Drug and alcohol detox is handled in many different ways, and there are drug and alcohol detox facilities available to help addicts detox off of the drugs they are taking including methadone. Methadone detox centers are able to help detox methadone users off of the methadone they are taking. Methadone will cause severe physical dependency the longer the user is taking it, and because of this, a methadone user will not be able to stop taking methadone abruptly. It is recommended that a methadone user seeks out help from a trained doctor to wean down off of the drug and also attend a methadone detox facility to help them get completely off of the drug. Once detoxed off of methadone, an addict should look forward to attending a drug rehab program, as if they do not the risk of returning to the previous drugs they were taking is quite high. It was methadone that helped them get off of the opiates they were taking, but the actual underlying problems of the addiction still needs to be addressed.
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.
Methadone Dependence Withdrawal Management and Opioid Addiction in Wyoming
Wyoming methadone detoxification programs are practical solutions to help people dependent on methadone safely withdrawal off the drug. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is typically prescribed to treat heroin addiction but is also prescribed to treat pain. The drug acts on the same opioid receptors as morphine and heroin. When the drug is prescribed, the intention is to minimize withdrawal pain and or block the effects of opiates. However, long-term and sustained use of methadone causes dependence and tolerance, leading to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Within the United States, methadone is federally designated Schedule II, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is medically used. According to the Centers for Disease Control, methadone accounted for approximately one percent of all opioids prescribed for pain in 2014. Also, in 2014 methadone accounted for about 23% of all prescription opioid deaths.
Methadone overdose is also possible, especially when large amounts are used or when the drug is mixed with other central nervous system depressants. The signs of a methadone overdose are constricted pupils, dizziness, hypertension, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression. Methadone addiction is not often talked about because of how much methadone is used to treat heroin addiction. However, too many heroin addicts remain on methadone longer than needed and become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. Medical detox, or a form of withdrawal management, is the only effective solution to help someone dependent on or addicted to methadone.
According to the Wyoming Prescription Drug Abuse Stakeholders in 2016 – 2017, there were 93 prescription drug deaths in the state. Also, during that same time, there were 27 illicit drug deaths, 14 prescription and illegal drug deaths, 20 deaths connected to unspecified drugs, reaching a total of 154 drug-related deaths. Per this data, several counties did not have a single death over the ten years of information collected related to illicit drug use. Other counties in Wyoming did not have a single death related to both prescription and illicit drug use. Opiate addiction is a devastating problem, and too many opiate addicts choose heroin and are unable to stop taking it without medical help.
What's Next?
After completing a methadone detox and/or rehab in Wyoming, it is vital to arrange aftercare support. No one form of recovery support is the same for each person. Sober coaches, group meetings, outpatient programs, or sober living homes in Wyoming all offer excellent recovery opportunities to consider. The goal is to maintain life-long sobriety.
