OpioPhobe

Mia020572 - something really doesn't pass the smell test with the situation you just described. Your son used heroin 4 times in his life and then went to a clinic and got 60 mg / day? Did he have a long-term habit from another opi prior to trying the heroin? Methadone is an extraordinarily strong drug. I would have ODd on 60 mgs of methadone if I had taken it after only using opis 4 times in my life.

mia020572

Hi OpioPhobe - He was taking large doses of opiates (like hydrocodone) that he bought on the streets prior to trying the heroin. In May 2013 he was in a rehab clinic for 2 weeks for the opiates - at that time he told us he had not used heroin. I don't know if this is the real truth to it all or not - My addict son told me point blank to never believe a word he says, that i should always question and doubt whatever comes out of his mouth.

mialicious

I'm just going to play devil's advocate on the methadone clinic. Methadone clinics offer addiction counselling and a taper program. They also get more flexible with prescribing methadone and allowing take homes only IF you are giving clean urine samples (i.e., no opiates or other drugs for a proven amount of time AND you attend regularly (meaning not skipping your daily dose). You have to be active in the program and prove you're off the street drugs. It's called Federal Phasing Guidelines for Methadone (which you can look up Methadone Take Home Doses. Federal Regulations on Clinic Reporting; Get the Take Home Doses You Deserve!).

Clinics also test urine for a methadone metabolite to ensure you are taking the prescription and not selling it. Having been a user of subutex, suboxone, and methadone (not all together obviously) as tools to get off IV heroin; I believe it is up to the addict what route they choose. I think a clinical setting under doctor supervision is key. Opiates are powerful and sometimes "switching" addictions can help the user end the pill habit or needle habit.

I also agree with OpioPhobe, it seems unlikely that your son did IV herion only 4 times then got on 60mg of methadone. Depending on how much hydrocodone he was using, 60mg is still a fairly high dose. It's usually the methadone clinics that have heroin addicted patients because it's stronger. Although methadone, taken at responsible dosing levels, does not get the patient high (like pills and dope) and does have an active opiate agonist agent, it is extremely powerful and has the longest half life to the user.

mia020572

It is very likely he is lying to me. I know he's ashamed of it and probably doesn't want me to worry or know what's really going on. When he was taking the opiates, he said he was taking 12-15 pills a day. When he first went to the clinic, they started him on 50mg of methadone and he said he was still uncomfortable so they bumped him to 60mg a day. I just want to help him get into the best treatment program possible. He is working full time but aside from that he is very depressed and stays in his room most of the time and does not really socialize or hang out with any friends. He sees a counselor at the clinic every 2 weeks , and he sees a therapist about once a month outside of that , but I think he could benefit from seeing her more. I would like to see him get involved in a support group so he can talk with people who have lived through this so he can see if he wants it bad enough, he can fight and win this addiction.

bookreader

mia - what opio and mialicious say rings true -
you may want to look at the board for family and friends of addicts; lots of support there; not always easy to read, but true.Your son was so right when he said not to believe anything he says - at least he is honest about that!
My son lied many times about what the clinic was saying and what was going on there... after being released from jail, he just started back on methadone and probably will start a taper in the fall....

And congrats to mialicious for 11 months!!
b.

mialicious

Aww thanks for the congrats! It's actually been 15 months now off methadone and 26 months off IV heroin! I'm so happy. I definitely cherish my sobriety and really want to give back by paying out forward.

Yesterday at Wal-Mart a young girl who was obviously pregnant came up to me saying her boyfriend ditched her. She asked if I could help her with $$. Her belly looked small for being due in August (she explained). I already just knew she was a junkie. Of course my eyes went right to the needle marks and poke holes on her arms. I told her I've been there. She said "where?" And I pointed to her tracks and fresh pokes. I told her I was clean for 15 months now off methadone and 2 years off dope. I asked if she was on methadone because it's the safest route for pregnant women. She said she was as well as subutex. I told her it is possible to be clean and do right by her baby. I continued explaining my story. She saw me with my daughter. I explains how much I believe my daughter deserves a clean mom. I told her she doesn't need heroin if she sticks to the program.

I nearly broke her into tears just saying that. It almost made me cry. I was a cocktail of emotions about this pregnant addict chick. But I did not give her a dime because no part of my moral compass will allow me to support her lifestyle choices (especially because she's pregnant). As she walked away I smiled at her and told her to rub that belly for me.

In my heart I send her all the love I can muster. In my mind I know the struggle is bigger than she is right now. Fighting it seems pointless to people that lost in addiction. But it's worth it to me to pay it forward and help those that want help. Even if it is just sharing my story of struggles and success.

OpioPhobe

Mialicious - Wow! Thanks for sharing that story. It is amazing all of things going on in Walmart parking lots...lol. It really brightened up my day yesterday to read about you paying it forward. You didn't describe her reaction after you shared your experience with her, but I imagine it will be one of those memories that sticks with her for a long time.

Congrats on 15 months by the way!


Mia020572 - those numbers with the prior use still seem off to me, but I am not sure it is relevant at this point. If he is isolated then AA/NA would definitely be something that he could check out. However, if you try suggesting it or forcing it I suspect your son will just become resistant. Do you know anyone in AA/NA in real life? If you do maybe you could invite someone in the program to some function where they would interact with your son. If they have time alone the conversation will almost certainly come up on its own. Hopefully they will 'click' and your son may want to go to AA/NA if he likes the person and wants the emulate them. That way he will feel like he came up with the idea on his own rather than doing it because he was told to do it.