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The generosity of the staff and peacefulness of the surroundings has given me a serenity and safety I had never experienced before." - Don

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Click here to read "Addressing the Complexities of Chronic Pain," by Dr. James Gagne, an internist at The Canyon. The article was published in Marin Medicine Magazine. (This link is provided solely for educational purposes.)

 

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Drug Treatment and Methadone

It is estimated that about 210,000 people in the United States take methadone as a part of a drug treatment program every single day. Considered one of the most effective methods of treating addiction to opiates like heroin and prescription painkillers, methadone in conjunction with one on one therapy, group meetings and alternative and traditional therapies is available at The Canyon.

Drug Treatment and Methadone: The Basics

Those who are physically addicted to opiates will experience withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of their last missed dose. These withdrawal symptoms are physically painful and can last for weeks unless you undergo a treatment like methadone. How methadone works is simple: the drug binds to the opiate receptors in the brain that are expecting more heroin or opiate painkillers. Because methadone is also an opiate, your body is 'tricked' into believing that your drug of choice is present when it isn't, allowing you to stop immediately with a minimum of withdrawal symptoms.

Drug Treatment and Methadone: Who is Eligible

If you are addicted to heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, Lorcet, Fentanyl-any opiate drug-then you are eligible for methadone treatment. The Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates that there are almost 1 million people addicted to heroin in the United States. With the rates of crime and HIV significantly decreased when methadone treatment increases, the success of a methadone drug treatment is well recognized.

Drug Treatment and Methadone: What it Entails

Each day you will be given a dose of methadone, most likely in liquid form. Due to the strict regulations of the drug when it is prescribed for drug addiction treatment, methadone must be administered daily by a drug rehab or methadone rehab center. If you are enrolled in an inpatient treatment center like The Canyon, you will be given your methadone dose each day at the same time. Depending upon the length of your stay and your long-term treatment plan, you may begin to lower your methadone dose during drug rehab.

Drug Treatment and Methadone: Trading One Addiction for Another?

Some have concerns that using methadone to treat addiction to other opiates is merely replacing one addiction for another because methadone is also an opiate and addictive. However, methadone does not carry the risk of an unpredictable street drug like heroin or the risks that accompany its usual method of ingestion, hypodermic needles. The risks of overdose that you might find when you take too many of an opiate painkiller like Vicodin or Fentanyl or try to take another opiate to replace your usual prescription when you run out or augment its effect are not present when you're on a methadone treatment program. This first step in harm reduction is much preferable to an uncontrolled drug addiction and, when you are ready, you can step down your dose and wean yourself off of methadone.

Drug Treatment and Methadone at The Canyon

At The Canyon, we make methadone treatment available to those who need it. We recognize its benefits but work out an exit plan with you so that you don't leave without a plan to get off the drug slowly and without withdrawal symptoms. If you have any question about our opiate rehab at The Canyon, check out our site, give us a call at or set up a visit with us today.

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If The Canyon isn't right for you, we'll find the place that is.

Articles on Drug Treatment