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Medication Information
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the
National Institute for Drug Addiction (NIDA) have funded
numerous studies on methadone treatment over the past 30
years. Radiological and other studies utilizing advanced
technologies have mapped the biochemical and structural
changes of the brain which individuals incur as a result
of their dependency/addiction to the narcotic class of drugs
referred to as opiates, including heroin, morphine, codeine,
percocet, etc. Once addicted to these substances, individuals
suffer strong cravings that are rooted deep within the brain.
These cravings are accompanied by symptoms of narcotic withdrawal
that may include increased blood pressure and temperature,
rapid heart rate, body aches, chills, fever, hot and cold
flashes, tremors, headache, vomiting, abdominal cramping,
weakness, restlessness and difficulty sleeping. The narcotic
addict has the inherent knowledge that use of a narcotic
such as heroin will "fix" everything by eliminating
these cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These physical changes
and symptoms are the basis for the American Medical Association
acknowledging that narcotic dependency/addiction is a disease.
The FDA approved medication Methadone may be taken by mouth
and decrease or alleviate the symptoms of narcotic withdrawal
and drug craving. Methadone does not create a "high"
or euphoric feeling and in fact block the "high"
of other narcotics such as heroin. When the medication is
utilized with counseling and education, patient/consumers
have the opportunity to address the impact that active addiction
causes on their physical, emotional and social condition,
allowing patient/consumers the opportunity to work toward
positive and productive drug-free lifestyles. Furthermore,
research demonstrates that methadone treatment:
•Decreases crime rates.
• Reduces public health risks, specifically, the spread
of tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV and sexually transmitted
diseases.
• Reduces emergency room visits and admission to acute
care hospitals for medical and psychiatric complications.
Methadone Treatment/Counseling is less costly and less
confining than treatment of the medical and psychiatric
conditions caused by active addiction. Treatment is also
less costly than incarceration of individuals who suffer
from a disease. The need for methadone treatment is growing
as a consequence of heroin becoming a national drug of choice.
Changes in drug use patterns are occurring. Consider the
following trends:
• Increase of heroin purity
on the street from a typical purity of 10-15% ten years
ago to 60-70% today; resulting in addiction from "snorting"
without intravenous use.
• Decrease in price from $20.00 a bag ten years ago
to as low as $3.00 in some areas.
• Increase in availability, including
rural and middle class suburban areas.
• Decrease in the age of first use, including 8th
graders in certain areas of the country, and common use
among high school students.
• Increase in emergency overdose
incidents due to experimental users and increased heroin
purity.
• Increase incidents of drug related crimes including
drug trafficking.
These alarming facts have resulted in a need for increased
prevention and treatment services to respond to the challenging
public health problems of narcotic addiction.
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