METHADONE IS A MEDICATION, SO 'USER' IS THE WRONG WORD:
Below is a LTE that was published in the Vancouver Sun, I wanted to share:
Re: Methadone users 'get pharmacy kickbacks,' Sept. 9
No one could fail to condemn people who are alleged to accept bribes such as this -- or, especially, those who offer them.
But The Sun's reporters and editors should reflect on the use of the term "methadone users." Whatever the intent, the clear message is one of disdain. These individuals receive a medication from specially licensed physicians as part of a treatment regimen known for 40 years to be highly effective.
Can you imagine describing diabetics, even those who are woefully non-compliant with medical advice, as "insulin users"?
posted by RGNewman, MD @ 4:30 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
It is true that the use of user for methadone is incorrect.But methadone is an opiate derivetive, so the use of methadone leads to addiction as well as other opiate derivatives. In this case the wor user is correct.
Dr.Hermon Mihrania
internist-addictologist
The word user is not correct if you are referring to a patient receiving methadone legally either for the use of pain or the Disease of Addiction.
Clarification of the difference
between conscious (volitional) drug abuse and pathological drug dependence allows you to understand that although all people should take responsibility for their actions while drinking or drugging, some cannot help their excessive drug use any more than a cancer patient can overcome a malignant tumor.
Excellent scientific research in the areas of genetic, neurobiology and pharmacology in the past 20 years now clearly shows that chemical dependence is a chronic, medical brain disease, driven significantly by genetic vulnerability.
Anyone who shows some withdrawal signs or reports increased doses are necessary to get the original effect of the drug (tolerance)may or may not be dependent,depending on the presence of other factors. Even people on powerful pain medications, steroids, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and other drugs can experience severe withdrawal when quitting abruptly, but this not indicate dependence on these medications.
Professional assessment of the individual by qualified diagnosticans is necessary for accurate diagnosis.
Addiction is classified as a disease even by the AMA and it meets the criteria of a disease therefore, a patient taking methadone legally is not a "user."
I possibly may agree if a person has obtained the medication illegally they may be called a "user." If you believe a person taking it for the chronic pain and or/addiction is a "user," then you are not basing your words on scientific facts.
Addiction (chemical dependency) is just as much a disease as Diabetes Type II,Hypertension, Heart Disease,ADHD and Parkinson's. You would not call them "users."
Deborah Shrira,RPH,CEO,CMA
You must not refer to diabetes, or hypertention treatment on the same bases as for heroine addicts. Methadone is an opioid derivative causing depndency as heroine. Methadone treatment is just a substitution therapy in heroine dependent patients. Substitution is not treatment but a harmreduction method. Heroine addicts with methadone treatment remain heroine addictic. It is just as if alcohol addicts are treated with alcohol.
Dr.Hermon Mihranian
The comment is absolutely right. Diabetics may occur from generation to generation. But people should take care to save their life.
=========
Brook
Drug Rehabilitation Programs
Methadone substitution therapy is only effective in very special cases. Since methadone does not solve the problem of addiction.The addict will remain addict. It is just like treating alcohol addiction with alcohol. The patient will remain alcohol addict all his life. Several methods are available for effective treatment in cases of opiate addiction that are far more effective than methadone. Also non medicale methods are athand with not less than 65-74% effectiveness/ like Narconon method / Why con't we use them.
Dr.Hermon Mihranian
internist-addictologist
I take Methadone and I think it is a wonder drug for herniated discs. It lasts longer than opiate pain meds and I am able to move around and do things again. I recommend this to anyone with back pain. It actually lasts 6 hours and I am not taking pills all day.
Thanks for reading. Have a great day!
Methadone as medicale treatment for pains is wonderfull. But I am saying that in drug addiction ( heroine and derivatives), methadone substitution therapy does not solve the problem, since the addict will turn to be methadone addict. What is the difference, opiate and opiate.
Dr.Hermon Mihranian
Treatment of drug addiction is only effective if the abuser has decided to stop drug use. In case of heroine addiction, if the patient cooperates well, the use of substitution therapy is not the best treatment choice. The use of methadone and its derivatives will never end to drug free state. He will turn to be methadone addict.Several non medicale methods are available and used with great efficacy. One of such methods is the Narconon method found by L.Hubbard, wich is used allover the world with great positive results. Why not try it.
Dr.Hermon Mihranian
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