Since the early 1970s, Methadone has been used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. In 2018, the Center for Disease Control reported that 69.5% of total drug overdose deaths involved an opioid. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that over 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder. Unfortunately, some studies have already shown that the problem of opioid addiction continues to grow within the society.
How Do People Get Addicted To Opioids?
Opioids are often used as pain-relieving medicines that relax the body, thus relieving pain. Prescription opioids treat mild to severe pain. Your body may learn to tolerate the doses prescribed and trick the brain and body that you need the drug for survival. You then require more medication to relieve your pain leading to dependency and addiction. Four in five new heroin users started by misusing prescription painkillers.
Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid used in treatment for opioid addiction. The drug works as an agonist in receptors in the brain, thus preventing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Physicians consider methadone prescription as a safe treatment option when combined with behavioral counseling.
Methadone is a full agonist that enables individuals addicted to opioids to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoria associated with other opiates. The medication-assisted treatment utilizes a combination of psychiatric, psychological, and medicated therapies to help the persons overcome opiate addictions.
Here are the benefits of methadone assisted treatment for opioid addiction
1. Better Participation in Addiction Treatment
Multiple studies show the effectiveness of using Methadone to offer complete relief from withdrawal symptoms. Addicts stabilized on methadone experience a long-lasting effect and are more likely to pursue a healthier lifestyle during recovery. According to Harvard Medical School, patients treated with medication were more likely to remain in therapy than those who didn’t.
2. Improved Social Outcome
Methadone provides a polar-opposite experience to prescription opioids and heroin. The long-acting agonist creates an emotional balance that helps patients to handle their responsibilities better. Additionally, the daily trip to the clinic for methadone treatment offers a solid support structure for recovery.
3. Pregnant Opioid addicts Record Better Response
Methadone assisted therapy reduces symptoms associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome. The mother and the baby recover fast, reducing hospital stay. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends pharmacotherapy over the medically supervised withdrawal. Withdrawal is associated with high relapses rates and can pose a danger to the fetus.
4. Reduced Crime Rates
Opioid addictions are expensive to maintain. A lot of addicts engage in criminal activities to raise money used for purchasing the drugs. Methadone treatment can alleviate the biting cravings and withdrawal symptoms that push addicts to crime. Methadone is legally dispensed and may help reduce drug-related crimes within the community.
5. Reduced Risk of Contracting Infectious Diseases
The use of opioids, such as heroin, may increase the spread of infections such as HIV and hepatitis. Within the methadone clinic, you will never share a needle during treatment. It dramatically reduces the odds of contracting infectious diseases associated with IV drug use.
In Conclusion
Methadone offers a safer option as treatment for opioid addiction. Medicated assisted therapy may assist addicts in overcoming withdrawal symptoms and cravings without getting the euphoria. Methadone prescriptions have saved countless lives for over 40 years, and perhaps they may save yours too.
