Outpatient Question

[pHyRo]

Hi, I have a history of abuse, mainly narcotics and I have been hooked on the illicit use of methadone for the past 6 months. I steal it from my dad to keep my addiction going strong and now I am in fear of withdrawals. I am always running out of it, and at that time that is when I feel like I need to get help, but never follow thru. This time I actually called an outpatient facility mental health services about my addiction. I called an outpatient because I cannot afford to stay at a ten day rehab. Well tonight I am beginning to withdraw and I know that I will be worse tomorrow. My questions are, will this facility give me something for the withdrawals? Or will they try to get me to go to an inpatient facility to help me taper off? I really don't know what they will do. If this is too much to answer is there a link that can explain how they will treat me? If all they want to do is talk then I am afraid I don't even want to go thru with this tomorrow. Thank you for your time and sorry about the lengthy paragraph.

[Evanna]

Hi pHyRo,
Well done for making that call. The only way you are going to find out the answers to your questions is to go and see them. My guess is that you will work out together what is best for you and how they can best support you.

I am so glad you found your way here.
Warm Regards
Evanna.

[lonlion]

So great that you are honest about this. That is the first step to getting help.
I hope it all works out for you hun,

Big hugs,
Diana

[pHyRo]

Thank you for the encouragement. I feel though that I don't deserve it..I am extremely hesitant about this and vulnerable. All I want right now is relief. and if all they want to do is 'talk', then I'm walking out. I'm sure you guys know how I feel. If not...well...try answering questions and talking in a cold, fluorescent lit seat and room...with the full fledged flu.

[Jane63]

I did do that...in rehab! It's called counseling and although it was not pleasant at the time, years later I still remember getting to the bottom of my addiction problems and finding new tools to deal with them.
You see...getting clean is actually the easy part...It's staying that way that is something we have to learn to work at every single day!

Ok...about the outpatient treatment...I would assume there is an addiction specialist at the facility or at least a DR. You can tell them how fearful of the withdrawal you are and ask if they can prescribe something to help you through then wean you off as you begin to heal. Treatments vary, but in rehab I was given something for anxiety, pain and something called "Clonodine" in the form of patches I wore on my back that helped greatly with the withdrawal. I was also given "Melatonin" which is a non-addictive sleep aid. There are all sorts of OTC medications that help grealy with home detox.

If your serious about this you will follow it through! It's scary not knowing what is going to happen but if you don't go then you will never know what good things COULD have happened!
Best wishes,
Jane

[kelsh]

Hi pHyRo,

I went to a mental health facility to find out why I was so crazy & couldn't stop drinking. I got an appointment for the next week and the gal told me that if I needed to see someone sooner, just call. I did that too, and on a Friday night I was admitted to the local hospital for detox. This was a long time ago and I am still sober. It was something I wanted more than anything else in my life by then.

I was given medication to help me when I got out of the hospital six days later and started AA the same evening I got out of the hospital. This is what worked for me.

kelsh

[littlethings]

I was on methadone at an outpatient treatment clinic for 2+ years for a heroin addiction. It is a VERY hard drug to get off of if you are not "weined" properly (and slowly). My highest dose was 50mg per day (I think). I detoxed at 1mg per week and eventually I dropped it when I got to 2mg a day. I attended this clinic daily and eventually with clean time, they reduce the amount of times you need to go per week. Every 3 months (with 3 clean urine drug tests) you would get an additional take home bottle. Wait, let me explain how this clinic worked without adding additional things.....

I decided I needed help and called a methadone clinic. They drug tested me when I got there to make sure i tested positive for opiates. I paid a $125 intake fee and from then on, it was $60.00 per week. They dispensed my dose to me every morning (they dispensed methadone from 6am-10am daily, except for Sundays). Saturdays, when you got your dose, they would give you Sunday's dose as well to take home with you so that you wouldn't have to attend on Sunday. You would bring your empty bottle back on Monday and get your next dose. With clean time they start making you come less and less. I was only attending once a week by the time my detox plan ended.

If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them.

Good luck!! =)

[Jane63]

See?? I really think you will be OK Phyro! I hope you go to that meeting today and accept help from them!
Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing!

Jane