Essay On Methadone Maintenance

Methadone maintenance, a term the reader may or may not familiar with. In order to sufficiently explain my research and data, one must understand the subject to a level of generalization. Methadone maintenance is a form medicated assisted treatment for those in treatment, in order to recover from addiction. There are various forms of addiction treatment options, but methadone maintenance is one of the leading forms of treatment. Methadone is a synthetic analgesic drug, meaning that it is similar to a narcotic, but without acting longer acting symptoms, it is also used as a treatment method for pain as well. In layman’s terms, the body of the patient in treatment takes the methadone and it satisfies the body’s craving, however there are no drug-induced symptoms that follow, if medically managed at the appropriate level. Methadone is offered to patients, typically in an outpatient setting. Each state varies in how methadone can …show more content…
Methadone overdoses do make the local newspapers, thus leading the reader to formulate a perception of the treatment option. Methadone can be overdosed on, if the patient is not given the appropriate medical amount or takes methadone among other abused substances, mainly strong benzodiazepines. If a patient takes a benzo and then takes methadone the results can be fatal, thus an overdose. A second commonality, is the abuse of take home medicine. In an outpatient clinic, the clinic phases out their patients on levels 0-5. Phase 2-5, get to take home their methadone, thus they do not have to travel to the clinic that day, they can take their medication from the comfort of their own homes. Patients can fall to the addiction and take more than their medicated amount, thus leading to an overdose. Even though methadone is mainstream, with the taboo label, it is still a subject that practices like a