Stricter Rules for Methadone Clinics

Methadone is a pain medication but also a drug that is being used to help people get free of other prescriptions pain killers they have gotten addicted to. But the problem is that Methadone is also an addictive drug. So what's the deal? Methadone is an opiate along with many other pain medications.

One the biggest problem with these Methadone Clinics is that they have no time limited on how long you can go there. People go everyday seven days a week for years. The clinic allow them to just continue coming forever. But it doesn't take years to get off or free of something that you are addicted to. Yet as long as they pay that $10.00 everyday to get that little fix they can continue going to these drug houses. Methadone, pain killers and some antidepressants after being taken for a long period of time can't just be stopped. They will suffer from withdraws. These withdraws will make them feel as though they are going to die.

Methadone mixed with other drugs can be a killer. There are people dying everyday from Methadone mixed with other meds. You aren't supposed to take any other opiates (pain killers) with methadone. Of course as with any medication they need to check for which other meds can be taken with it. There is a danger of an overdose let alone all the damage that they will do to the heart and liver. Although the Clinic do drug testing once a month to be certain that no other drugs are being taken. The sad thing about
this is after they go for a while they began to know about what time they will be tested so they clean up.

Some think that it's only the young people that are going to these Methadone Clinics or Legal Drug Houses. But this isn't true. People of all ages and walks of life go to these clinics. It's easier to become addicted to prescription drugs then street drugs. People become hooked on these drugs because they think since they are from a Dr. they can just continue to take them 4 to 6 times a day even though it may say "AS NEEDED" for pain.As needed means of course when the pain is worse. At first they are taking 1 then 2 at a time until they can't stop and so on to help with the pain.

I know someone that has been going to a Methadone clinic for almost four years. A bit long I think. They have slept for days only to use the bathroom and return to the clinic then back home to bed. I don't see them as the one to blame for the length of time they have gone, for the clinic lets them decide when to cut back on the amount of methadone they will receive. The clinic should be in control of this issue, but some are NOT. This is another problem.

These clinics need some changes or close the doors. It would seem that six to twelve months should be plenty of time to get off the Methadone. Also one drug test a month isn't going to save a life. This should be done no less then twice in a month and never around the same time. Another issue is when someone contacts them to make a report about someone, why would they need to tell that person that they have received a call,this just isn't necessary. They should just drug test them and go on. When someone contacts the Methadone Clinic to report someone is doing something, like taking other pain killers along with the Methadone, they may be doing it for the
addict's own good.

It's time that something is done. I say straighten up these Methadone Clinics/ Legal Drug Houses or shut them down. Another way to solve the problem would be to let these people come in and tell them that within a year they will no longer be a client for they will be free of the drugs.The clinics should have stricter rules or be closed down.