all along so she could find out why she couldn't face the trials and tribulations of life like the rest of us and instead has to cave in and use a drug to face life. If she learned how to cope with life and stress she probably wouldn't have to resort to a drug that would eventually kill her. Or, she might learn what to use as a psychological defense when she felt the overwhelming need to hide behind the stupification of heroin. Instead, she hides behind methadone.
"HEROIN ADDICTION & RECOVERY DISCUSSION FORUM
How Long Does The Average Person Stay on Methadone?
"Thanks for your question. Methadone is a legitimate medicine assisted treatment that works to reduce cravings, minimize/eliminate heroin withdrawal and at the right dose, block the effects of other opiates. Note there is some contradictory information on the web that suggests that Methadone does not block the effects of heroin or other opiates. But most credible resources I have seen, suggest that it does.
It's my understanding that the average time someone undergoes MMT (Methadone Maintenance Therapy) is 3 to 5 years. However, the patient ultimately decides how long they feel staying on Methadone is appropriate. Their doctor and their counselor are guides in this matter. Now be careful. There are some exceptional methadone clinics where the staff genuinely care about each patient and do what's in their best interest. However, as Paulie has already pointed out, there are some clinics who will likely push you to stay on Methadone as long as they can keep you because if they lose you, they lose income.
We understand that everyone needs funding. However, those who need help need to be treated as patients first and never as a steady paycheck. Finding a quality methadone clinic is vital to ensure you're treated appropriately and that you get the maximum benefit and help.
Remember too that Methadone (the medicine) is just one tool but the Methadone Maintenance Therapy program consists of medication, individual counseling and group counseling. Those who are truly serious about getting "well" and not just curbing cravings and minimizing withdrawal understand the importance of researching and selecting a quality methadone clinic to ensure you're getting the best therapy and treatment. Yes, every methadone clinic will "dose" you with methadone. But not every methadone clinic cares about your wellbeing and the best care and treatment comes from methadone clinics that hire caring and professional staff that possess the skill, experience and compassion to truly help you."