Methadone maintenance is a common form of treatment for those addicted to street drugs like heroin. A form of “harm reduction,” it literally lowers the risk of HIV and Hep C transfer through infected needles. Methadone maintenance is also a steady and constant dosage and quantity, unlike bags of heroin on the street where you never know what you’ll get. Because it has a half life of 24 to 36 hours, you don’t get “sick” like you do when using heroin, starting to feel withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of your last fix. This means that you can take one dose of methadone once a day and be able to function at work and at home without the drowsy “nod” that comes with heroin.

Unfortunately, trekking down to the clinic every day to take your dose is a pain and can interfere with work. And it’s not side effect free: it can make you feel drowsy and unable to concentrate. An alternative method is one that helps you more quickly break your addiction to heroin and methadone in the privacy of your own home. Taking buprenorphine pills prescribed specifically for your drug addiction is the only way to do that. If you are on a methadone dose of 40 mg or less, then you are ready to make the switch and safely detox until you are completely drug free.

There is definitely a place for methadone maintenance. For many, it’s the only way to handle their drug addiction and stay off the streets. For others, it provides the time they need to detox off of an addiction to a really high dose of heroin, morphine, Vicodin, OxyContin and other opiates. However, for those who are ready to get serious and get over it, Subutex or Suboxone pills are the way to go.

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"An Alternative to Methadone Maintenance" posted in Addiction, Addiction Recovery, Drug Rehab, Drug Withdrawal, Methadone, Opiates, Painkillers, Prescription Drug Addiction, Suboxone, Subutex.
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