[Sugah]

Below is my experience, observations, and opinion:

I abused cocaine & crack cocaine for many years, and at one point (for about three years) had an $8-12 grand a month habit. Yes, there was pain in withdrawal, but it was primarily mental pain. The obsession of getting and using more was very strong, but for an addict, it doesn't matter what the substance is. That obsession, if nothing more is done than removing the drug, happens with any drug. The actual physical symptoms of coke/crack withdrawal were minimal: some disruption in sleep and irritability.

Withdrawing from opiates, on the other hand, feels like a really, really bad case of the flu, if the physical dependence is severe. IMO, replacing opiates with methadone treatment is merely delaying the inevitable, that physical withdrawal. I don't personally know anyone who had a successful recovery until they were free of all mind/mood altering substances. I've heard they exist. I just don't know of any. The last friend I had who went to meetings to work on his recovery while being on methadone blew his brains out when he had to finally face the consequences of his actions. I have another friend with long term (18 years) recovery who was on methadone for almost five years. Rather than face the detox from methadone, as his insurance was due to run out, he went back to shooting heroin, and once the methadone was out of his system, he went through detox from the dope.

For the record, I did a cold-turkey detox from opiates, valium, and coke. Glad I didn't accept the crutches. I don't think I'd be clean or even alive had I not done it that way.

The problem with methadone clinics is that, like any profit-motivated business, they want their clients to stay on it as long as the insurance pays for it. And they want the client on as high a dose as possible. They bill more that way. What becomes of someone when the insurance runs out isn't their concern. At least, that's how the clinic in this area is run.

Bottom line....your husband has to want to get clean. Or, he has to keep going until he ends up dead or in jail and has no choice but to get clean. Gathering information and offering him your support is wonderful, but if he doesn't really want to stop using, like most addicts, he's likely to do whatever it takes to keep using by whatever means he's able to.

If he's willing, there are places all over that will clean him up. Whether he chooses to remain that way is up to him. There's lots of help staying clean available to him, too.

Peace & Love,
Sugah