Methadone addiction symptoms and signs are fairly straightforward. If you suspect a loved one is addicted to Methadone, you’ve probably already noticed some of the signs. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of methadone addiction.
Methadone is a synthetic opiate prescribed for pain but better known for its treatment of opiate addiction. People enrolled in a Methadone maintenance program are given a daily controlled dosage of the medication in an outpatient setting. Many argue this treatment substitutes one addiction for another.
Possible Signs of Methadone Addiction
People can most certainly become dependent upon Methadone. Some even take it for years to avoid opiate withdrawal. Abuse of this medication is dangerous and jeopardizes health and safety. If your loved one can’t function without methadone, he or she may be addicted. Other signs to watch for:
- Consuming high dosages
- Taking Methadone more often than they should
- The need for increasingly higher dosages
- Using Methadone in conjunction with other substances to achieve a “high.”
- Being secretive about Methadone use
- Inability to stop taking Methadone
- Anxiety, aggression, or desperation if the person can’t get Methadone
- Defensive or shady attitudes or behavior
- Obtaining the drug from sources outside a legitimate doctor
- Lying to doctors about injuries or conditions to get a higher dosage
Methadone Addiction Symptoms and Overdose.
According to the CDC reports, methadone addiction can carry more risks than most painkillers because levels built up in the body and had the capabilities to interfere with an individual’s normal heart rhythm or breathing. Methadone has been responsible for almost a third of the deaths caused by opioid pain relievers in 2009, even though it was prescribed far less often than other such drugs, government researchers have found. Methadone accounted for 1.7 percent of the 257 million prescriptions written in 2009 for opioid pain relievers, and it was involved in 31.4 percent of overdose fatalities.
My Loved One May Be Addicted: What Now?
So often, people recognize a problem with a loved one but can’t quite pinpoint the specifics. For many, denial is part of the process. No one wants to believe that someone they know and love and trust has become Methadone dependent. But it’s important to realize that this type of addiction doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can fall into this deadly trap.
It’s important to be educated about Methadone addiction and Methadone treatment options. This type of dependency is severe, but there is every reason to have hope. By now, you know that opiate replacement therapy is not the best option. People who’ve suffered from this deserve to be completely opiate free.
Family and friends of those addicted can suffer as well. Watching a person self-destruct with opiate addiction can be heartbreaking. Ask questions, talk to your loved one, and try to be as supportive as possible. Suggest professional opiate detox, a safe, effective treatment that can change – and save – lives.
Waismann Method of Methadone Treatment can detox extremely high dosages while patients are in a full service accredited hospital.
