peacelovesober

So does anyone have knowledge of methadone or sobaxone treatment? My AH is going in the morning and I have this feeling he is just trading a bad habit for a horrible one. We are separated and he is so unstable financially. This treatment will cost him half his income and that's of course if he keeps the job.

Yes there is the codie coming out in me but I wondered if there are good stories. Most of what is on Google is about what a huge mistake it is but I wonder if there is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.

Hope everyone is well ........

Much love

Ann

I know more people who have been helped and who successfully got off heroin and/or oxy's by using methadone or suboxone, than I know who did not...but I pay more attention to those in recovery than those who continue to struggle.

It needs to be done under the direction of a doctor, prescribed and followed as directed...there in lies the issue sometimes. A drug abuser may find it hard to follow the above. Eventually, and again under professional direction, they will taper off the drug and many remain clean after that without further need for prescribed treatment.

A drug abuser will abuse just about any drug available...an addict in recovery will go to any lengths to get and stay clean and sober.

Like programs, the success rate often directly coincides with the person's willingness to find sobriety and keep it.

Hope this helps a little.

Hugs

Twofish

Dear Peacelovesober,
Please reread what Ann has posted. Many times, each word, reread it. Yes these medications CAN work for the recovering addict in RECOVERY.. It's NOT meant to replace one drug for another, long term. It's all about RECOVERY.
With Methadone or Suboxone, comes therapy, meetings and tons of HARD work to stay
sober. This is a serious disease and requires serious determination and the
DESIRE to be free and sober. It's very hard work, there is no getting high anymore, only
sobriety and to feel "normal" or free from the chains of addiction. No "cure" but RAs can work for and control the disease, with that, the freedom can/will return.
It took me a long time to understand this.
And then there's tapering...a whole different part of RECOVERY...
Only the RA can decide when enough is enough...when to fight for their life back. It can happen. Never give that hope up.
Be kind to YOURSELF and always have hope. Hugs and support!
TF

FeelingGreat

PLS, there's a lot of negative talk out there about methadone, but it has been successful in stabilising and maintaining many addicts. It takes them out of the criminal environment and puts them in touch with treatment if they want to take it further. They are also getting away from the danger of overdose and contamination. Sure there is a thriving trade in prescriptions etc, but for the addict that wants to stabilise and possibly recover, it can literally be a life-saver.

The people who run the programs are not stupid, they know some people abuse it, but it will work for others who are determined to succeed.

pommie

My son is on methadone treatment. He started in June of this year. He goes to a clinic before work each day and on saturday they give him a bottle with his dose for Sunday. He sees a counselor there about once a week, more if he wants to. He also has nerve pain in his back and neck which this seems to help a lot. He does not have health insurance. It costs him $85 a week which is a lot cheaper than when he was stealing hundreds to buy his illegal pain pills or heroin. So far, so good. We'll see what happens if he gets off it buT i hear many people are on it for years.

GardenMama

I agree with what everyone else has posted here! Consider some medical/addiction specialist sources and not just a google search for your info. It really is about a 110% commitment to recovery, methadone or not, but for my RAD (100+days sober), it has reduced her cravings so that she can focus on her recovery work. Cravings are REAL and not imagined. Some people need maintenance and a very slow taper to get off opiates. Try to trust that your husband will figure it out on his own--try to stay off that worry train and let him work on his own recovery. Like Ann, I have heard of more relapse stories of kids who did not get on methadone or suboxone than those who are using it as part of an intensive recovery plan.