Tag Archives: suboxone treatment

How To Get Prescription Drug Dependence Long-Term Treatment

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Drug Dependence and Prescriptions| A Real Problem

Drug Dependence

Drug Dependence

Prescription drug dependence affects not only families, but the individuals close at hand to them. Within the last fifteen years, the amount of narcotic prescribed drugs has risen dramatically. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports the use of methadone alone rose eight times between 1998 and 2006 to 4.1 million prescriptions. This increase in the number of prescriptions has led to more diversion and drug dependence of opioids. The Centers for Disease Control has spoken that overdoses of prescription medication are so broad, that only automobile accidents are more frequent. These numbers signal a need for people to seek medication drug dependence treatment.

Medication drug dependence treatment has made advances over the past 10 years. Up until short while ago, doctors would prescribe other addictive opioids to help patients who could not get off their own opioid drugs. This was referred to maintenance treatment. This way of treatment was outlawed until methadone was approved for the treatment of narcotic dependence in the mid 1960’s.

Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Drug Dependence

Methadone Maintenance Treatment has served a valuable function aiding opioid addicts who have been unable to get completely off their drugs. Even though methadone is a narcotic and clients become addicted to this treatment, it is thought to be more useful to do this than have clients go to the streets to satisfy their drug dependence. Narcotic addicts could now go to a physician, receive counseling, and not have the permanent risk of having withdrawals from opioids.

Methadone Maintenance Assistance has many benefits. This treatment is supervised firmly by the people in Washington. It has shown to subdue crime in the areas where addicts are receiving treatment. Expectant mothers have better results for their babies. Methadone maintenance has allowed many drug dependent people to maintain stable employment.

There are downsides to methadone maintenance help. Many of these treatment facilities are positioned in areas that are far for patients to journey. Patients find it complicated to attend the treatment center on a daily basis. Finally, many patients feel these treatment facilities do not allow the amount of concealment they want.

Suboxone Treatment For Prescription Drug Dependence

A newer form of narcotic long-term drug dependence treatment has been a standard over the past 10 years. This approach uses the medication suboxone. It has several advantages over methadone. One main advantage is that suboxone is prescribed by thousands of physicians across the States instead of only a few hundred as is the situation with methadone.

Suboxone overdose rarely results in death. This means it is very much safer than methadone in this respect. Suboxone is abused less commonly than methadone because it does not provide the same high as methadone. Finally, suboxone can be written monthly which is an useful thing for patients. The major disadvantage to the use of suboxone is that it doesn’t seem to assist some of the extreme narcotic addicts that methadone appears capable of doing

Summary Prescription Drug Dependence Long-Term Treatment

Doctors now have two prescription drugs used for opioid drug dependence long-term treatment. The first medication is methadone, and this is administered at approved clinics. The newer drug suboxone, can be prescribed from a physician’s clinic. Because of the advantages of suboxone, many more individuals seeking help for painkiller dependence are able to receive treatment.

If you are trying to find painkiller drug addiction treatment, use our suboxone physician directory to seek out help around you. If you want facts on methadone facilities, you can find more about a methadone treatment clinic here.

How to Get Methadone : What You Need To Do Legally

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How To Get Methadone : For Chronic Pain or Opioid Addiction

How To Get Methadone

How To Get Methadone

If you are looking how to get methadone , there are two main, legal reasons for its use today.  The first is for the treatment of chronic pain. The other reason is for opioid treatment at a methadone treatment center.

Some patients are looking for how to get methadone for their pain because they have found it more effective and longer lasting than other opioid medications. If this is the case, you can go to any physician and get it prescribed to them for this reason. As long as the methadone is not being prescribed for opioid addiction treatment, any doctor can prescribe the medication.

Some doctors, however,  are uncomfortable with giving methadone this way.  They may prescribe is for only a short period, or they may not want to use it at all.  Much has to do with a particular doctor’s comfort level. They may refer you to a pain specialist who has more experience with methadone because methadone requires special monitoring.

How To Get Methadone : For Opioid Addiction

For centuries, it has been known that opioid medications are addictive.  Methadone was invented in Germany during the Second World War.    Between about 1910 and 1960 opioids were used illegally by doctors and others to treat opioid addiction.  It was not until the 1960’s that it’s use for opioid addiction began to be used legally. The first studies indicated the many benefits of methadone treatment.  Then the use of methadone clinics was born.

Finding how to get methadone for opioid addiction starts with finding a methadone clinic near you.  They are located in most cities. There are methadone support groups online you can access. Other than hospitals and addiction detox centers, methadone treatment centers are to only place to go for addicts.

Methadone is highly regulated.  There is a risk of theft and misuse (diversion) of this medication. This, along with the public’s fear of the idea of giving the opioid addicted individual a narcotic for treatment, led to these restrictions.  Here is more information on methadone treatment.

How To Get Methadone : What About Suboxone

While everyone is worrying about how to get methadone, people forget there is a newer medication for the treatment of opioid addiction. This medication is called Suboxone.  This medication is safer and less addictive than methadone, although suboxone does have its risk.  Find out more about suboxone treatment.

Methadone Treatment Directory and Suboxone Treatment Directory

Dr. Rich is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He treats opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find Methadone Treatment including Suboxone treatment for those wanting oxycontin help. Find a Suboxone Treatment Clinic in your area. Dr. Rich has written more articles on methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including d a recent post : Opioid Addiction : 10 Questions For You

More Resources Related on How To Get Methadone

National Library of Medicine Abstract: Methadone maintenance treatment: a review of historical and clinical issues

Certification for Opioid Treatment Program: SAMHSA

National Institute On Drug Abuse

 

 

Methadone Treatment Cost For Opioid Addiction

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Methadone Treatment Cost For Opioid Addiction : For You and Society

Methadone Treatment Cost

Methadone Treatment Cost

According to the NIDA Methadone Research Web Guide, the money spent on methadone treatment cost is easily returned.  For every one dollar invested in treatment, four dollars are returned. Methadone treatment easily pays for itself.  Even if a person continues to use drugs while in methadone treatment, there is a cost savings as well and other benefits that last for years.

In 2002, the cost for methadone treatment was between $10,000 and $17,000 per year. Just taking methadone during treatment was not as cost effective as taking methadone combined with other services.  These other services include vocational counseling, individual therapy, marital and family counseling, relapse prevention counseling, and psychiatric treatment. The more treatment a patient received, the more money that was saved. The actual cost to provide services in a methadone treatment clinic is about $4,100 per year.

So how much is the methadone treatment cost for you going to be?  This will vary from clinic to clinic along with your income.  If you are paying entirely cash and out of pocket, you could be responsible for all you treatment. This could be $5000 to $10,000.  This is so unusual that it is almost not worth mentioning.  Most people I’ve seen on the web are talking about paying between $50 and $300 out of pocket with the average being around $150.

Getting Help With The Methadone Treatment Cost

Most people should be able to get the help with the cost for methadone treatment.  The first place to start is to find a call a methadone treatment center by you. Look one up in a methadone treatment center directory. The social worker and administrative staff at your local methadone maintenance treatment facility should be quite good at helping you find help with finances.  Many facilities will work on a sliding scale.

If you have no money at all, your State Medicaid offices may be able to supply you with health insurance.  If you have private insurance, make sure to call them too.

Methadone Treatment Cost and the Benefits of Methadone Treatment

There are many benefits of methadone maintenance treatment. Methadone clinics provide a place for the addict to talk to someone.  Most addicted individuals have other psychiatric issues that need to be addressed including depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia.  Methadone clinics are able to provide psychiatric treatment.

The number of people in 2002 addicted to opiates and heron in the United States was about 1 million. About 20% receive treatment through methadone maintenance.  Despite the out of pocket cost to patients and the cost to run the clinics, this treatment has been very valuable to many.  Here are some benefits of treatment:

  • Reduced crime
  • More productive
  • Reduced (or stopped) drug use
  • Less chance of suicide
  • Improved employment
  • Better health
  • Decrease in chance of premature death
  • Pregnancies go better
  • Family becomes stable

Other Methadone Treatment Cost Resources

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

The Cost of Methadone Treatment: Results from a National Sample of Treatment Programs : Abstract

Suboxone Treatment Directory And Methadone Treatment Directory

Dr. Rich is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He specializes in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find Methadone Treatment including Suboxone treatment for oxycontin addiction. Suboxone Treatment Clinic in your area.
Dr. Rich has written more articles on the cost of oxycontin, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including frequently asked questions and a recent post : Suboxone Treatment : What To Expect With Narcotic Treatment

What is Methadone Treatment ? Facts On This Opioid Addiction Treatment

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Methadone Treatment Basic Facts

Information on the website of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) features the following information about methadone treatment for people who are having problems with opiate addiction:

  • Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) began in the 1960’s. Medication along with vocational and social counseling is part of methadone treatment
  • Untreated Opioid Addiction costs 20 Billion dollars per year

    Methadone Treatment and Methadone Maintenance

    Methadone Treatment and Methadone Maintenance

  • Up to 10,000 people die per year from IV drug use
  • Methadone Treatment stops opioid cravings
  • Methadone Treatment stops opioid withdrawal
  • Methadone is taken once per day
  • 70-80% of Methadone Patients have Hepatitis B
  • Methadone Maintenance Treatment is very effective
  • Methadone Treatment is available in most cities

Problems with opioids have gone back hundred’s of years. Some treatment approaches need a very high level of motivation (abstinence, therapeutic communities, step programs) and are not helpful for many. Methadone treatment can help on it’s own, or help those where other addiction treatment has not helped. So what’s in it for you?

The Benefits of Methadone Treatment:

  • Patients stop or reduce injecting drugs
  • Reduction of the use of opioid drugs
  • Decrease of transmission of blood borne illnesses
  • Patients have healthier babies
  • Patients have more stable employment and a more stable family
  • 30% reduction in early death
  • Less criminal activity

Methadone Treatment : How Safe is It?

Using an opioid that is prescribed and monitored by a physician for the treatment of opioid addiction has been used in the United States since the 1800’s.  In fact, around 1914 several thousand doctors went to prison for prescribing opioids to their addicted patients after the Harrison Act. It prohibited this type of drug treatment. Only until recently, have patients been getting steered by society toward treatment. Between 1914 and around 1970, addiction was basically criminalized and many simply ended up in jail.

Methadone treatment has been studied since the 1960’s.  The White House Drug Policy Fact Sheet on Methadone states the following “When methadone is taken under medical supervision, longterm maintenance causes no adverse effects to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, blood, brain, or other vital body organs.”  When taken appropriately, methadone doesn’t have serious side effects.  The are some side effects of methadone (and a related medication suboxone).

When taken as directed, methadone will not cause a problem with your employment.  You will not suffer from a change in your intelligence from methadone treatment. You should be able to drive without problems with being sedated.  Although methadone is an opioid medication, at the correct dose, it will not cause a person to “get high” and it will prevent any opioid withdrawals from occurring.

Methadone treatment has been the standard for treating opioid addicted pregnant patients.  The substance abuse and mental health administration has a pamphlet that discusses this information in more detail. We now have 40 years of experience managing patients on methadone who are pregnant.

Finally, methadone treatment is highly monitored. In fact, it is one of the most monitored treatments in the United States.  The chain from the methadone manufacturer all the way down to the requirements of clinic are watched closely.  The Drug Enforcement Administration along with State Agencies keep close tabs on the clinics to ensure their safety.

Summary of Methadone Treatment Facts:

Methadone treatment is a highly monitored, safe treatment for opioid addicted individuals.  We have over 40 years of experience with the use of methadone and it has been well studied.  Methadone has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals break the cycle of addiction, get back their families, and maintain employment. It keep people out of prison and improves their lives. See the links below for more methadone treatment information including suboxone treatment.

Here are some other methadone treatment useful links:

Suboxone Treatment : This is another alternative for the treatment of Opioid Addiction. It is a medication based treatment and works well.  This site has a suboxone doctor directory and helpful articles on suboxone.

Centers for Disease Control : This link will bring you directly to the the source pdf for this article.

White House Drug Policy : This link brings you to more information on methadone and other sources. It is another pdf file.

Suboxone Treatment Directory And Methadone Treatment Directory

Dr. Rich is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He specializes in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find Methadone Treatment including Suboxone treatment of oxycontin addiction. Find a Suboxone Treatment Clinic in your area.
Dr. Rich has written more articles on the cost of oxycontin, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including frequently asked questions and a recent post : How Do I Find A Suboxone Physician?

Opioid Addiction : 10 Questions For You

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Opioid Addiction: The Problem

Opioid Addiction : 10 Questions If You Have It

Opioid Addiction : 10 Questions If You Have It

Opioid addiction is a major problem in the United States.  Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicate that there were almost 10 million abusers of prescription drugs in 2009. The number of people overdosing on prescription narcotics (by accident or not) has tripled since 1999. Seniors in high school are using prescriptions (10%).  Most recreational use of these prescriptions comes from friends or family members. Oxycontin has become a real problem.

Many people began using opioids for a medical issue such as leg pain, only to have their use become an opioid addiction. Others began by partying in high school only to find they needed to keep using. Many people then wonder if they have an addiction. They want to stop the medication, but they are starting to have problems like withdrawals. They may have never had addictive problems before. Here are some signs of opioid addiction:

Top 10 Signs of an Opioid Addiction

1. You sell items in your house and use the money for opioids-another almost sure sign of addiction.
2. You keep using opioids despite problems such as money, family, legal, or medical problems.
3. You are involved with other drugs of abuse. Having an addiction to alcohol or other drugs of abuse makes you at a greater risk of developing one with narcotics.
4. You go to perilous places, have dealings with questionable people to obtain pills. Seeking opioids in dangerous situations is usually a good sign of a problem.
5. Family or friends say you use too much pain medication. There are arguments over your use.
6. Your day is spent thinking of the drug or trying to find it.
7. You go to more than one doctor for pain medication.
8. You take prescriptions from your spouse or others. Taking other’s prescriptions is a sign of a problem.
9.You are take more pain medication than prescribed by your physician .
10. You skip or are late to family and work responsibilities to use of obtain opioids.

Avoid Opioid Addiction

Opioid medications have been a savior for people with pain. However, there has been an increase in the number of people with addiction problems from these medications as they have become more widely available…and diverted.  The first way to avoid Opioid addiction is to only use prescription medication under the care of a single physician. Having different doctors prescribing narcotics to you will eventually cause problems. Always talk to your physician before changing the dose of your prescription.

The next way to avoid problems with opioids is to discuss with your physician  alternative chronic pain treatments such as massage or acupunture. There are other alternative treatments. We are finding that chronic pain does not get better with narcotics, so it is worthwhile to look into other treatments for the pain including weight loss, exercise, non-narcotic medications, surgery, stretching, and getting adequate sleep. All these should be discussed with your doctor.

Opioid Addiction Signs Recap

There are many signs of opioid addiction. Others easily see the problems caused by the opioid use and usually will tell you. Other signs are doctor shopping, escalating your dose to high levels over time, and having family, social, and employment problems from the opioid. Be sure to periodically talk with your doctor about getting off opioid medications and if this would be the right choice for you. Long-term opioid use can be more harmful than helpful.

Here is more help on Opioid Addiction Help and Treatment

  • All About Suboxone : A website that discusses the use of Suboxone for the treatment of opioid dependence.  It also contains a doctor and clinic directory to find help near you.
  • Oxycontin Treatment Directory: Site devoted to Oxycontin Addiction. It contains a database to find treatment help in your area
  • National Library of Medicine: This link specifically discusses opioid dependence.


Suboxone Treatment Methadone Alternative : What is it?

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What Is Suboxone Treatment (Buprenorphine Treatment)?

Suboxone Treatment Methadone Alternative

Suboxone Treatment Methadone Alternative

Suboxone treatment is another type of treatment for opioid addiction. It contains many similarities to methadone maintenance treatment. Opioid addicted patients usually relapse when trying to get off opioids such as oxycontin, heroin, vicodin, and other narcotics. Most addicts are unable to get through the withdrawal periods and don’t even last a several days.  Others get off, but at the first major stressor in their lives, they return to opioid use. Suboxone treatment can help stop this continuous relapse cycle.

Suboxone treatment will stop the dreaded opioid withdrawals. Since suboxone is another opioid, it will stop these withdrawals.  It also stops with cravings that an addict is going through.  Many addicts return to opioid use because of these creavings. Suboxone replaces the opioid in the patient’s system.  It has to be prescribed and monitored by a doctor.  If one is unable to get off opioids, it is better to be on one that is supervised, rather than getting it off the street with all the problems that come with doing this.  Eventually for many, the hope is to get off the suboxone treatment with the aid and medication from a physician. Some are able to get completely clean.

Why Suboxone Treatment ? Why Not Just Quit Suddenly

Getting on and staying on a narcotic such as methadone or suboxone works better than stopping suddenly.  When a patient is not having to be preoccupied with constant cravings they are able to focus on treatment.  When they don’t have to worry about losing their next job from being late getting high, they can focus on treatment. The point of suboxone treatment is to stabilize the person to get other areas of their life better first.

Opioid dependence destroys patient’s lives.  Heroin addicts frequently have legal problems.  Others are forging prescriptions from their doctor or they are doctor shopping. Not being able to hold down a job cause financial instability. Marriages split apart because of all the arguing and sneaking around. It is hard to pay attention to these areas of one’s life when a person is spending their time looking for drugs. Narcotics can found and taken by children. Relatives learn to distrust you.  People seek suboxone treatment to stop all these problems.

Is Suboxone Treatment a Hassle?

Suboxone treatment is much less of a hassle and more convenient than methadone maintenance treatment. The psychiatric evaluation is done in a private doctor’s clinic. Getting stabilized on suboxone can be done in a matter of hours or a few days. The nice thing about suboxone treatment, it that when one is finally doing well with the medication, they only need to go to their doctor’s office once per month to get the medication.  Those familiar with methadone maintenance understand that methadone clinics require going to the clinic daily.

Suboxone treatment is less public than methadone maintenance. They see their own doctor and are not around other substance abusing individuals. It is easier to get in and see a suboxone doctor than to get seen at a methadone clinic. During the treatment process, patients will go to their own therapist or to 12 step meetings for counseling. In most cases, they get to determine who they will see.  Suboxone is a tablet and is taken under the tongue.

In summary, suboxone treatment is a great alternative for opioid dependence.   Although not all patients talking methadone for addiction treatment will successfully be able to convert to suboxone, many can.  Now methadone is not the only medication that will work for opioid addiction. Be aware the generic name for suboxone is buprenorphine.

Suboxone Clinic Directory Find a Suboxone Physician Near You

Dr. Rich Senyszyn is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He specializes in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find help with  Oxycontin including Suboxone treatment of oxycontin addiction. Suboxone Clinic in your area.
Dr. Rich has written more articles on the cost of oxycontin, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including frequently asked questions and a recent post : How do I find a Buprenorphine Doctor?

Psychiatric Assessment For Methadone Addiction : Why Come Prepared? Part 1

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Psychiatric Assessment : Addiction, Methadone, and Suboxone Treatment

Psychiatric Assessment For Methadone Addiction

Psychiatric Assessment For Methadone Addiction

If you are thinking about finding out about addiction, methadone treatment, or suboxone treatment, this is what you need to know for the psychiatric assessment . When you visit your doctor, your psychiatric assessment will take between one and two hours. The better you prepare before a visit with your doctor, the better the results.

Be honest during the interview. I understand people lying to their doctor and I actually expect it to happen. The psychiatric assessment for addiction covers sensitive topics. You should know the law has more strict rules for patient confidentiality and medical record release. There are financial consequences for breaking confidentiality and mental health staff are aware. I ask my patients to tell me if they do not want to discuss a topic rather than lying to me. Dishonesty can lead to an incorrect diagnosis and treatment, wasted sessions, and higher cost.

If only physicians could ask all the questions during a psychiatric assessment… We all know that physicians are limited in time seeing patients. For many patients, this means only the most pressing parts of the psychiatric assessment are covered and many questions are simply skipped. A complete psychatric assessment could take three hours. I’ve found that 1 ½ hours with a prepared patient is enough time. Anything under 60 minutes, and questions will be skipped. There is just too much information. This is where you can help with some preparation. By reviewing a psychiatric assessment before seeing your MD, you can help address important topics and avoid them from being overlooked.

Psychiatric Assessment : The Most Important Part

An accurate time history of your drug use and addiction along with other symptoms is the most important item of a psychiatric assessment . Doctors call it a good history. A clear history is worth it’s weight in gold. The diagnosis becomes clear. I’ve found most patients do not give a good history without enough time and questioning. When the time runs short, the doctor will have to ask more questions and cut off the patient from talking. After a while the patient becomes upset and feels the physician doesn’t care. If the physician lets the patient continue talking without limits, they will not get all the information.

You can help by thinking about the history of the problem prior to going to the psychiatric assessment. I always ask these questions to the patients I see. You would be surprised that patients really need to concentrate to answer the many questions. Asking these questions to help prepare you:

  1. When did the problem start?
  2. When was the last time you were doing well?
  3. What problems and symptoms came first?
  4. What sequence did they come next?
  5. What made the symptoms better or worse?

Psychiatric Assessment : Setting Goals

When patients go to the doctor, many just “want to feel better.” One needs to be more specific with what they mean by “getting better.” It could mean not feeling depressed. It could mean being able to hold down a job. How about not yelling at their children? It is important to define goals important to you before seeing the doctor.

Once you decide what YOU want to see improved, you will be more likely to benefit from treatment. Some say what their physician wants is not what they want. Be very specific about your goals of treatment. Tell your physician what you want and look at the goals in few weeks. You can always make more goals or change them.

After the initial psychiatric assessment you don’t want to end up in the position with your doctor saying you are doing better and that you disagreeing with this. Set goals and measure them. Here are a some examples of specific assessment goals.

  1. I will rested in the morning at least 5 days per week by the end of the month.
  2. I will not have suicidal thoughts for two days.
  3. I will not cut on myself for the next for 5 days
  4. I will not use any alcohol in the next 30 days.
  5. I will keep my current job for 6 more months
  6. When I feel the urge to fight with someone, I will walk away from the argument and call my sponsor.

These goals can be measured. They will be clear to all when achieved. Setting goals is not complicated. However, not setting good goals will lead to treatment not working well. You may end up moving from doctor to doctor.

In part 2 of Psychiatric Assessment : Addiction, Methadone, and Suboxone Treatment I will go over more specific questions your physician will ask. You will become more familiar with them before your visit. Being ready for your visit helps you spend more time going over what you feel is most important with your doctor.

 

Suboxone Treatment Directory For Help With The Long Term Effects of Opioids

Dr. Rich is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with licenses in Texas and Hawaii. He specializes in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine and runs a FREE locator service to find Addiction Treament including Suboxone treatment, methadone treatment, and oxycontin addiction treatment. Find a  Suboxone Doctor in your area.
Dr. Rich has written more articles on the cost of oxycontin, buprenorphine (Suboxone) including frequently asked questions and a recent post : How Do I Find A Suboxone Doctor? If you are looking for a suboxone doctor in hawaii, Dr. Rich can be found in hawaii.

Here are more resources for psychiatric assessment for addiction and suboxone treatment :