Wisconsin methadone addiction detox clinics provide practical solutions to help methadone users safely stop taking the drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control, methadone accounted for one percent of all opioids prescribed for pain in 2014. Also, in 2014 methadone accounted for approximately 23% of all prescription opioid deaths. Methadone is a synthetic opioid and acts on the same opioid receptors as morphine and heroin. The drug was designed to block the effects of opiates and minimize withdrawal symptoms. However, the sustained and long-term use of methadone does lead to dependence, tolerance, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Within the United States, methadone is federally designated Schedule II, which means it is used medically but has a high potential for abuse and addiction.
Methadone: Information, Statistics, & Solutions
TIPS: If you feel you're going to use
- Call your sponsor or a friend who doesn't use it and understands your situation.
- Extrovert your attention. Walking and spending time outside can be very therapeutic.
- Find a hobby or activity to take your mind off of using. (i.e., art, music, cooking, gardening)
- Find a purpose in your life and pursue it. (i.e., school, career, volunteering)
- Recognize the people in your environment who affect you emotionally. They could be one of the reasons for your emotional problems.
- Make sure to eat healthy foods. A deficiency in vitamins and minerals can create a drop in mental and physical energy.
TIPS: If you want to help someone
- Don't enable the addict. This includes not giving him any money, not paying their rent, etc.
- Encourage the person to seek help. This can be done by finding a treatment or a form of support.
- Be aware of signs of overdose. If you see one of your friends blacking out, or showing other severe side effects, get help immediately.
- Support the person while they look for rehab since the process can be overwhelming.
- Don't wait for rock bottom; it may be too late.
Despite heavy regulation within the United States, heroin addicts are at a higher risk of abusing methadone. The reason for this is because they already have a history of abuse and opioid dependency. Some of the side effects of methadone include sedation, euphoria, decrease in reaction time and attention span, muscle weakness, and decreased body temperature. Large amounts of methadone will cause an overdose, and this risk increases when other central nervous system depressants are used. The signs of an overdose are constricted pupils, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory depression, leading to coma and even death.
Like many other states, opioids have impacted the communities within Wisconsin. Per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in 2018, the rate of deaths due to opioids was 14.5 per 100,000 residents. Between 2016 and 2018, the rate of opioid-related deaths in the state changed by -1.4%. As of September 30th of 2019, there have been 669 opioid-related deaths within the state. Also, from that time, there have been 2,785 opioid-related inpatient and emergency room hospital visits in the year. Countless people are impacted by opiates and struggle with addiction. Methadone dependence is also a contributing factor to impacting many lives. However, there are detox solutions to help those dependent on methadone overcome the dependency.
