irisgardens

I am seeking to educate myself on methadone and heroin. We also go to find her on the streets of SF weekly, although with less success each passing month.

She is being treated for methadone at a clinic there and is on 150 mg. of methadone, which seems to be high. Explains that the high dosage was due to pregnancy last year and never reduced.

She has been doing methadone for about 2 years and it was a choice she made herself, after suboxone didn't work.

OpioPhobe

Has she been clean off heroin while on the methadone program?

irisgardens

I do not know, which is why I am seeking more information. While we are able to check at the clinic (sometimes) to see if she has been going, she lives on the streets and either her father or myself have to go to find her to maintain contact. Can say that my gut says she is using on the streets as well-the slurring, inability to maintain any attention span at all, the angry outburts and blaming are worse than they were a few years ago. She says it is due to the methadone dosage being high, but I don't believe this. Gut says it is more.

OpioPhobe

I don't have personal experience with being on methadone long-term, but I know plenty of people in the rooms that are. They don't exhibit those behaviors. Once they have been on a certain dose for a while they get used to it and look pretty normal.

Based on what you have shared it is pretty clear that she is still actively using something. I would trust your gut on this one.

irisgardens

Thank you!

gunslinger

and, no one is going to live on the street willingly unless you're drugged.

irisgardens

Thank you. I work a lot on trying to be realistic...amazing how much effort it takes to take each step into more realistic and educated. All of you have helped tremendously, as now can move into whatever the next step is--try to work on my own codependency recovery and healthier self as I love my daughter, knowing I cannot make her do anything unless she is willing to take her own steps.