Methadone Take Home Doses. Federal Regulations on Clinic Reporting; Get the Take Home Doses You Deserve!
89Morning Coffee (and Methadone) at Home...Very Nice
Take home doses are the salvation of a patient on methadone maintenance, and if you show a history of appropriate methadone use and avoid drug abuse you should be eligible in time for a full month of take home doses on a 30 day reporting schedule.
The regulations governing take home doses were changed in 2001 by SAMHSA, which is the federal agency governing opioid treatment programs. In 2001, SAMHSA eased regulations on take home doses, and although states and even individual clinics can enact more stringent regulations, each methadone clinic must apply for SAMHSA certification, and if SAMHSA thinks that any clinic's procedures vary too far from Federal Guidelines, it will not endorse certification renewal.
Basically, although there is a little leeway – clinics must stay close to federal suggestions if they want to keep their license to prescribe methadone (unless state regulations preclude them from following federal guidelines*).
*Most states have conformed their regulations to match Federal recommendations.
How to Get a Take Home Dose as Soon as Possible
So, if you want your take home doses as soon as possible, toe the line well on these 6 evaluatory conditions.
- You must show (through random drug testing – a minimum of 8 instances per year) no evidence of drug abuse.
- You must attend the clinic on your appointed schedule
- You must show appropriate behavior
- You must not engage in criminal activity
- You must show a stable home and stable non drug-related relationships
- You must promise to store take home methadone appropriately and safely
And…
- The doctor must believe that the risks of diversion associated with giving you a take home dose of methadone are overshadowed by the benefits of easing reporting demands.
- You must meet the minimum time in treatment regulations. (see as follows)
Essentially, you must prove to the medical staff at the clinic that you are serious about your recovery on methadone, and that you can be trusted to use methadone safely at home.
Time in Treatment Requirements
The following are mandatory minimum standards for the allowance of take home doses. You will not be allowed take home doses in excess of the following.
- Days 1-90 – A maximum of 1 scheduled take home dose per week, as well as a take home dose for one day if the clinic closes on Sunday.
- Days 90-180 – A maximum of 2 scheduled take home doses per week as wells as a take home dose for the one day a week the clinic will close.
- Days 180-270 – A maximum of 3 scheduled take home doses per week + 1 for days the clinic is closed.
- Days 270-365 – Up to 6 take home doses per week.
- Year 2 - Twice a month reporting.
- Year 3 – Once a month reporting.
Local Variations
Local regulations may call for slightly more stringent protocols, but local regulations should be basically in-line with federal regulations. No patient will be allowed take home doses unless the medical director of the clinic believes they are at low risk to divert the medication.
If You Aren’t Getting the Take Homes You Deserve?
- If you feel that your clinic is unfairly restrictive, you can meet with your doctor to discuss your compliance with federal guidelines. These guidelines are in place to allow individual clinicians the flexibility to reward "good behavior" with take home doses.
- If that doesn’t work, you can inquire at any other local clinics about take home regulations, and perhaps find a clinic that allows for greater flexibility.
- You can also file a grievance at your local clinic. Your clinic is required by law to have a patient grievance mechanism in place and to respond to grievances within 5 days. (From SAMHSA's Opioid Drugs in Maintenance and Detoxification Treatment of Opiate Addiction; Final Rule (42 CFR Part 8.4.(e))
Dose Caps?
SAMHSA does not endorse dose caps. Research has found that clinics that operate with maximum capped doses are operating outside of best practices guidelines.
100mg Take Home Limit?
SAMHSA does not cap take home doses. There is no federal regulation against take home doses in excess of 100 mg per day.
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I have Been On MMT in California for one year. I get six take home doses per week. The only requirements were to have three random clean drug tests for my first 2 take homes (weekends). Then after about 3 more clean tests and proof of employment I got a total of 5 to come in only twice a week. Now after a year on the program I have the maximum of 6 with the exeption of holidays, vacations, and some patiants that have job that keep them out of town. I found it easy to get mine the most important part is trusting yourself and have enough disipline to not mess up and take extra then be without. The staff at my clinic can mostly tell which patiants are responsable if it in obvious that the patiant is in withdrawls when they come in because they have not dosed in 48 or more hours then thier take home will be taken but most of the time patiant that abuse thier take homes end up losing them for dirty tests not bringing back empty bottles or the dumbest exuse claming they wer stolen but for people serious in recovery take homes are a blessing
I have a brother that says he can not take home methadone because he abuses marjuana and drinks is that true? Or is he just pulling my leg.......
Epifanny, If you were taking methadone as recently as last year, as you stated, then you have NOT been opiate free for seven years. Methadone IS ALSO AN OPIATE!! Just so you know. Yes, a legally available opiate, but still an opiate. So you have NOT been opiate free for seven years. Thanks for playing!
at my clinic in michigan it takes 3 years to get 6 take homes and that is as high as it will ever go. I don't understand why clinics don't follow the fed rules, 2 years 2 week take homes 3 years once a month visit
I have been opiate free since April 23,2008 except for methadone. I live in Kentucky and go to a clinic in Indiana. I made an honest mistake last month. I had a scheduled appointment with a councilor in June. No problem she then explained to me that I would have a group session in July made that no problem. I also got called in the end of July for a bottle verification no problem with that. Here is where I screwed up was in Junes meeting she gave me a card for an appointment August 12th. I go to clinic once a week she waited until first of September to call me in telling me that I missed August appointment and proceeded to take away 2 take homes. I explained to her that I made an honest mistake. She had no sympathy. I live approx. 60 miles away from clinic. What do I do know and how can I get back my 2 takes home doses?
I have been opiate free since April 23,2008 except for methadone. I live in Kentucky and go to a clinic in Indiana. I made an honest mistake last month. I had a scheduled appointment with a councilor in June. No problem she then explained to me that I would have a group session in July made that no problem. I also got called in the end of July for a bottle verification no problem with that. Here is where I screwed up was in Junes meeting she gave me a card for an appointment August 12th. I go to clinic once a week she waited until first of September to call me in telling me that I missed August appointment and proceeded to take away 2 take homes. I explained to her that I made an honest mistake. She had no sympathy. I live approx. 60 miles away from clinic. What do I do know and how can I get back my 2 take home doses?
Ya, she had me confused on that too when she said she was opiate free for seven years.
It's funny because more and more I keep running into people who think methadone is either an evil, end-of-the-world type of "legal" street drug......or they think it is not even an opiate at all(or won't accept that they are still technically on dope)...
..the fact of the matter is that Yes, methadone is still an opiate...and No(if used correctly), it is not as bad as some people make it out to be. It saved my life.
i have been on the methadone clinic since 2005 and have had 2 dirty urines which were false positives so i have never had a dirty urine and i only get 3 a week i feel maybe i should be getting more. i wish i could get it prescribed to me in pill form and get it filled at the pharmacy and not go to the clinic
I'm just starting the process of switching from a Kentucky clinic to a Tennessee clinic because of the take home situation. In Kentucky the very best you can do is 5 take homes a week while Tennessee follows the federal guidelines apparently because there you can get at least 2 weeks worth I'm told. I've been going to the clinic here for 3 years now and I'm sick of being tied to this friggin place. I can't do without my methadone either so this is what I'm left with. An about 4 hour round trip to Knoxville every 2 weeks which frees me up to travel, work odd hours if i need to, and also here they have an 80 mg cap that just doean't cut it for me. I am a very active person and I metabolize my medicine faster than most and more often than not I'm going through slight withdrawels by the morning (aching, sneezing, etc). So as this article suggests I'm dumping this Kentucky turd and going where my business is appreciated :)
in response to jay: your brother can't have take-homes if he's smoking pot because pot is illegal and one of the points to get take-homes is not engagning in illegial activities.
im bout to join clinic to do a 30 day detox im on federal parole and methadone is federally monitered so do you guys think my po or the clinic will find out cause if my po finds out im going back to the pen and if the clinic finds out the will probably tell my po and cut me off.i thought that shit might go in some computer system with red flag or some shit
I Have been on methadone for over 5 years and I live in california. I hae the Maximum aloud take-homes without a medical exception, In california (at least what I have been told) is that to get 6 take-homes (going to the clinic 4 times a month) you must have a year of clean urine normally they let you slide with one bad urine before you get 6 you can not get one single dirty, for me it took 2 years because I was Unable to urine one day and they is (non compliance which = dirty) I wish i could get 2 weeks of take-homes I REALLY wish i could get a month of take-homes but that is not allowed in california. I have never gotten a single Dirty urine only a "failure to produce". This is just how it is for me.
Also to answer jay IDK where you live but here in california I believe they do not test for marijuana because it is medicinal here, Also to test positive for alcohol in a urine test you must be drunk. So he might be pulling your leg but if he doesn't want to get on methadone and take it seriously he shouldnt do it. All it will do it make him dependant on methadone and it sounds to me he still wants to use and if that's your mindset don't bother with methadone you have to want to stop.
We have been on Meth for 2 years now, we have full carries, which are 6 take home, and we leave a sample once a week, see a doctor once a month. For us, this stuff purely saved our lives, not to mention our relationship, family and friends. The only down side we have found is that,#1- we can't live normal lives (which they claim you can), #2- we have both had to get dentures, #3- significant weight gain, #4 BURNS in everything we own!!!lol. Otherthan that, only have a few more things to say... I think that when us as patients complain about something to do with our drink, or something to do with methadone, or what they could do to make it better, doctors, and pharmasists should listen. Were the ones that know, how do they know? Their not on it...we are...
Kelly & Delbert
i've been on done for nearly 10 years, never failed urine test, have always complied with clinic rules. I am only allowed a 6 day take home, which really is a pain because its a two hour round trip for me. I also have to leave my home at a little before 4:00 a.m. in order to get back on time for work. I really dont understand why I am considered "responsible" for six days, but not 30??? as long as I give them a urine sample anytime they ask what is the problem?
first of all, Methadone is not an opiate. It will not show up as an opiate for a drug test because its man made unlike other opiates. However they do consider classifying it as an opioid. 2nd, I am from Kentucky. I was in a ky clinic for over 2 1/2 yrs. My life was so much better at the time. My husband supported me at first (not financially) while in treatment. He is from a small town that is very small minded. It got to the point that it was causing arguments all the time, mainly due to the fact he felt the Dr. was just another drug dealer, and switching one drug for another. I had some other problems and got a little behind on my bill. He saw that as perfect oportunity. He decided to fabricate this story that we were gonna lose our house and everything, unless I put more $ on the table. And what do you care about more, Me or Methadone. I was on 200 MG a day, Administrative DT. as soon as I was done, he decided to sell the house, sell my car, and leave EVERYTHING for truckdriving and I had no choice but to go. I was sick for 3 months, on the road. I came home. he went back out for a while. needless to say, I really need to go back. Most larger city's offer financial assistance. something needs to change with that. I miss haveing a healthy life, I enjoyed a carry out everynow and then cause a couple hrs sleep was never an option, but I would go 7 days a wk if it took that. I have real pain, was n a wreck, have a stable compression fracture on thoratic spine, 2 dislocated shoulder, several other things. went to a pain mng doctor, "we dont give pain medication to ppl that our 26yrs old" but dont let the pain get you down. Pls beleive me when I say, I am not suicidal at all. Couldnt bring harm to myself or anyone else, But Dam, I cant (not) wish something apon myself. Dr's are P.O.S. that only care about the wallet. How many times have u been to see a dr and seen 3 or 4 Drug Reps waiting. They are there to let the dr know about a kickback for prescribing there medications. Well thanks for listening everyone. I wish you all well. We have to stand together for whats right, Nobody is gonna take better care of ourself like yourself.
To all you people who think methadone is not an opiate stop looking at porn or youtube and do some research on what your ingesting daily. Yeah yeah I know it's not a true opiate, but it's a synthetic one and it is a vicious one at that. I kicked cold and it was the longest three months of my life. I was on 190mgs. for a year and yes my life did improve, but your just trading one for another. Did you ever notice why they always to you you need to go up and get on a stable dose first, IT'S TO MAKE YOU A LIFER. I would talk to the people there and hear that they been going there for three, five and twenty years, WTF. If your going to take methadone do your self a favor and do the thirty day detox and get some help w good support to make it work. There are other Rx drug that are not so bad for you or hard to get off of. Suboxone and Subutex are the best and there are programs through the manufacturer where you can get the meds for free for a year. I remember and the wasted gas and time going to the clinic and the long lines of lifers. And take-homes or not your still chained to a geographic area just like you were when using stree dope and pills. These other medications you get a thirty day supply. You do the math here genius. Make an intelligent decision skip the methadone and find an alternative.
I've been on methadone for over 4 years and am able to get 6 take homes at a time, having to go to the clinic once a week. Now I may have a job opportunity that would take me out of state and it sucks that methadone was one of the first things to consider. Is there a way to get a longer take home in a different area? God knows I wish I had a doc that would help me out. I wouldn't even mind paying for it. I can't believe that this shit could be a determining factor on this job.
I live in carlsbad california. I have been on the clinic for over 26 years everyday!!!! I only go once a month and i'm on 180 mgs 200is the limit if you want take homes. I have to pay 300 a MONTH THATS alot of money. I think I have given a least 22 years of clean ua/s. I wish I could go to my dr. and get a script for my meds. I know no cop or anyone has no had a drink smoke, joint ,pill etc.
To Chris; Curious $300. is this out of pocket? Do you have insurance & does it pay anything else concerning clinic expenses. Methadone is a very inexpensive drug! I'm on state assistance and could not believe the state was charging over 300 bucks a WEEK for my care.....basically a nurse doling out meds. I had asked the receptionist years ago if the insurance was paying, I presumed MEDICARE was paying. I own a house and when i sell i have to pay back the state. I had no idea I was incurring over 10 grand a year, so count your blessings at 300bucks per month. It's still alot considering what the basic med is & costs.
I live in jersey and the maximum take home allowance is one month in which case they give you the 10mg white methadone pills. A lot of people complain that they have trouble swallowing the pills so in that case they can stay on the 2 week take home allowance which is in liquid form. Personally, I think people are just psychologically addicted to one form or another, its all the same narcotic whether it is pill or liquid. Besides, less dosage screw ups with pills and not to mention, YOU GET A MONTHS WORTH!. IDK, addicts are just wierd like that. As far as dosage caps, there is none. Good and bad in my opinion, some people did so much dope that they might need a high 3 figure dosage. On the other hand god forbid you start developing addict behavior while on the clinic you can end up in jail kicking off of a significanty high dose of methadone. One lady was complaining they werent giving her an extra 40mg on her dosage, okay fine maybe she needs it, but shes already on 380mg! Im sorry I dont care how much opiates you did, 380mg can kill a rhino.
Actually Epifanny above was correct in her statement that she had been "opiate free" for seven years, if Methadone was the only narcotic painkiller that she had taken during this time. Tim was incorrect in his correction. If you are going to nitpick, please nitpick correctly.
Methadone is not an opiate. An opiate is a drug made or derived from the naturally occuring poppy plant, and does not include synthetic drugs such as Methadone or Fentanyl.
A quote from Wikipedia, "Although the term opiate is often used as a synonym for opioid, the term opiate is properly limited to only the natural alkaloids found in the resin of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)."
To Drew in CA, Chris from Carlsbad, CA is correct, you can get 27 days (one month supply) after having been on Step 6 Take Homes for six months. See the bulletin from the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs:
http://www.adp.ca.gov/ADPLTRS/PDF/ADP_Bulletin_02-
together with the relevant sections of California Code of Regulations, Title 9.
So basically, California falls short of the Federal regs on take homes, then tries to catch up with this bulletin/reg. Thank you Gray Davis. Arnold is another subject.
I live in the UK.. I was on daily 80mg for about 2 months and it was a wrench so I told my Doctor I was doing some unpaid work and he agreed to give me weekly pick up... I have only ever done one piss test and that was to get on methadone in the first place, (it had to be dirty!!)... since then no tests!!.. all you guys must move here to the UK as it seems you are given a hard time where you all live... it should be made easy for you all (to a degree!)... I hope you all find what you are looking for and good luck.....
. Ok in CA we are not tested for marijuana. Im a paramedic and have some extra knowledge in this field.I started on maintenance in 2001 went up to 96mg and have tapered to 40 over the past 2 years. The people saying it's such a vicious narcotic opiate or synthetic opiate are very wrong. Read about it as it's the most tested drug ever. It has been proven over and over again to not harm any body systems. the immune system is not even lessened or hampered. I had thought that. The rumors are so rampant in the medical community that most index of liver transplants will be refused if on methadone. Even though it has been proven many times to not damage the liver in the few transplants given to methadone patients. Let's not forget not everybody is on methadone from an illegal drug habit. It's the most prescribed pain medicine. It's given to many to come off morphine from surgeries along with Dr prescribed drug dependent patients. If your at a clinic that charges top dollar, change clinics. If your a good patient with clean UAs then they don't want you to leave. A clinics paperwork has to show so many positive results. The more the better the clinic looks in that rating by SAMHSA. it was amazing when I told them I'm switching clinics to get 2 week take homes after a year of asking for them. They finally approved it. They tell me the Dr won't give 30 days. But California does allow and clinics are required to follow the rules. If your clinic has tighter standards. Switch. Don't let these places push you around. Ask about emergency Cost reduction or financial aid. I went from $250 a month to $190 a month. Still a ripe off for services rendered but it's better then before. Same if they try to raise it I will leave to another clinic in town that charges $190 normally. It is a benefit to have multiple clinics in the same towns. Keeps them in check. But you do have to have clean UAs, and attend all meetings and Dr appt. And remain paid up. If your a good patient the clinic should value you as a patient. If not file complaints. Fight for your rights. You do have many
This is unbelievable to me. I am in Canada I have been on Methadone for 5 years now, I have not had dirty urine tests, and have done awesome since the day i took my first dose of methadone and I was getting carries 5 times a week for a short time, but someone in another city from me had found some child got a hold of some methadone and died. So everyone in my city of Fredericton was taken all of our privaliges of having our carrys because of this!! A month later we started getting our carries back gradually, I then went to get my methadone one day and the drug store said my carries were canceled? I come to find out that by one person calling in and telling the doctor not even my own doctor that I was selling my methadone, and only because the person that called was mad at me because I would not sell my meth to them, called and lied and said i sold my carries, Thats a lie so now i dont have no carries and now by one person not telling the truth causes me to ruin my life, etc. I am so fed up and I dont know what I can do, but There Must be something I can do, Its just not fair. I pray to God that this does not happen to any other people out there on this program because I know how hard it is to get this far and be punished for something that i never did, and make it hell for me and my family to keep on trying and getting over this addiction. Something Has to Be in place for people in case of such a matter.
need help getting off opiats and iherd this is the best way please help me and my family plesse i really need it
I've been on MMT for just over a year now, and havent had a bad screen from day one. Done great, and stayed on schedule, getting one carry @ first, then two, and according to our clinic here in Ky, I had just got to 'phase 3' which allowed me 4 carries a/wk. Go on Mon, get Tues. carry, Go Wed, get Thurs carry, Go on Fri. to get Sat & Sun carries. I had my first screen this past week, (since I'd phased up) and when I went in on Friday, my counselor wanted to see me. Took me back to her office, sat me down and informed me that my screen had came back with OPIATE in it!!!!!!!! I WAS BLOWN AWAY! Now, like I had stated, I have been clean from street drugs since my first dose of done, which was 1year last month! and there is no possible way that my urine could have tested positive for opiates!! So, my question to those reading this is: Does anyone know of any way I can contest this, besides doing a confirmation? Which, I am going to do, but ok, consider this; if my urine was poured into the wrong container at the clinic, (which I can not say that it was my name on the cup, because I wasnt shown my screen cup, the nurse reach me a 'dixie cup' to pee in, and then held out the actual screen cup for me to pour my urine into, and while doing so, her hand was wrapped around the label, and I wasnt able to see. but, I have to say that, during the past year, out of all my screens, I might have been shown my screen cup w/my name on it, maybe twice...three times @ the most. and up untill this point, I had no reason to object, but boy am I regretting that shit now!! I've lost my carries, untill the confirmation comes back, and as I was saying, if the mistake was made in the clinic, BEFORE my screen go to the lab, then the confirmation is going to only screw me royally! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! because I am totally broken hearted by this. Bust my ass for over a year, stayin clean and keeping appointments, WALKING THE FINE LINE! and all for what??? just to have someone screw it up for me, and whats done is done, now I am the one that is being punished for it?? what can I do??
I am allowed 27 take homes a month and go to the clinic once a month.
@ udamnskippy there could be other reasons why your urine tested positive for opiates and you haven't taken any opiates. Do you eat poppy seed buns/muffins/bread? Eating anything w/poppy seeds in them can give a pos opiate screening. Also, certain types of other meds MAY give false pos as well, but if you are taking them, your clinic should already know that and be able to verify it that way.
I have just started taking methadone a little over a month ago. I am currently on 50mg, which seems to be working just fine. I do not have health insurance, but will be getting it next month. I am considering switching over to suboxone, since I can get a monthly perscription instead of going to the clinic 6 days a week. Has anyone ever switched from meth to suboxone?
You need to be on under 30 mg of methadone to switch to sub. A better way to do it(which a dr may be reluctant to recomend) is to get off of the 'done for a week before the switch and just do dope. Go into the dr's office good and sick (ie, have your last shot 16 hours before). You must be sick!
This way is much preferable to slowly tapering your methadone dose down. Also, Either way, you'll need to be sick when you make the switch.
hello i have been going to the norwich clinic in ct. i have been clean 2-3/4 years i have been going to the clinic 3 years or so i never recieved more than 3 bottles i did 3 groups a week outside counclen i finally said after 26 years of drugs no more i am very serious about my recovery i never got in trouble missed a day alot of the patiants loved to talk to me i always would give them a reason to not give up and they thank me for my words of helping i am going to florida my dad is terminaly ill well i forgot to give the clinic my perscription i had it the day i provided my counsler was busy i asked the nurse if i would be safe bringingit in tomorrow they said yes results will not be in next day well it did i had to be supervised urinesfirst week ok then i had a sicodice episode i was two people stress does kill i was bad off people in white coats following me very sick i had to provide i could not they said to bad i could barely talk in shock i said no threw up and wet myself fiance had to drive the next week again i i cried you name it ended up in emergency room was freked out peeing in front of someone so i did a total of 5 then they nsaid provide again i am crying telling them i did 5 times they said no 3 time i was crying shaking said no they took my last 2 bottles now i am going to florida in 2 weeks i had to fight for 4 bottles to drive down now they new they messed up oh well i need more bottles heres the kicker i seen to guys who were on supervised they were short men staff so they got to go by themselves i had letter saying if i over stress i will die thats how bad off i was but they had to foolow rules and watch me but the guys went alone i am in shock they indangered my life to foolow the rules over a piece of papper they now i do not drug irun my group and more they abused me and there is so much more why i get punished for doing so good and they put me back to parinoud sick panic attacks over it all i need to contact who to help me sorry about my bad spelling never used computer
Your regulations in the States differ greatly from here in Sydney Australia I get four take aways a week and am happy with that as some get two extreme circumstances I suppose it's possible to get more but as my pharmacy is only a block away and open 8am - 8pm everyday it's not too bad. We have State clinics which are free and private clinics are about $50 per week and pharmacies which is the best and easiest way with my four take aways it's costs $35 a week....how much in the states? I agree taking done you are still taking a drug but if it stops us using H and get full time jobs go to uni get us off the streets but as we all know only if taken the right way......
I live in Wisconsin and they used to have phase 6 where you only came in once per month, but they took that phase away like...a year ago? Phase 5 is the highest here now, which is 13 take-homes at one time. I had a counselor who took forever to get on paperwork, so it took me a good 6 months or so longer to get my phase 5 than it should have. Either way, I'm at phase I now and on half of the dose I was on. The drop in phase is a long story, but was mostly requested by myself for multiple reasons. Clinic is only 10-15 mins away anyway, so I'm lucky in that sense. I am down to 60 mg/ day. :)
well hi all my son was on 50 mls of methadone got heavy on drink so doc has him on 90 mls now whats that all about he wants to come down on the methadone but doc says no not stable enough,so he need help with drink and he up the methadone thats a mess doc all geting paid to much to keep all on meth he wont lose money this country is in shit no help for anyone who wants it
anne again my son has not had take aways for 3yrs he goes every day of the week to the clinic and gives cleane and this is in ireland dublin ,this country does not help any one who wants it
Hello was wondering if anyone has any experience with north carolina clinics specifically carolina treatment center. I had been a heavy drug user since around 16, anything u can think of shrooms, x, oxy, cocaine,any and everything and usually in combonations. Although i was living this life style i still maintained a front of normallity, inside however every day was a struggle ( i also suffer from terriable depression which got worse after my mother was murdered when i was 19) at 19 i spiraled even worse if i was sober i wanted to die even when i was high was still empty feeling this continued until i was 22 and i was introduced to methadone although i acquired it illegially it saved me it fought off my depression i assume with its serotonin raising properties and allowed me to deal with everyday day with a actual joy for and of life, well i basically used methadone for over a year illegially which i know isnt the best thing but it got me off everything else i havent touched another substance since however the problem is i know have devolped a large physical dependence upon methadone if i go 2 days without at least 40 mg ( i know thats not much but thats bare minium just for me to be able to function) i go thru terriable withdraw i mean my life stops which i cant do anymore so i recently made a appt for the clinic in fayetteville nc i live in lumberton nc however so it will be a 40 to 55 minute drive everyday and i was trying to find out how soon it would be to get take homes when i made the appt on the phone the women said they would most likely work with me due to the distance of travel but im not sure if it was just a sales pitch. I am extremely tired of dealing with the "street scene" and want to completely cut myself from that part of my life but without take homes its cheaper to remain in the despair of illegal acquirement if anyone can give me any info on nc clinic i would be greatly appreciate it. thank you
METHADONE IS NOT AN OPIATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET UR FACTS STRAIGHT!!!, Its a Synthetic.... Opiates are made from The Poppy, Methadone IS NOT....
Dont talk shit if u dont do ut homework,. Im on it and I AM OPIATE FREE!!!!
Am from aberdeen in scotland and i think its terrible the way these doctors behave, am on 18mls of methadone bt i started on 45mls and my doctor is only to happy for me to start reducing and come off methadone. I go to the doctor once a month and go the the chemist everyweek, i give a pee sample every month. These doctors in america just want u to stay on it and only care bout the money nt the patients and thts just wrong. I feel bad for all u ppl who have to deal with this. U suld move to europe, where the doctors will help u and care bout u the patient nt just dollar signs.
I took a drug test on feb 17th at my clinic.On march 4th they tell me the test on feb 17th came back positive for thc.They took me down one level.Then they said to get clean and pass the next two drug test and I would get my level back.They asked if I could pass a drug screen that day I said I didn't know cause its only been two weeks since I last smoked.(I last smoked on Feb 16th).But they test me any way and if it comes back positive I go all the way back to level 1.I feel like they should have gave me a chance to get clean first.Pot can take up to a month to leave your system.If I do fail could I dispute it.I been going to clinic for two years this is the first test I have failed.I had a bad tooth ache and smoked a joint to try and ease the pain.Cause methadone does nothing for pain or at least it doesn't for me.
What the hell does it matter if methadone is an opiate or not??? If it helps you, use it. It still gets you high, just like any opiate would.
This post is for__Sam- 6 weeks ago.
Your the one that needs to get your facts straight.
METHADONE IS A SYNTHETIC OPIATE ! Synthetic or not,
Methadone is still an opiate ! Reading your post,
you come across as a person who tries to split hairs.
I suggest you and the other person who questioned whether
Methadone is an opiate, do your homework.
i have been on 400mg's of percocet a day. after being run over by a car i was placed on 6 eigh mg suboxone a day for pain and so i would not have to be on so many opiates for pain ( i have RSD a chronic pain disorder) i have been taking methadone for 2 weeks at 70 mg it is not enough however i can not afford any more ( i buy of street) i called a methadone clinic they just told me to come in. arent they supposed to give me an appointment> since i have been on 70 mg and that dont work can someone tell me what to expect at my visit. will they supply immediate methadone? i really want to get help. i have 3 kids and after much research and many attemps at trying to get clean i am ready. any info on the first day at the clinic will be great thanks~~~jade
jade.. Just be honest with the dr. tell him that 70 mg just isnt enough for you he is there to get you on a stable dose so even if he starts you lower which I doubt but if thats the case you wil be starting out going there daily and it shudnt be a problem going up pretty quickly id say about 10 mg each time u talk to him. Goodluck to you methadone saved my life.
I have been a client for over 16 years. My dose is 120 and stable. I have had no failed urine screens for 15 years, have not lost any meds, no AWOLs, basically perfect record. Also I have no criminal history. I've had take-homes for 14-plus years. Recently I was accused of threatening by a person I had let move in as a roommate without properly checking his background. I later found out he has a long criminal history and is a professional con-artist. He paid no rent and after 3 months I was close to getting him evicted, so he made a false claim, which got him two more months use of my home while I had to stay in a motel. Everyone involved realizes what he did, but the clinic says I cannot have my takehomes back til the legal issue is over. I'll be found innocent, but it may take months. The clinic doctor said he has no option to restore my takehomes due to the Fed. I don't see where that is true. Any help???
Thank you all, even those who don't know because they posted long ago - I am in California, been on done and testing free for 8 years. I have 2 wk take homes (supposedly only given because I was originally referred by my oncologist). I am going to Europe, a long-held dream - next spring and have been stressing on how to get my methadone over there, as I want to be there long enough to do things and see a lot (app. 5-6 wks). Now I know I really AM eligible for 1-month take-homes, and would only have to worry about dosing probably once in the UK, which is the easiest of the European countries to get a dr to give y
Sorry my previous comments were cut off, probably by myself. Anyway, Usually in the UK if you have a letter from your dr you can pay a private dr to get your scrip. TY for a lot of info I was not aware of.
an opiate is a substance derived from the opium plant. Since methadone is not made from opium it is therefore not an opiate. What it is though is a synthetic opioid. I know it sounds alike but it is a lot different. Oh and most likely morphine maintenance is not available due to the high production cost associated with opiates.
I live in eastern carolina and I am going on 2 years opiate free. Thankful to have a clinic 30 miles away that I now visit once a week and have 6 take homes now. Along with that I must attend 2 sessions, 1 doctor visit and a session with councelor each month. I never was so serious about my recovery or have had any interest in recovering until I found out about methadone. It has worked well and I also must work too to stay clean each and everyday. Its easy to fall off the ship, but as long as you have the desire to work your program everything will fall into place in your life.
I lost my 6 take homes becuz I had one positive urine in 3 years of going to this clinic. Prior to that I never had positive urines..always attended my counselling sessions...never missed dosing...always checked in my medications every month and met with the doctor when they made the appt. for me. Now Just becuz I had a Fibromyalgia Flare Up I took ONE Vicodin to help ease the pain and it showed in my urine. I lost take homes for 30 days..fine. But my counsellor said I would have to "EARN BACK" ALL 6 take homes!! That would be 1 take home every 3 months for a total of 18months. I feel this is a very harsh punishment (if u will). I'll take the 30 days but the "EARNING" all 6 take homes back is VERY VERY Questionable!! And unfair! I'm very upset. Now it's summer time and i also have a 3 and a half yr. old daughter. I cannot afford the gas either. I am disabled and on a measly SSDI check! No compassion from my counsellor. I know I messed up but I didn't want to go to the hospital AGAIN for my fibro flare up and wait 10 hours before they give me something to help with the pain. I feel trapped. I feel depressed even more so now. There is no way out of this. I can ask my primary care doc if he would prescribe the pills but I doubt he would do it. I was going to begin detoxing next week also.
What can I do? I'm so lost. Thanks for reading.
Hi I've been on Methadone maintenance since October 2009. I have been totally clean of everything except Methadone since November 2009. I live in MA and the take home limit at my clinic is 13. 45 days after you have been clean of all drugs and have provided a clean urine,you are allowed your first take home. Every 90 days thereafter you get another one, as long as all your urines are clean. What they do is as soon as you get to the 6th take home, you automatically get 13 and go to the clinic twice a month to pick up your doses. They can call you at any time to do a urine or bottle count. Since I have been there I never got a call for either. I had my take homes taken away for a week a year ago, because I got into a car accident and got hurt pretty bad. I ended up going to see a parade with my two boys, and from standing up for so long my lower back felt like it was on fire, due to my injury and I ended up taking a Tylenol 3 which has codeine. I had a random urine the following day. I didn't know the codeine would come up as an opiate, and it did. It was an honest mistake, so they retested my urine the following morning and did verify that it was codeine and my counselor got me my take homes back. When you do have them, and they get taken away it sucks, and in my case I need them for work because on the weekends my clinic opens at 7am and that's the time I have to be at work. I'm in the process of coming down on my dose. Every week I come down 2mg, and so far so good. The highest dose I was on was 111mg, and currently I am on 57. As soon as I get to 51mg I will stay there for a few weeks so my body can catch up to the lowering of the dose. If all goes well I can make a dose evaluation and continue my detoxing of 2mg every week until I finish. Honestly before the methadone I was sniffing about 5 - 6 grams of dope a day, and always knocked the done and did suboxone, which did absolutely nothing for me. I'd take a half at 7am and about 4 hours later I was sniffing up a gram and getting high. Methadone saved me. Since being on it I've finally remembered what life is really supposed to be like. People say ur still on opiate, but I see it like this. A diabetic needs their insulin, just like i take my methadone. Just one day I will not be on it anymore and will be clean of everything and just enjoy life!!!
In response to JAY. At one of the clinics in Ct, we can smoke pot. They dont check for THC in there DRUG TESTS. They are only concerned about opiates and benzos. SO as long as your clean with that your good. A lot of people smoke pot here. There are some clinic in Ct that dont allow you to smoke weed. They wont give you take homes if you test with THC. I wont say the name of the clinc I go to in CT but it allows weed. I couldnt believe it when I first heard about that. I thought a Drug is a Drug.
TO JACKIE, I know at my clinc when someone loses there take homes we are intitled to a meeting with a superiour to contest our problem. everyone makes an honest mistake. They should of looked at your track record and saw how good you were doing and gave you a second chance. You have a problem that your in a lot of pain at times. Thats not right. I feel bad for you
I have been at my clinic for almost 11 years and i get 13 take-homes. I do not work, but because i have not used drugs from the day i got to my clinic, and i am extremely proud of being clean that long.The lab my clinic uses has messed me up 3 times so far with 2 false positives and one time they said i had no methadone in my system! Now this morning i get a call and what do you know....your test came up positive for morphine?!? I have one of the best records at this clinic, but the lab they are using is really horrible! They want me to come in in the AM and i am getting only 6 take-homes for a month and after i show i am clean for 2 more urine tests then i get my 13 back. I am so far past pissed off about this! I have not used from day one and their responce to me was that they have to take the word of the lab. Knowing that 3 times before (they admitted themselves)was the lab's fault all 3 times! how can they use this lab, and what can I do about it? the clinic is close to my home(10min away)and i get 13 take-homes, and love the people there, but how am i going to keep dealing with a lab that is doing this to me? This is a serious problem that can not be avoided, because i feel like this....what about the other people who no doubt are coming up positive and did not use? I have time and sobriety on my side as a pretty helpful defence, but what about the others who are probably getting screwed as well? The clinic took my take-homes the last time this lab messed up, and the clinic told me after i suffered a 2 week loss of my take-homes "we are so sorry this happened to you Cindy...there is nothing we can do now that it is all over" I get that, but my god....it feels like i am now a prisoner to this lab and at the mercy of when they mess up again! I can not even put into words how horrible it feels to stay clean and stay away from drugs, and have a lab keep pulling up false positives on you. it is horrible, and it seems like i am stuck without remedy.I also know that so many do not consider that you are "clean" if you are on methadone, but if it is used properly period,you do not get "high" the methadone repair's the receptors in your brain while filling them with a synthetic opiate that lets your receptors repair themselves,and that is far far far from a regular opiate. i do not consider methadone users to be still using!(only if they are clean and not using drugs!)Because methadone is really used to repair your brain, not used to get high(if you are using it correctly)I feel. I was 20 years old when i got sick.i have RA..the doctors were giving me 13 different pills...one was percocet. I never even knew the difference between asprin and a percocet, and the doctors never told me they are addictive..the doctors gave me 86 percocet a week for 4 years....my whole family did not even know what a narcotic even was...no one in my family even drank and i never did drugs growing up..i was scared to death of drugs...it is funny sometimes how not knowing can be the most horrible danger around. we are all now very educated about opiates, and doctors too! i was completely ruined by that doctor, and i know that i should have been better educated about drugs, but i just turned 20 and come from a very small town where drinking was the main thing people worried about. funny i hate alcohol...lol gross tasting stuff! anyway....the point being what can i do about this lab/my clinic? I know for a fact that i have never used in 11 years...so how is it even possible to get a positive result? Also, i looked on a list of things that make a false positive...i have not eaten any of them and i take no medications other than the methadone.......i do take those 5-hour energy drinks.but they are all vitamins.and the clinic told me that would not cause a false positive. sorry about this being so long.i do not want to offend anyone and do not mean to sound rude if i did i am sorry.....these are just my personal opinion about methadone or about being clean. i really do need help with the drug test issue...it is so horrible to have a positive come up..and you have not used in over 10 years. my clinic tests for drugs and for methadone i guess to be sure you are taking the methadone. thank you very much, and any help is kind :) good luck with your recovery :)
sorry, also...the methadone has been a lot of help with my RA! it keeps the pain down and takes the edge off of my horrible pain...... Rheumatoid Arthritis stinks, but it does help me being on the methadone...the doctors also tell me it is either the methadone or pain pills. i am trying to get off the methadone and not take anything. i was on 165mg...but i have been going down 4mg every 2 weeks and i am now at 61mg. at 20mg they will take my 13 take-homes away and give me only 6 take-homes a week. Under 20mg they want to watch you closely they said. Anyway I just wanted to give that info in case it helps. thank you all :)
Ive been going to our local methadone clinic here in Charleston, WV and it is great!! I have been going for almost 9 months and i get 6 takehomes. When I am here a year i will begin to get 13 takehomes. Just as long as I attend group meetings, have clean urine screens, and visit my counselor at least twice a month they keep moving me up for more takehomes. I am on 50mg a day and i am stable. I dont get why other states are so strict on their take homes and only allow like 6 after being there a year???
I go to a clinic in northeast WI. They open at 5:15am m-f and 5:30am sat closed sun. The reason Im writing this is because if you work a first shift job like myself (6am start) you need to be able to get in and get out asap to get to work on time. Its first come first serve so people get there at like 3:30am and park as close to the door as possible. By the time I get there at about 4:15am there is already 5-10 vehicles there. SO...the clinic has this rule that in order for you to dose from 5:15am-6am you have to be a first shift worker. The way they verify this is by placing a stupid green dot sticker on your laminated patient ID. Anybody can go to walgreens and get a pack of round green stickers. So anyway the real problem lies within the time that the clinic unlocks the front door. As soon as they open the door its like a STAMPEDE from the parking lot. On average i would say about 25-50 patients all trying to beat each other to the door running and pushing. Its like...if someone was sitting back watching this they would be like" look at these crazy drug addicts running for their fix". But if I want to make it to work on time I have to get there no later than 415am and run right along with them. I talked to my counselor about this numerous times and she says that probably 25% of these people are legitimate 1st shift workers and they are trying to figure out any way they can to deal with the problem. Any suggestions? The clinic rule is you have to stay seated in your car until the clinic door is unlocked.
my opinion........ unless youre an addict with real legit chronic pain methadone should be used to ween down. Noone has had much bigger of a habit than myself and I did a methadone detox (14 days) and I was ok when it was over. This statement is coming from a girl who did between 40-70 roxicodone 30mg tablets (alone)and 10 opana 40mg tablets (still alone) everyday . Methadone clinics (where I live) allow addicts without chronic pain to come in daily and they up the fuck out of their dose because they want that money. I know people on 300mg a day with no chronic pain, theyre just chronic dope sick. Theyre there to get high, and thats ok. They fail drug tests and thats ok too, they'll still get their dose and the clinic will still take their $450 a month. Im really fucking serious about my recovery and I had to go to the methadone clinic to get a shot called VIVITROL. (opiate blocker) and what I saw in that bitch was motherfuckers nodding out and sellin dope. Im not talking shit about the patients, I was THAT GIRL for years but what is sad to me is that I can get arrested leaving the dope mans house because I paid him cash and bought something to get me high but I wont get arrested at the methadone clinic if I cant find a pill and I go in there, pay them cash and buy something to get me high. Lets work on our regulations and employees at the clinic WV. holla
Can anyone tell me something about oregon,washington and/or Colorado as far as how many take home doses do these states 'usually allow' if clean and following all rules . I am moving west from pa where I only get 4 take homes a week at my clinic , some 'favored' clients get more , but very few . I have two plus years of clean urines , and am handicapped with progressive medical issues but also live very close to the clinic which to some extent lessens my need for more takehome doses per visit . Thanks all , take care .
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I get 135 a day...go to a clinic thats 100 miles away.....I get 27 take homes a month...the clinic has a policy of "randomly" calling clients to come in for dose/bottle inspection.Thers a nurse ther that hates my guts...new fat white gal,...She keeps calling my number....too frquently and is targeting me.The phone calls for inspection,is thie common practice at all Clinics...is it a Federal guideline...? Also,Im a well established client with 8 years of clean screens etc,the poster boy for Methadone and this bitch is literally fucking with me.I cant make these "random" inspections all the time ?..I work and have a great job..is this common protocol for Methadone Clinics ?
I get 135 a day...go to a clinic thats 100 miles away.....I get 27 take homes a month...the clinic has a policy of "randomly" calling clients to come in for dose/bottle inspection.Thers a nurse ther that hates my guts...new fat white gal,...She keeps calling my number....too frquently and is targeting me.The phone calls for inspection,is thie common practice at all Clinics...is it a Federal guideline...? Also,Im a well established client with 8 years of clean screens etc,the poster boy for Methadone and this bitch is literally fucking with me.I cant make these "random" inspections all the time ?..I work and have a great job..is this common protocol for Methadone Clinics ?
kiss my a(*)( lorib. You are a moron. People like you who are normies have no idea what it is to live with a depression so severe that untreated literally leaves you catatonic. Only mind-altering drugs offer any relief. And, due to the horror of buprinorphine, even 110 of methadone a day no longer offers any solace. Bupribullcrap has razed my opioid receptors, leaving me so tolerant that when I was suffering from post-op pain even 1000 mg of morphine barely made it tolerable.
Now my clinic refuses to raise my dose above 110. I need help... has anyone else had this problem?
I also suffer from an incurable anxiety disorder and PTSD, which Methadone used to fix but again thanx to the wonders of subullxshitone no longer works.
You pontificators and self-righteous big book thumpers simply haven't lived long enough, or had enough of a variety of experiences to understand that for some maladies, only a MIND ALTERING chemical will work. When your brain is as damaged as mine, you would want it altered too.
I am tired of being the
Help. Been on done for three years, and only have three three take homes at a time. I thought I should have been up to, at least, 13 consecutive. All my test have been clean, and I have not missed one appointment.
Now I'm being told that, in order to keep my three day take home privileges I need to provide proof of employment. I can not find anywhere in the Fed. or California regulations where proof of employment is required to have take home privileges. BTW, I own three businesses, but since I do not pay myself with a typical paycheck, they are asking for some type of proof.
I have given them my federal tax I.D., letters of incorporation, and other proof. Now they are saying they need to see my personal and corporate income tax returns.
Upon registering three years ago, I filled out all the required info, including income, which is relatively substantial. Within two weeks I had a counselor and office manager ask me for a loan. I was recently involved in a corporate law suit. I was deposed by defendants attorneys, and out of the blue I was asked, "why did you increase your methadone usage from 12 to 20mgs.? NO ONE, knows I have been on MMP, let alone that I had a dependency on scrip opiates. Along with my lawyers, my dad was present at the depo. Only way they got that info was by paying someone off to access my file, because opposing lawyers also had the exact date of intake, and all dose modifications, and results of all drug tests.
On another occasion, one of the patients offered to sell me methadone in the clinic lobby. Since it was in the lobby, I was worried that the clinic was TESTING me, since one of their requirements obligates the patient to inform someone on the clinic staff if you are offered illicit drugs on the property. I informed the counselor supervisor. Two days later I was confronted by three gang member type thugs threatening me if I did not recant my statement against one of their WIVES. The woman in question solicited around a dozen other patients that day along, so a clinic employee had to breach confidentiality.
Now the same clinic is asking for my tax returns. I DON''T THINK SO.
Does anyone know if proof f employment is required for take home privileges?
Methadone is a synthetic opiate, meaning it's not an opiate. You people saying someone isn't opiate free because they are on methadone are pernicious twit's. That's like saying someone who eats veggie burgers a.k.a. synthetic meat, isn't a vegetarian. Let me volley that ball of idiocy you call thought process, right back at'cha.
I've been at this clinic in pennsylvania for 8 years now and you have to wait 3-6 months for 1 bottle 2 years for the 2nd one and 5 years for the third. It's really crazy the shit you have to go through just to get your take homes thats why i'm detoxing!!!!
I was in a clinic for 2 1/2 years about 5 years back and did so well with staying clean. I dosed out and started back on oxy. Well 1 1/2 years ago I enter back in the methadone clinic and I'm doin great. I have had clean screens all along and I get 4 carry outs a week. My clinic here in Kentucky makes you have a job or go to school before you can get take homes. I feel that methadone has played a huge part in saving my life and I would reccomend it to addicts.
I'm on Methadone been getting 27 take homes for 3years. When I went to the clinic yesterday I was told that starting in january I have to come in once a week. I was told the state law in take homes changed. I live in Md and go to a md clinic.
Wow I'm from Canada and I cannot believe all the rules and trouble you guys in the U.S go through to get carries. I have been on methadone now for only 10 months and I'm already at the last level, which means I have 6 take homes and only have to go to the clinic once a week. Here for every month you have clean samples you get another carry, but the maximum is 6. So within 6 months of being on the program and staying clean you can have all 6. That is the only requirment for getting carries here. Doesnt matter if you dont have a job, doesnt matter if you miss an appointment every once in a while, there is no random check ins. I cannot believe that I was reading some of you have to wait like 2 years to get that much!! Also, they don't really care here if you have traces of weed in your samples as long as you have a steady job and are generally contributing to society. Plus if say I'm going on a vacation to Europe for a month I just have to tell them and they will give me a months worth of carries to bring with me, or they will just write me a prescription for a months worth to fill when I get wherever I'm going. The girls at my clinic are generally really nice and when I go every Thursday to leave my sample and get my next 6 carries we always joke around and laugh, and if I have a complaint or need an extra carry for some reason they'll just do it, no hassles. It sounds like the U.S is a lot stricter than it is in Canada. I couldn't believe some of the insane rules I was reading. I feel bad for you guys because they made it really easy and pleasant for me to quit and going to the clinic every week isnt a hassle to me, I usually enjoy it. If it was as difficult and cold and strict here as it sounds there, I don't think I would've been so successful in getting clean as quick and easily as I did!! It's really a shame!!
Hey I'm from Kenyucky and I have posted on this site before and I check it recently. I was wondering about different states and if they give actual disks 40mg not watered down, or liquid, or watered down methadose disks. I was wondering because the only option at my clinic is the watered down disks 40mg. I would just like to know if any states give the actual disks for carry outs. -Thanks
Wow, this sh*t is NOT governed
Enough! Just wait till you try to get off that garbage! 190mgs cold turkey! Heals your brain BULL it causes more brain damage! 65days TRUELY opiate free!
Jake-done03, some clinics do allow you to take the 40mg discs dry. Mine does. It's all up to the clinic and should have nothing to do with the state (there may be exceptions). Some clinics only allow dry meds for people who have a lot of takehomes.
Federal regs used to require that water was added to every dose. This is no longer the case and hasn't been for over ten years but some clinics have failed to realize that and still claim that adding water is the law. Your clinic could most likely give you dry meds if they wanted to.
FYI, there is a great forum for questions and issues surrounding MMT. If you want to get answers to your questions that's the place to go: http://atwatchdog.lefora.com/forum/category/main-f
Methadone is NOT a OPIATE for all u very not so smart people who dont know anything about it,look it up dumb @$$.
Methadone for all practical purposes might as well be an opiate; it certainly acts like one. You are not clean if you are on methadone. I have nothing against those of you on it but let's face facts it is a substitution and nothing less.
Opiate addiction is so... melodramatic except that it isn't. Myself I was uncomfortable and anxious for a few days.Certainly the flu or a bad cold or infection is much worse and more dangerous in terms of health risk....there is no risk to coming off opiates other than some discomfort.
So if you all really want to be clean stop the methadone.You will find you will feel better being completely drug free. Please remember I do not judge just pointing out some facts.
Ziggy facts for you maybe but for sure not everyone. If it were that easy then there would be a hole lot more peps off the sh##! speak for your self. done saved my life. I know im not the only one who is sayin that. Everyones different. You say your not judgiing but read what you have wrote you are doin just that! Judging. Who are you? Just another junky!
No one has ever died from opiate withdrawal; that is a fact. I have been completely sober from opiates, alcohol etc for over twenty yrs_ it can be done.
There is no disputing that Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever. There is no disputing that to beat addiction is tremendously difficult_ it can be done. Opiate addicts on Methadone are at least hopefully working toward complete freedom from substances.
can i smoke pot at the methadone clinics in flordia?? im planning on using pot to ease my withdraw i get cause im planning on getting off the shit. im so damn ready but my fiance takes it too and were worried about leaving indiana but we dont want to pass up this opportunity to move the hell outa here. i just want to no basically if they take away phased for thc?
I'm from Wisconsin and have been on methadone for 4 1/2 years and I have never had a dirty UA since I started at my clinic. I was at phase 5 with is coming to the clinic every 2 weeks. They do call backs where they call you and you have to come in the following morning with your unopened does or you lose your phase. Well my councilor called my girlfriend's cell phone which I gave him for last resort and he never called my home number and I missed the message. My girlfriend's cell was dead and when she charged it she didn't check the voice mail. Well to sum it up I missed the call back and now I have to go everyday again. I have done everything my clinic has ever asked and now because of a missed phone call I lost 4 phases and have to travel a 100 miles a day round trip. If I wasn't at 150 ml I would just quit, but by the time I could taper down I will back at once a week. This Sucks! But the program has worked. I was on 300 mg of morphine a day and pot and alcohol and anything else I could find and now I'm graduated from college and clean for over 4 years.
I accidently found this site. I'm amazed at the incorrect info/advice given by so many. First, I'm on Methadone (and a M.D.) Yes, the DISEASE of addiction which affects all professions, economical status, gender, etc. I was born with a rare genetic bleeding disorder involving the location of malformation of certain blood vessels. Due to this disorder, if I take any meds which have the potential to cause G.I. bleeding (NSAIDS, aspirin, Coumadin, etc) I can bleed to death. Therefore, the only meds I can take for pain are Tylenol and Narcotics. After 26 major surgeries, I became addicted to the Duragesic patches. I researched Methadone thoroughly. Yes, Methadone is a synthetic opoid. The primary reason many become addicted is due to the "high" narcotics cause. After reading some of these posts ( "no" spelled "know" and "allowed" spelled "aloud") I will not discuss the chemistry and the name of the receptors narcotics affect. Suffice to say, the ONE difference Methadone has is blocking the receptors that cause the "high" feeling, while preventing withdrawal. It also was orig. produced in Germany in 1937 as a long-term pain reliever for soldiers. It wasn't until the 60's it was used to treat heroin addicts. Synthetic or Natural, it is an opiate. Many times it gets it's bad reputation because addicts mix other drugs (esp. benzoes) after they are told the dangers. This leads to many deaths, as both affect the breathing center of the brain. Rules vary from state to state. Each clinic uses a different drug test. You CAN test positive for alcohol without being drunk. Drug tests measure the "metabolites" produced after the body has broken down the alcohol. Also, the mixture CAN kill you. I know one patient died as a result of the two one month ago. As for marijuana, it is also tested. It can take a few weeks to clear the body. Different drugs clear the body based on several factors, primarily the "half-life" of the med. If Methadone is taken as prescribed, clinic rules followed, take home doses should be allowed as dictated by state guidelines. If I'm Diabetic, my pancreas has stopped producing insulin. Therefore, the insulin must be replaced. I will take insulin. Long term addiction stops the body from producing the natural endorphins. Methadone works on that aspect without producing a "high." Sometimes it can take years for the brain chemistry return to normal. Some actually become suicidal. My best friend's husband commited suicide for this reason. Until society changes it's views, Methadone is the best we have in present day. Doctors need more education to stop prescribing addicting drugs when so many new non-addicting meds. have come into the market. My sister (also a M.D.) rarely prescribes narcotics. Unless people make the choice to change, take the rec. dosage, they can begin on the road to recovery. Unless someone truly needs to be on long-term pain meds, a SLOW detox with Methadone AND professional counseling to learn better coping skills will yeild a better percentage for recovery. Before anyone yells they can't afford counseling, prob. 98% of Methadone patients smoke. Hopefully, you can tell where I'm leading. Also, there are free mental health centers in most states. As for those who seem to only educate themselves by reading a "Wiki" definition or listening to advice from other addicts without training, I challenge you to get your info. from medical journals, etc. Sadly, I've seen and listened to many patients. It seems to be a "game" to so many. But, there are some who work daily, follow the rules and lead happy normal lives. One more remark, take it as an insult if you must. It is not intended to be an insult. Your computer may have "spell check." How about adding a dictionary and thesarus? Anyone out there with better education and can prove the above incorrect with legit. litature, I'm more than willing to listen. I'm not perfect. I wrote this with only one intent - just maybe, some of the info. will help someone.
Hey lisa-med-dr... You might want to consider that some of your own receptors may have been affected. Not only did you misspell the second word in your comment, IE: accidently, I count five more miscues...IE: opoid, commited, yeild, thesarus and litature. Just goes to show you even a Duke medical graduate needs a spell checker. Your comment however, is compelling.
I wanted I guess advise on the correct way to file a complaint. I have been on the methadone since July 2011 I am now down to 40 mgs and asked to just get off. I don't understand why they are allowed to treat people like garbage. I mean I have had all clean urines and earned my first bottle 90 days later and of course put in for my next and was approved how ever its been a month and a half. I go to ask about this and of course the nurse yelled at me. She is very nasty. I go to group . I pay my bill. I mean I really do follow the rules. How ever the way I'm treated and they way they don't follow thir own rules really upsets me. Are they really that untouchable?There is no one to complain to?Please advise. I am really honest there really terrible to people and its not right. I've even been late for work because of this clinic. Thanks ;)
How long does it take to start on methadone when u 1st go to the clinic , like will i be able to recive it the 1st day or not? also i have THC in my system will they turn me down?
suboyex is the unigue to realy stop the heroin iam wos addictied 16years and now after 4 years with subotex iam perfect clean suboxone nobody realy helps
Mike - If you piss dirty at the clinic the first day in, on opiates, you will be excepted into the program. That first time piss test they will not care whats in you. (must have opiate) you will leave with your first daily dose on the first visit. ( typically you should call ahead make appt. because new arrival are only allowed certain days. Depends where you live.) I'm in SoCal and the first month of daily's will cost 400$ the second and following months 300$. And Thc is allowed only if you have a med card for it use from another licensed medical doctor. However I believe they don't even check for Thc the folllowing weeks ahead, and dont care about it.But that's a case by case place by place thing.
At zingy selbin - your wrong someone has died from withdrawal. you can watch the doucumentry on YouTube, it's called Ben : diary of a heroin addict. This guy Ben from the UK has been hooked shooting H for many many years and he actually video taped a lot of his use threw out what would be the last six months of his life. The video shows him using everyday, and his family knows, it's very sad. At the end, Ben has decided to go into treatment. 2 days into treatment he dies from his withdrawals in detox. Had a brain hemorrhage.
I have been on methadone for 2 and a half weeks now, Im at 50mg (btw I live in Ontario,Canada) I am still using, because 50 isnt doing much, my tolerance to opiate is super high, since i have been using hydromorphone contin (10-12\12mg pills IV'd every morning and night) + Fentanyl Patches (1-2\25mg a day sucking on them) for 6 years (started IV'ing 1 year ago)I was clean for 17 days on March 24th, but on the 23rd I ended up in hospital because I slit my wrists because I couldnt deal with the Withdrawls anymore. I have tried every way possible to get off of the opiates (I am 24 yrs old). Hospital did nothing to help me, and becuz of being an addict didnt even give me ANYTHING, not even tylenol for my rists, I ended up with 1 stitches in each and they almost had to do surgery to repair my nerves and tendons.I hve nofeeling in my 3 fingers now either. The cuts were 2 and a half inches deep almost 3 inches the nurse said if I went any deeper I could have lost movement in all my fingers, and that I would have been looking orward to a lot of surgeries, without any pain meds because they would not give me anything that is a narcotic for my pain,because of my addiction. I thought that was ridiculous. Yeah I kno I did this to myself, but seriously, they would give pain meds to anyone who cme in there needin stitches that bad, I could have lid and said Icut them openon glass or w/e but because I was honest,I got screwed! The pain was horrible for the next month. So now Im worried, what if inthe future I hurt my back, or have hurniated discs like my mom becuse she has back probles badly, or Iget MS like my sis has. I just wont be allowed any pain meds formy legitamate pain???Is this true???
Since I am newly on Methadone,I am unsure of what dose will probably work for me, i dont even know what the limit for methadone is. No one has told me. I just want my life back. I am only taking 1-3 12mg pills in the morning and at night now, which is a lot better than 10-12 instead.I am pretty proud, and have my whole family supporting me which is great, I dont live on the street, never have, an nver willhave to. I am superthankful for that. So I am a chubby drug user and dont look like your typical addict because I am a voluptuous female addict, that wears new clean clothes and has a lot of expensive accesories, and handbags. A ton of Hats, from NBA new eras to snap backs and fedoras. I love style and dressing up I am a hip-hop gangsta chick at heart, and even have it tatooed on the back of my neck. Maybe thats why I get weird looks when I go 2 times a week for my appointments for my prescriptions and im in the waitingroom with 30 other people who i swear just stare at me, either thinking how is she fat and an iv user. Well its because I live at home and have A LOT of food to eat thatfree. Im not bragging at all sorry if it sounds like that . Just giving you an idea of my life and experience with methadone. Now that i am on 50mg my dr sid it will only go up by 5mg 1ce a week now, instead of 2wice a week. WHY??? I just want to get to my proper stable dose ASAP! Grrr! Anyway god luck everyone who is on it, it has saved my life so far. I would use Suboxone/Subutex if they had it here in Canada but they dont.
~MelODDic~ xXxEZxXx
And Tim way to try to make someone feel like crap she has been free from opiates because methadone IS NOT a opiate it is a OPIOD get your info straight before you bash someone for being sober!!! Great job epifanny for being OPIATE free for 7 years and getting yourself of methadone you should be proud of yourself for doing that and don't listen to losers who try and make you feel like crap!!!
I live in Queensland Australia and they dont give u more than 4 Takeaways a week regardless of how clean your urine tests are. I pay $21 a week for 4 dosings/3 takeaways at a chemists/drugstore. This year I have been on methadone for 14yrs and let me tell you I never thought I would be on it for this long. Everytime I start reducing down I get pregnant & have to go up again. I just threw up my dose 20 mins after having it and was told that I cant be redosed till tomorrow. Even tho Im 7 months pregnant and have a perfect urine test record. So by the sounds of it no matter what you do or how clean u are u will always be classed in the "drugo" basket!!
I have been on methadone for the past 4 years now. My life has gone from bad , not being able to see my kids , and practicly living on the streets to seeing my kids when ever I want , having a home , job, friends that aren't just drug friends , and havig a real life again , after being on opiates for over 10 years , so I praise anyone on methadone It saved my life !!!!!
As many proposing here on methadone should ask there doctors methadone is NOT. A opiate it a pain kill and control substance but not a opiate. God I love no it all's that don't no shit. Good for u girl u being doing what u need so yes u r clean don't listen to any of them u did great hope u can get off it one day I get my wk and will have after wks after two yrs
Methadone is not an opiate. It is synthetic. It does not register as an opiate on drug tests that test for opiates. Do your research people before you argue with someone about a topic you know nothing about. Yes it has the same effects as opiates but it is not a true opiate.
epifanny 3 years ago
fantastic, well informative hub! I am a recovering addict myself and have been opiate free for 7 years now. Last year, I decided to jump off and self detox from a rather high dose of the done (10.5mls, slowly reducing to that dosage from 120mls over a period of 3 years) and have now been done free for over a year and a half. The guidelines differ here from state to state, but here where I reside in NSW AU, the maximun takeaways were 4 when you reached 365 days, and there you remained. Bupe (Subutex) has been avail here since 2001, and many find when they up their dosage, they can cope with being dosed every 2nd or 3rd day. Suboxone is a combo of bupe and naloxone which unsupervised dosing is commonly allowed due to the limited appeal of injecting and therefore of diversion. I was very surprized to hear of 30 day dosing, that is unheard of here. thx for shring this very important topic :)