10 Lies People Believe About Methadone Treatment: Don’t Allow Yourself to Get Caught in the Mix

Many people have a negative view of methadone treatment. Over the years, it has got a bad reputation for being a narcotic that is as addictive as the drug it is supposed to treat. This is an undeserved reputation. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methadone is a safe effective treatment for both chronic pain and opiate addiction. Here is a list of the lies that many people believe about methadone and why they are untrue.

1. Methadone is as Bad as Heroin

Methadone is not injected and not smoked. It is a safe way to treat the addiction without the risk of HIV or hepatitis. It is not nearly as addictive as heroin nor is it as dangerous to obtain.

2. Methadone Makes you High

Methadone does not have the same rush or the same high as opiates do. Doctors strictly control the amount of methadone dispensed at any time. A person who is taking methadone gets this strict dose daily or weekly. In rare cases, a monthly prescription might be provided.

3. Methadone Doesn’t do Anyone Any Good

A doctor must be certified to prescribe methadone.

Methadone helps both opiate addicts and chronic pain patients. It was originally developed as a painkiller and an alternative to morphine and other painkillers that have a variety of side effects.

4. Methadone makes you Trade one Addiction for Another

The gradual onset nature of methadone makes it a poor replacement for an opiate. It does not give the same high as other opiates do. You are not trading one addition for another unless you are not taking methadone as a doctor prescribes it.

5. Methadone Clinics are there to Keep you Hooked on Drugs

Methadone clinics are there to provide methadone to those who need it. Many of them are there so that methadone patients can taper off the drug gradually so they do not go into withdrawal.

6. Methadone Clinics have a Low Success Rate

Methadone clinics have one of the higher treatment success rates of the various opiate treatments. Most people who go to methadone clinics and follow the doctors instructions wind up in recovery.

7. Methadone Addiction is Harder to Stop than Heroin

Methadone is not nearly as addictive as heroin and it is a lot easier to taper off methadone than it is to taper off heroin. Most doctors are skilled at gradually reducing the amount of methadone so that you do not feel the withdrawal.

8. People can get Methadone from any Doctor

Only certified doctors can prescribe methadone. You can usually only get methadone from specific clinics and only in specific amounts. Not all doctors are allowed to prescribe methadone.

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9. Methadone Clinics Harm the Community

Methadone clinics are not known to harm the community. Except when they are already in high crime areas, the crime around methadone clinics tends to be rather low.

10. Methadone Treatment is Difficult to Get

Methadone treatment is actually very easy to get. All you have to do is call us at 800-994-1867Who Answers?. We can help you find a methadone treatment center near you.