Where to Find Help for Methadone Abuse

Methadone is often a very beneficial medication for people addicted to opioids. However, the drug can sometimes be abused by those exact individuals it is meant to help. If you suspect that someone you know is abusing methadone or if you have been abusing the drug yourself, here are some resources that may be able to help.

Addiction Rehab

Many individuals believe that they will be able to benefit from methadone maintenance treatment, but sometimes, the desire to abuse the drug can be too strong. If this is the case for you, you may need to attend addiction rehab at a clinic that does not dispense methadone. If you had been attending an outpatient treatment program for some time, you may also want to consider giving inpatient treatment a try so that you can build a stronger recovery before going back to your normal routine.

If you have been struggling with methadone abuse, you can find addiction rehab centers using SAMHSA‘s treatment locator. With this tool, you can see the facilities closest to you and find the one that best fits your needs.

Support Groups

Support groups are a great place to find help for methadone abuse.

According to Harvard Medical School, “Mutual aid groups for opiate addicts follow the same lines as those established earlier for alcoholics.” These groups can also help individuals who have been struggling with methadone abuse and aid them in finding other treatments that are more appropriate for their needs. Support groups meet everywhere, from churches to libraries to rehab centers.

Support groups can be extremely beneficial because they allow members to meet other individuals who have been through the same experiences they have. At a support group like Smart Recovery or Narcotics Anonymous, you are likely to meet others who may have abused methadone at some point or another while trying to recover from opioid abuse. Being around these people can help you feel less alone, and they can also give you advice about where to go from here to stop abusing methadone and build a stronger recovery.

Personalized Drug Counseling

Methadone clinics are very careful to make sure that patients do not abuse the medication and that it is always dispensed in safe and healthy doses. However, sometimes certain individuals fall through the cracks and begin to abuse the drug anyway. If you are one such individual, it may be very helpful to you to attend a personalized drug counseling program.

In one of these programs, you will receive one-on-one treatment with a therapist or counselor who can help you through the issues caused by methadone abuse and get your recovery back on track. This type of program, according to the NIDA, “also addresses related areas of impaired functioning––such as employment status, illegal activity, and family/social relations––as well as the content and structure of the patient’s recovery program.” Often, you can receive this type of treatment in a psychologist’s or counselor’s office, and your personal physician or someone at the methadone clinic could recommend a professional who has experience in this area.

If you realize that you have been abusing your methadone medication (or taking it in a way that is otherwise not recommended), there are many places where you can find help and get your recovery back on track.