health

How COVID pandemic changed methadone treatment for addiction

6 Comments
By CARLA K. JOHNSON

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


6 Comments
Login to comment

I don't know about the US, but in most EU countries at least, methadone is only used as a substitute treatment for opiate addiction, especially heroin. As it is a treatment covered by health insurance in many EU countries, it is not a long term treatment and after a certain period of time methadone is discontinued as it too is addictive in its own right. It amazes me how it is even possible to be on methadone since 1989 when methadone is considerably more expensive than heroin (thought it cannot be obtained without a prescription and is virtually impossible to get on the black market).

3 ( +3 / -0 )

In New Zealand it is also used for chronic pain in place of other opioids.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I worked in a drug rehabilitation center back in the late 1980's. Methadone has one benefit and one only. It provides a free hit for addicts preventing the need for them to steal your car stereo or TV to pay for the street stuff. Does nothing to stop addiction.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's not supposed to stop addiction, though. It's keeping people with broken bodies (usually minds, too) alive.

It's like insulin for diabetics: not a cure, but essential to continued existence.

Without methadone, thousands more would be shooting up with dirty needles, contracting and spreading respiratory diseases and committing crimes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites