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What’s the Difference between a Methadone Dispensary and a Treatment Center?
Getting rid of an opioid addiction is hard on your own. That’s why many doctors prescribe methadone to drug addicts. It’s a medication that fools your brain’s opioid receptors into thinking they are receiving opioids, thereby preventing withdrawal symptoms and reducing nasty cravings. It can be a great tool to help wean yourself off of the drugs you are taking.
However, deciding on how to get methadone can be tricky. Should you go to a methadone dispensary or a treatment center? Both are good options, but have some crucial differences that might make one stand out over the other.
For more information on choosing a form of methadone treatment, just give us a call at 800-994-1867Who Answers?. Our specialists would be happy to talk with you about your options and help you find the right treatment for you.
How Does a Methadone Dispensary Work?
A methadone dispensary provides your prescribed dose of medication and referrals to alternative therapies.
A methadone dispensary is a great way for you to get the medication prescribed for you by a doctor. Methadone dispensaries are strictly regulated by the DEA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This is to prevent doctors and patients alike from abusing the medication on the streets.
You will have to return to the dispensary regularly to receive your intended dose. In addition to receiving your methadone dose, the dispensary will also give you a referral for mental health services, drug education, and other types of counseling. Taking advantage of these services will ensure you have a better chance of a full recovery.
Overall, methadone dispensaries have been proven to increase your chances of survival, improve your treatment retention, decrease your illegal drug use, and improve your chances of getting a job.
How Does a Methadone Treatment Center Work?
A methadone treatment center works differently than a methadone dispensary. At a treatment center, you will undergo a medically supervised detoxification process to help you cleanse your body of the influence of drugs. There are three main types of treatment centers.
At a long-term residential treatment facility, such as a therapeutic community, you will receive care 24 hours a day. These programs usually last between six and 12 months and help you to reintegrate yourself into normal society. It includes much more than just methadone medication management, as you will also be treated for the social and psychological effects of addiction.
Most short-term residential treatment programs follow a 12-step method to get you clean. Usually, you just need to spend three to six weeks in a hospital-based inpatient treatment.
Finally, an outpatient treatment program is the most similar to a methadone dispensary because it offers the least amount of emotional and psychology support. These programs work to educate you on how drugs work as well as offer group counseling.
Why Choose Methadose Treatment for Opioid Addiction?
Methadose is one of the brands of methadone available in many drug treatment centers. Out of the many treatment options, …
Which Type of Treatment Is Better?
Overall, treatment centers offer much more emotional, social, and psychological support than methadone dispensaries. This makes them a great choice for people with limited support from family and friends.
However, if you have a strong will and encouragement from loved ones, simply going to a methadone dispensary is a lot more affordable than checking yourself into rehab.
Overall, the choice is really up to you. Both options are a great start to ridding yourself of your drug addiction. If you need more help choosing between a methadone dispensary and a treatment center, just give us a call at 800-994-1867Who Answers?.
Our knowledgeable experts are waiting to talk with you about this difficult choice. They can give you more information and guide you through your life-changing decision.
References:
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/methadone.asp
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs//manuals/narcotic/appendixa/treatment.htm
http://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/treatment#otps