Methadone: Fastest Growing Source of Narcotics Deaths

As doctors search for better ways to treat pain, an increase in methadone prescriptions for pain management has had an unexpected result: Death.

“Anyone taking a methadone prescription almost needs a rule book,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia, “or perhaps even a chaperone.  Methadone can so easily be misused, usually because of misunderstanding.”

Methadone pain management has moved methadone from the clinic to the medicine cabinet. 

“Methadone was originally widely used to help drug addicts with heroin addiction as a relief from heroin withdrawals,” comments Ms. Rieser. “The problem is that this method does not cure them of heroin addiction, simply makes them methadone addicts. They will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking methadone; some report that methadone withdrawal is worse than heroin withdrawal.”

In an effort to avoid prescription pain killer addiction, doctors started prescribing methadone for pain.

Through the years the number of methadone prescriptions for pain has increased, with more doctors prescribing it.  While doctors who work in methadone clinics are familiar with the drug and its side effects, doctors less familiar might not be as aware of the properties of methadone – it is slow to metabolize.   Some patients will think nothing of using alcohol or sedatives with the medication and any doctor prescribing it must be alert to this fact and inform every patient of the dangers.

“Experts are suggesting that Medical Doctors should take special classes on prescribing narcotics,” comments Ms. Rieser. “This is especially true in the case of methadone.  Increased prescriptions for methadone for pain management has contributed to methadone being the fastest growing source of narcotic deaths in this country.

“We heard quite a bit about methadone since the death of Anna Nicole’s son, and recently in a local school in Atlanta, three children were rushed to the hospital after another gave them some methadone she had found in her family’s medicine cabinet.

“It is still around and anyone taking it for a while is going to be taking it for the long haul, or will need drug rehab.”

Methadone addiction can be successfully treated.

Call Narconon Drug Rehab 1-877-413-3073 for more information on effective methadone drug addiction treatment or drug education.

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