drugtalk.myfreeforum.org

admin

Consequences for health

If methadone is taken as intended by the prescribing doctor it causes no damage to the physical health of the user, apart from minor symptoms such as constipation, small pupils, sweating and itchy skin. The dangers to health associated with illicit heroin or morphine - such as HIV or hepatitis infection, overdose or poisoning are not present.
Taking extra methadone above the recommended dose or mixing it with other depressants such as temazepam, alcohol or even heroin is very dangerous. This can - and does - commonly result in overdose and death of the user.

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a regular dosage of methadone is halted. Although these develop more slowly and are less severe than those associated with morphine and heroin withdrawal, they are more prolonged and in many respects more unpleasant.

Dependence

Tolerance to methadone - where more and more of the drug must be taken to achieve the same effect - and physical/psychological dependence on the drug may occur. Anecdotal evidence appears to suggest that methadone is equally as addictive as heroin, although the attraction of injecting a 'fix' (a large part of psychological addiction) is not present.

Legal consequences

Methadone is a class A drug and it is only legal for a person to possess methadone if it has been prescribed for that individual. If prescription for an individual involves drinking the methadone syrup within the clinic or pharmacy dispensing it, possession of the drug outside of those premises would constitute an offence - it would be unlawful possession.
The maximum sentence for unlawful possession of methadone is 7 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. The maximum sentence for supplying methadone (including giving some to a friend) is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Methadone maintenance programmes

The concept of methadone maintenance
Methadone maintenance is commonly used as a form of treatment for opiate addiction in the UK because it could break the cycle of dependence on illicit drugs like heroin. Although methadone does not produce the same 'high' as heroin, it does prevent withdrawal symptoms and (hopefully) reduces the craving to use other opiates.
The underlying rationale of methadone maintenance is that if patients are receiving methadone, they are not inclined to seek out and buy illegal drugs on the street, or engage in criminal activities to fund illicit drug use. Also, the health risks associated with injection of illicit drugs are removed.

This approach to heroin addiction is often referred to as 'harm reduction' or 'harm minimisation' as its primary aim is not so much to encourage addicts to stop using drugs but simply to attempt to reduce the damage that such use causes to addicts and society.

It has been demonstrated that the probability of a methadone maintenance programme helping a heroin addict to become abstinent from all drugs - or at least find a stable lifestyle - is increased if other help, such as counselling, advice and support is also accepted.

Problems associated with methadone maintenance

Methadone has been accused of acting only as a pallative to the problem of heroin addiction and simply prolongs drug addiction within any individual. Prescription of a substitute for heroin offers no incentive to abstain from using drugs and many addicts simply use it as a free 'top up' to their existing illicit drug consumption.
While methadone prescription for a short period to counteract the symptoms of heroin withdrawal must have a place in addiction treatment, its widespread use could increase the number of chemically dependent individuals.

Abuse of methadone maintenance programmes is common, particularly when the drug is dispensed on a weekly basis rather than daily. Prescribed methadone is frequently encountered on the illicit market and has recently been associated with a greater number of overdose deaths than has heroin. As previously mentioned, many addicts have stated that it is physically more difficult for addicts to stop using methadone than it is to stop using heroin.