Nearly 1 million Americans suffer from opiate addiction, or dependence on opioid drugs such as heroin, morphine and oxycodone, according to the Society for Neuroscience. Methadone clinics are a popular treatment option--places where strictly regulated daily doses of this long-acting synthetic opioid are dispensed to addicts in a process known as methadone maintenance treatment, or MMT. However, methadone clinics aren't the only option for those suffering from opiate addiction--other methods of treatment can be effective and are worth exploring.
Buprenorphine
For more than 30 years methadone has been the sole drug approved for the treatment of opiate addiction; that is, until the 2002 Food and Drug Administration approval of buprenorphine, another synthetic opioid. Like methadone, buprenorphine can eliminate cravings for drugs of abuse as well as stave off withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine has a longer duration of action, fewer side effects and less potential for abuse than methadone. Manufactured under the trade names Subutex and Suboxone (buprenorphine with naloxone), buprenorphine is available by prescription from doctors certified to dispense the medication. To find a doctor who prescribes this medication, see the Resources section.
Opioid Antagonists
Opioid drugs, including methadone, are opioid receptor agonists. There are also two medications that are classified as opioid receptor antagonists, which means they block, rather than stimulate, opioid receptors in the brain. If a person takes an opioid while naloxone or naltrexone is occupying the brain's opioid receptors, the narcotic drug will not produce a high. These medications will not help with withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of using an opioid drug, but may help curb cravings during the detox process.
Cold Turkey
Depicted in Hollywood films as a nightmarish experience, the "cold turkey" method of kicking opiate addiction is indeed a challenge, yet a viable alternative to going on methadone at a clinic. This method is simple cessation of the opioid drug to which one has become dependent, and produces withdrawal effects such as runny nose, nausea, vomiting, cold sweats--all accompanied by an intense craving for opioid drugs. However difficult it is, going cold turkey does work to detoxify the body. It is best to consult with a physician before trying this method, since withdrawal symptoms can be so severe.
Support Groups
While MMT allows abstinence for opioid abuse by maintaining an addict at a controlled dose of methadone for as long as needed--years or indefinitely, in many cases--there exist alternatives to keep a person sober that do not involve a continuous daily dose of the synthetic narcotic. Hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient support groups to help with getting off and staying off opioids, generally at a cost. Nonprofit groups such as Narcotics Anonymous provide free meetings on a daily basis that can be of great benefit to someone struggling with opiate addiction. For a list of meetings near you, see the Resources section.
References
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: Introduction to Methadone
- Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse: Methadone
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Buprenorphine: A New Treatment for Opioid Dependency
- Mayo Clinic: Drug Addiction - Treatments and Drugs
- Society for Neuroscience: Treating Opiate Addiction
