Methadone.
It lurks, in the midst of the pain kill it provides. The profound and addictive nature of methadone.
The NYTimes this morning ran an informative piece on this drug: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/us/17methadone.html?ex=1376712000&en=857a1ef1d4e38769&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
The story is this: methadone is a synthetic opiate, very low-cost, with a long half-life. Meaning it takes time to both begin and end treatment with methadone. This long half-life is why the detox can be so challenging.
I have seen methadone use/abuse spike. Read about it, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
- Brad
August 31st, 2008 17:44
Hey Brad! As someone who just left treatment after having some time in sobriety, I can personally attest to the addictive and insidious nature of harm reduction drugs such as methadone. While I was not on methadone, I was perscribed to Suboxone (a.k.a Buprenorphine), an opiate blocker/opiate derivative to get off of high doses of vicoden i had been taking. Had I known the addictive properties or the mind/mood altering nature of this drug, I’d never have gone on it.