Methadone is a synthetic narcotic used legally to treat heroin addiction and pain, but is also abused. It can help people kick heroin addiction, but is just as addictive and withdrawal is worse. Methadone abuse has led to an increase in deaths every year. Recovery may require entry into a treatment program or residential rehabilitation clinic.
Methadone abuse refers to the illegal use of a highly potent synthetic narcotic. Methadone is used legally in the United States and elsewhere to treat heroin addiction and to relieve pain from cancer and other serious ailments. Under the US Controlled Substances Act, methadone is listed as a Schedule II drug along with cocaine and methamphetamine, substances that have a high potential for abuse and addiction.
During World War II, the Nazis had German scientists develop a synthetic opiate to avoid withdrawal symptoms from various opioid drugs, should a shortage of raw opium become a problem. The result was the trade name Dolophine, which years later was given the generic name methadone by the American Medical Association.
Methodone has some interesting properties that make it a good candidate to help people kick heroin addiction. Heroin causes a temporary euphoria, followed by a period of lucidity, giving way to withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include cravings, irritability, depression, abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle tremors. Withdrawal is so uncomfortable that the heroin addict will look for another solution to stave off the symptoms, starting a new cycle.
Prescribed in the right dosage, methadone does not have the euphoric effect of heroin, has a slower effect, but eliminates heroin withdrawal symptoms, allowing a person to kick the habit. Best of all, it’s cheap and lasts 24 to 72 hours, rather than the four to eight hours of a heroin cycle. Due to its chemical composition, it does not disrupt neurological functioning as heroin does, allowing someone to lead a productive life even while regularly taking methadone instead of heroin.
The downside is that methadone is just as addictive as heroin, and methadone withdrawal is worse than heroin withdrawal. While heroin withdrawal might take up to 10 days, methadone withdrawal can take 30 days or more. Often people choose to continue taking methadone to avoid facing a withdrawal scenario. In a clinical setting, methadone abuse is treated by gradually tapering the patient’s dosage over an extended period of time, while keeping the patient under close supervision.
Increased availability and accessibility have made methadone gain traction on the black market, perhaps more so after the OxyContin crackdown. People may choose to take methadone when heroin or OxyContin are not available.
Whatever the reason, the increasing abuse of methadone has led to an increase in deaths every year. The nature of the drug could be part of the problem. Delayed effects can cause a partygoer to think nothing is going on. When the euphoria doesn’t come, he takes more, and more, if the drug doesn’t work. Hours later, when the overdose becomes apparent, no one is around to witness the attacker’s distress, and death can quickly follow.
Like other opioids, methadone abuse is characterized by increased drug tolerance with use. Someone new to methadone might watch a friend with a methadone habit consume a huge amount, mistakenly assuming that the dose is safe for anyone. Methadone can be difficult to dose correctly, even for trained healthcare professionals.
Recovery from methadone abuse may require entry into a treatment program or residential rehabilitation clinic. There are several treatment facilities located around the world, many available online using a search engine. Some centers have a 1-800 hotline that you can call for immediate assistance. Medical emergencies should always be referred to the local emergency services.
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