Methadone & Suboxone in Statesboro, GA

Methadone is a synthetic (man-made) opioid that was first synthesized in the late 1930s. Among its various uses, methadone blocks the receptors in the brain that are affected by addictive opiates such as morphine and heroin – which means that, when taken as part of an approved and medically supervised program, methadone enables addicted individuals to end their dependence upon these drugs without experiencing painful (and often dangerous) withdrawal symptoms.

The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) describes methadone as “a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence.”

If you are taking methadone as part of an approved program (under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider), research indicates that you are not putting yourself at risk for any significant long-term health risks.

Methadone works by blocking the receptors in the brain that are affected by dangerous opioids such as morphine and heroin. Methadone reduces the drug cravings that often lead to relapse in recovering opiate addicts without creating the disorienting euphoria that results from abusing morphine, heroin and related substances. Thus, methadone patients are able to function in society without being hampered by drug cravings, withdrawal symptoms or the incapacitating effects of opiate abuse.

Methadone’s effects last between 24 and 36 hours, meaning that one daily dose is usually required to receive the maximum benefit from this medication.

Yes, it is. According to research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), weekly heroin use decreased by 69 percent among outpatient methadone maintenance patients.

The ONDCP reports that a 1994 California study “found that rates of illegal drug use, criminal activity, and hospitalization were lower for [methadone maintenance] patients than for addicts in any other type of drug treatment program.”

Decades of research have revealed no serious side effects associated with the medically supervised use of methadone.

When they first begin taking methadone, some people have experienced effects such as constipation, water retention, drowsiness, skin rash, excessive sweating, and changes in libido – but in the vast majority of cases, these symptoms have subsided once the proper dosage has been determined and the patients have developed a tolerance to the medication.

Not at all. Individuals who participate in a medically supervised methadone maintenance program are not “swapping addictions” – they are exchanging a debilitating addiction for an approved course of treatment that frees them from the chains of chemical dependency.

Methadone will not result in a positive test for commonly abused opiates such as morphine or heroin. The only way for a company or other organization to detect methadone is to test for it specifically – which is not a common practice.

Also, it is important to remember that people who are participating in approved methadone maintenance programs are not abusing an illegal drug – they are taking legal medication with the approval and supervision of a qualified healthcare provider. Methadone patients are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – which means that methadone use cannot be used to deny employment.

Yes. Methadone’s effects do not include intoxication or other forms of disorientation, and there are no laws preventing methadone patients from operating motor vehicles or other forms of machinery.

Yes, you will. One of the many benefits of methadone maintenance programs is that methadone can safely be taken for a long period of time. But safe withdrawal from methadone is definitely possible – though, as with any type of long-term medication regimen, ending methadone use must be done slowly, carefully and with the support and supervision of your healthcare provider.

NO. When taken as prescribed, long-term administration of methadone causes no adverse effects to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, blood, bones, brain, or other vital body organs. Side effects such as constipation, water retention, drowsiness, skin rash, excessive sweating and reported change in sexual drive may or may not occur in the initial stages of treatment. These symptoms generally subside or disappear as methadone dosage is adjusted and stabilized, or when simple medical interventions are initiated.

NO. Methadone is not a substitute for opioids or any other short-acting opioid, and does not affect individuals in the same way. Methadone does not create a pleasurable or euphoric feeling; rather it relieves physiological opioid craving and is generally chosen by opioid-dependent individuals. Opioid addiction can be compared to other chronic diseases like diabetes. Methadone for the Opiate-addicted person is like insulin for the diabetic. Addiction doesn’t go away on its own, and only gets worse without proper treatment.

NO. Methadone has no adverse effects on intelligence, mental capability, or employability. Methadone treated patients are comparable to non-patients in reaction time, in ability to learn, focus, and make complex judgments. Methadone treated patients do well in a wide array of vocational endeavors, including professional positions, service occupations, and skilled, technical and support jobs. One recent study tested methadone patient’s cognition, perceptual and motor functioning, reaction time, and attentional function, as well as performance of automobile driving behavior. It was concluded, confirming pervious findings, that methadone does not impair functional capacity.

In order to be admitted to a clinic providing Medication Assisted Treatment, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/SAMHSA standards require:

• A minimum of one year of addiction to opioids as well as current evidence of opioid addiction. Special circumstances apply to opioid dependent pregnant women, who may be admitted without demonstration of the one-year minimum.
• Applicant must also be over 18 years of age.
• If the applicant is under 18, (s)he must have parental consent and demonstrate at least two prior treatment episodes in either drug free treatment or short-term tapering.

Medication Assisted Treatment is the most regulated substance abuse treatment alternative in the United States. Federal and state regulatory agencies monitor Medication Assisted Treatment programs through on-site program reviews. At the Federal level, regulatory oversight has been moved from the Food and Drug Administration to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, which requires programs to receive accreditation, a common requirement amongst health care providers. Programs also receive licenses from the DEA and the state in which they operate.

For more information about methadone maintenance – and to learn about treatment centers near you – call 912-489-7827 or complete our confidential online contact form.