Methadone Clinic Proposal Approved

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Nadia's recent post (#56) put a new light on the subject, in my opinion. I never thought that something like this could occur, but after reading Nadia's post, I now see how it can and does happen.

I am now "on the fence" regarding the methadone clinic. I was against it.

I believe we need to help/support the people in the situation Nadia has described so effectively. They are "hooked" through no fault of their own.

I am still wondering why there are no programs to get people in this situation off these drugs, instead of having a clinic to supply the durgs. I would think that path would be best for people in the situation Nadia has described.

Nadia, thanks for giving me a new view of those in need.

R2B

These is a path R2B. I travelled it.
As long as you have good health insurance (or a lot of money), and a doctor willing to treat you this way, a drug named Suboxone can be prescribed. It can be filled at any pharmacy, and the patient never has to visit a clinic or treatment center. The drug needs to be taken in proper dosage, and the patient's progress (or addict's progress, whichever word you're comfortable with) closely followed by the doctor (in my case, weekly visits).
Long, long story...actaully better left for a PM if someone is curious or perhaps is in need of advice or direction.
Unless it is for pain related to terminal cancer, stay away from Oxycontin people. It is nothing more than herion made in a legal lab. They both deliver the same message to the brain, and cause it to fire off signals and chemicals instantly. After a long period of time, the brain "foregts" how to create these signals and chemicals on it's own, and "shorts out". The results...the most god awful feelings a human being could ever be asked to deal with.
The Meth, or in this case, Suboxone creates instand relief for the patient (addict). Anyway..there is another way....than visiting Methadone Clinics.
Want more? Ask for a PM...happy to help.

[Nadia]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

a drug named Suboxone can be prescribed. It can be filled at any pharmacy, and the patient never has to visit a clinic or treatment center. The drug needs to be taken in proper dosage, and the patient's progress (or addict's progress, whichever word you're comfortable with) closely followed by the doctor (in my case, weekly visits).

Glad you brought that up. There are three FDA approved medicinal options for treating the withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction. Methadone, Suboxone and LAAM (Long Acting Methadone). Just some food for thought. There are roughly fifteen Doctor's in the Lakes Region who prescribe Suboxone for treatment of opiate addiction. Suboxone is a Schedule II controlled narcotic. It is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Buprenorphine is a very long acting narcotic and Naloxone acts as an opiod blocker. Suboxone is available by prescription and is used as a sublingual tablet taken 1-3 times daily depending on instructions.

Suboxone is fairly expensive. Tablets can cost 8-10 dollars each. Doctors visits can be very expensive for those who are not insured. Methadone is much cheaper as is LAAM. Point being there are already clinics and Doctors in the Lakes Region who are treating addicts on a regular basis with Suboxone. Would you believe one of them is right in the Weirs? The Alpenrose Plaza is home to Weirs Beach Health Center, where the Doctor specializes in Suboxone treatment. The clinics are already here, but Methadone seemed to be the last to move in.

Although Suboxone has less sedating effects than Methadone and is considered to be less addicting, there are users who say much different. I am a member of a forum where prescription medications are discussed, and I hear many people saying the opposite is true. I also work in a pharmacy part-time as I am studying to be a pharmacist, and I hear patients describe ugly symptoms and side effects all the time. Suboxone has a "ceiling effect" meaning after the drug reaches it's peak it will do nothing even if the person takes more and more, making overdose less likely. Suboxone blocks other opiod medications therefore a person taking Suboxone will not feel the effects of let's say, Oxycontin. Suboxone sits on the opiod receptors and won't let anybody else in. However, Suboxone is also narcotic, and is in the same schedule as Methadone and LAAM. Suboxone eases the symptoms of withdrawal, but does not completely wipe them out. So those in the beggining stages of Suboxone treatment are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms, being treated with a new drug, and driving around the Lakes Region as well. Right in the heart of Weirs Beach...

Just some food for thought....

[Pineedles]

That was quite an insightful letter, thank you. I am curious though, much of the information written on methadone states that judgment and reaction time can be impaired, and some sites even state that driving is not recommended after receiving a "dose". The person in the letter is driving immediately after receiving the dose. Is this normal? Is the dosage amount a factor in whether any impairment is occurring? If the Laconia Police are situated outside the clinic will they be administering DUI testing before people get back on the road?

Not being a Laconia resident I have no preference as to yea or nay on this clinic. However because the drug problem is so bad everywhere this situation could arise in my town or anywhere else. I appreciate the information provided here, so that before a clinic is built down the street from my home or office I'll have some insight into the pros and cons.

[fishdc]

It is not a good idea to place a clinic in a tourist area. It attracts a bad crowd of people and is seedy and unsafe. These clinics are a joke, for a profit and the people do not want to stop the drug. I am a Maternity nurse and these methadone mothers come in pregnant and deliver these poor drug addicted babies, yes, methadone is very addicting for the baby, and these poor babies suffer will all kinds of withdrawal symptoms and pain. The mothers are all on welfare, so we are paying for this and the babies have to be in special care nurseries for up to 3 months to be weaned off of the methadone and we pay for that too. They know they should not be getting pregnant while on methadone and they do not care. Very selfish and irresponsible and it costs all of us a fortune.

[Nadia]

Originally Posted by fishdc

It is not a good idea to place a clinic in a tourist area. It attracts a bad crowd of people and is seedy and unsafe. These clinics are a joke, for a profit and the people do not want to stop the drug. I am a Maternity nurse and these methadone mothers come in pregnant and deliver these poor drug addicted babies, yes, methadone is very addicting for the baby, and these poor babies suffer will all kinds of withdrawal symptoms and pain. The mothers are all on welfare, so we are paying for this and the babies have to be in special care nurseries for up to 3 months to be weaned off of the methadone and we pay for that too. They know they should not be getting pregnant while on methadone and they do not care. Very selfish and irresponsible and it costs all of us a fortune.

I have seen this brought up many times and although this area is largely tourism, it is also largely residential and is continually growing. Although I do not agree with Methadone usage during pregnancy, I must say that I think it is better for Mother and Baby to be exposed to one drug under medical supervision, then the Mother abusing a multitude of drugs in ranging doses to feed her addiction. Becoming pregnant does not shut the addiction switch off. Although many drug addicted women are able to "clean up their act" during pregnancy, and even thereafter, many are not. Addiction is an evil, ugly disease that is much stronger than any other desire. One drug under medical supervision has to be healthier then an out of control habit. When faced with two evils I respect someone for choosing the lesser. They know they can't clean themselves up, they admit they are weak, and do what they and Doctors think is best for their child. I also find your post a bit dismaying...sorry. If I were pregnant and using methadone, I would feel very discouraged after reading your post. I hope no mother who is/was pregnant and uses/used methadone ever reads that. Not everyone who seeks treatment is on welfare. Some of the smartest, brightest, successful people I have met battle with addiction.

Secondly, I have given birth to a child so I am qualified to say...during my entire pregnancy, during labor, and afterward I had more Doctor's, Nurses, and Psychologist's trying to stuff pills down my throat. Trying to get me to take anti-depressants for "post-partum" depression (that I did not even have), trying to pump me full of Pitocin, Nubain, Morphine, Phenargan, Anxiety Medications and so forth? But Methadone is unsafe? I'm confused...

[Pineedles]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

That was quite an insightful letter, thank you. I am curious though, much of the information written on methadone states that judgment and reaction time can be impaired, and some sites even state that driving is not recommended after receiving a "dose". The person in the letter is driving immediately after receiving the dose. Is this normal? Is the dosage amount a factor in whether any impairment is occurring? If the Laconia Police are situated outside the clinic will they be administering DUI testing before people get back on the road?

Not being a Laconia resident I have no preference as to yea or nay on this clinic. However because the drug problem is so bad everywhere this situation could arise in my town or anywhere else. I appreciate the information provided here, so that before a clinic is built down the street from my home or office I'll have some insight into the pros and cons.

I realize that there has been alot of information posted on this thread, but I was wondering if my question regarding the capabilities of someone getting a methadone dose could be answered? Does anyone know whether a person receiving a dose at a clinic is capable of driving without being a candidate for DUI?

[Nadia]

Pineedles,
In my post #69 if you read the last paragraph I tried my best to explain this and answer your question

[Pineedles]

Thanks Nadia for the location. I see it now, thanks.

So, having a methadone clinic located near or within walking distance to a larger population of patients would not need to be a critical part of the criteria for location of the clinic, is what I can draw from this. Not having to drive a long distance is a convenience rather than a need.

I don't want to appear overly callous but I would imagine most of the folks who are receiving treatment were not the victims of poor doctoring. In so much as we are all economically challenged today I have cast my vote in the poll for not having the center setup in Laconia. It is unfortunate that some of those who must be inconvienced by having to travel a greater distance are there by no fault of their own.

It's kind of a similar situation to what happened here in CT, but not. There was much complaining when a local social security office was going to be closed here a couple of years ago. The folks that needed to travel to this ofice would be inconvienced by a longer drive to another office. Most everyone who used this local office did nothing more than grow old. The closing took place anyway. Just an economic reality today unfortunately.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

"...After a long period of time, the brain "forgets" how to create these signals and chemicals on it's own, and "shorts out". The results...the most god awful feelings a human being could ever be asked to deal with..."

Worse than kidney stone attacks?

Kidney stone- and gallbladder- attacks are a "10+" on the 1-10 pain scale: I know, 'cause I've had both.

(Women who've had childbirth and kidney stone attacks say kidney stone pain is worse).

Originally Posted by sa meredith

"...Unless it is for pain related to terminal cancer, stay away from Oxycontin people..."

Since 2001, I've suffered about 20 kidney stone attacks. For that pain, I am alternately prescribed Oxycodone and Hydrocodone—"the poor-man's opium". (Variously known as Vicodin, Percocet, Tylox, and Roxilox). Oxycontin—illegally obtained—has been nicknamed "redneck opium".

For me, anyway, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone produce the same amount of pain reduction: that is to say, a scant reduction in kidney stone pain but feeling sleepy while suffering pain anyway. I can't speak to methadone, but I have driven a car while suffering an attack—and again while medicated during an attack. While neither case is advocated here, it is possible to "work-through" the effects of such medications.

On those occasions when I had mistaken my usual creeping back pain as another attack (a wrongly anticipated attack) the effect of Oxycodone or Hydrocodone is to take ALL aches away from ALL of the body.

Based on the result of those occasional "self-mis-diagnoses", I'd expect that nearly all of us live with a certain amount of discomfort all the time.

For those of us who are risk-averse—like me today—the rejection of those tablets for mere discomfort or for recreation is very strong.

Originally Posted by sa meredith

"...These is a path R2B. I travelled it.
As long as you have good health insurance (or a lot of money)..."

It saddens me to learn that all of us "insured" are paying for those who most-often addict themselves.

Except for one occasion when I threatened to leave a neighbor's house when he couldn't restrain himself any longer from "lighting-up"—I've never been around people who use any illegal drug. I must be quite a fossil to say that. (Still, I'd advise that for all—and especially children).

Obviously, I'm opposed to a methadone clinic anywhere near me.

To finish here, I'll add what I've asserted before: the "gateway drug" isn't what you'd expect...it's tobacco.

IMHO

[sa meredith]

APS...please note...
My post read, "...most god awful FEELINGS", as opposed to "PAIN".
Opiod withdrawal, in it's onset, comes with alot more than pain (although there is indeed plenty of pain). When the brain signals first "short out", one feels many contradictory feelings/emotions. Imagine, if you will, feeling hot and cold at the same time, tired and awake, happy and sad, hungry and full.
It's insane. Just impossible to be become comfortable. Death seems like a better option. Truly. Oxycontin is dangerous stuff...and some people become addicted thru no fault of their own, without even realizing it. Of coures, at some point, the person certainly knows they are abusing it, as opposed to using it. And of course, obtaining it thru channels considered less than traditional.
Sometimes, these are white collar professionals, whom you would never expect. The good news...there is help everywhere, for people (OK, addicts) who truly want it.

[KonaChick]

Acres Per Second's posts are becoming as cryptic and hard to follow sometimes as FLL's!!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

Acres Per Second's posts are becoming as cryptic and hard to follow sometimes as FLL's!!

Like FLL's? ACKKKK! Horrors! That just can't be!

FLL, actually, wherever he's from—could out-Yankee any Yankee I know. I particularly appreciate his posts on cottage maintenance. I acknowledge him as one of the earliest and likeable member at this forum.

As to cryptic—I don't think there's been a change.

...but sorry about that... ...I'll attempt some clarifications through a summary:

1) Gallbladder or kidneystones are the worst pains humans can encounter. (Pets, too!)
2) Childbirth is less painful
3) Kidneystone pain has a long onset, and begins with an ordinary dull pain in the lower back.
4) When properly anticipated, opioids offer relief after 20 minutes—but only because you're sleepy (and still in pain).
5) When that dull back pain in the lower back fails to materialize as an intense pain, the pre-emptive taking of opioids will erase all the ordinary pains that we tolerate day-to-day.
6) I advise not taking opioids for that ordinary pain and definitely not for recreational use. I suspect an addictive component to both.
7) You can drive after taking the opioids Hydrocodone or Oxycodone—just not with the full attention that driving demands. ("May cause drowsiness, alcohol intensifies effect, breathing problems if dose is exceeded, use care when operating machines, etc.)
8) Being "risk-averse" means don't do any jumping from perfectly good aircraft.
9) Except for one instance, I've never stayed around people who use any illegal drug. (Edit from my earlier post here: There were two road-racing encounters which I'll save for the blog here).
10) Not just for the children—I advise staying away from any persons who could enable your addiction to anything. For example, drug-addled actor Robert Downey, Jr. was introduced to MJ at age eight.
11) There is no smoke that is harmless to breathe.
12) Recreational drug use increases the cost of healthcare for all who pay insurance premiums: X-Generation's Medicare recipients may "break the bank".
13) I vote for no methadone clinic anywhere near me—and Laconia is too close.

Heck, Montreal is too close.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

...
FLL, actually, wherever he's from—could out-Yankee any Yankee I know. ...

Yup, I'll drink to that

[KonaChick]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

Like FLL's? ACKKKK! Horrors! That just can't be!

FLL, actually, wherever he's from—could out-Yankee any Yankee I know. I particularly appreciate his posts on cottage maintenance. I acknowledge him as one of the earliest and likeable member at this forum.

As to cryptic—I don't think there's been a change.

...but sorry about that... ...I'll attempt some clarifications through a summary:

1) Gallbladder or kidneystones are the worst pains humans can encounter. (Pets, too!)
2) Childbirth is less painful
3) Kidneystone pain has a long onset, and begins with an ordinary dull pain in the lower back.
4) When properly anticipated, opioids offer relief after 20 minutes—but only because you're sleepy (and still in pain).
5) When that dull back pain in the lower back fails to materialize as an intense pain, the pre-emptive taking of opioids will erase all the ordinary pains that we tolerate day-to-day.
6) I advise not taking opioids for that ordinary pain and definitely not for recreational use. I suspect an addictive component to both.
7) You can drive after taking the opioids Hydrocodone or Oxycodone—just not with the full attention that driving demands. ("May cause drowsiness, alcohol intensifies effect, breathing problems if dose is exceeded, use care when operating machines, etc.)
8) Being "risk-averse" means don't do any jumping from perfectly good aircraft.
9) Except for one instance, I've never stayed around people who use any illegal drug. (Edit from my earlier post here: There were two road-racing encounters which I'll save for the blog here).
10) Not just for the children—I advise staying away from any persons who could enable your addiction to anything. For example, drug-addled actor Robert Downey, Jr. was introduced to MJ at age eight.
11) There is no smoke that is harmless to breathe.
12) Recreational drug use increases the cost of healthcare for all who pay insurance premiums: X-Generation's Medicare recipients may "break the bank".
13) I vote for no methadone clinic anywhere near me—and Laconia is too close.

Heck, Montreal is too close.

Clear as a bell...thank you APS!!

[ironhorsetim]

the owners of the clinic say it would cost too much for a police detail but would rather have a security gaurd. for the latest check out www.laconiadailysun.com

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by ironhorsetim

the owners of the clinic say it would cost too much for a police detail but would rather have a security gaurd. for the latest check out www.laconiadailysun.com

I just read the article,
TOO BAD IT WILL COST TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO DO SO AND CREATE A STIGMA FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO GO AND A BARRIER FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO GO. THEY SHOULD BE IDENTIDIED AND KNOWN BY THE POLICY TO BEGIN WITH!

My View: you want to get treatment they it does not matter that the police is there, the only people that would care are those that are not there for it to be an actual treatment, jsut as stated in the article by the company spokesman -too expensive, he did not care that it is a good thing or a safe thing, but that it is too expensive, before the place is even there they are worried about bottom line first! This makes me sick!

SAUNDERS BETTER NOT BACK DOWN FROM THIS, now is the chance for Laconia citizens to contact her and tell her either not to backdown or ask her to reverse her decision, there is a window of opportunity here people!

[M/V_Bear_II]

Originally Posted by ironhorsetim

the owners of the clinic say it would cost too much for a police detail but would rather have a security gaurd. for the latest check out www.laconiadailysun.com

Gotta love that editing staff - he's the development of director?

[ironhorsetim]

I know huh,,,they could screw up a free beer at that paper makes you wonder if they really get the facts straight

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

To finish here, I'll add what I've asserted before: the "gateway drug" isn't what you'd expect...it's tobacco.

IMHO

I've never considered tobacco a gateway drug. I thought it was alcohol. Now I've got to re-evaluate my gateway theory. Nicotine is definitely a drug and people do get highly addicted to it.

[Nadia]

In order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding I feel it is important to post the following information. I apologize for it's length but it is difficult to explain without using examples:

Oxycodone and Oxycontin, although similar are two different drugs.

Oxycodone is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is an immediate release drug and does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. When you combine Oxycodone with Acetomenophen you get the drug Percocet. Percocet is a trade name. It is sold under the generic names: Roxicodone, Endocet, or Oxycodone w/APAP. When you combine Oxycodone with Ibuprofen you get the drug Combunox. This again is a trade name. This is a fairly new drug and I am unsure of the generic names. When you combine Oxycodone with Aspirin the drug Percodan is made. All formulations typically have a 4-6 hour window of "relief" in the body, and all formulations of this drug are considered "short" term pain releivers.

Oxycontin is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to releive severe pain. It is a time released version of Oxycodone. It does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. There are no generic versions of Oxycontin. This drug is considered a "long" term pain reliever and typically has a window of 12 hours of releif in the body. Oxycontin has a very high potential for abuse as we all know. The problem occurs when users crush the pill, and then inject, inhale or swallow the crushed pill. The immediate release feature of the drug is destroyed and a copious amount of medication is released into the blood stream immediately.

Hydrocodone w/APAP is a generic version of Vicodin. It is a combination of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen. When Hydrocodone Bitartrate is combined with Ibuprofen, the drug Vicoprofen is made. I do not believe there is a generic version of Vicoprofen. There are other formulations of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen known as Lortab and Zydone. A lower dose of Acetomenophen is used. Vicodin ES is also a controlled release version of Hydrocodone w/APAP. All formulations are narcotic opioid analgesics used for releif of "short" term pain and typically have a window of 4-6 hours, with the exception of Vicodin ES which is typically used 2-4 times per day.

All of these drugs can be compared to heroin in one form or another because they are all derivatives of opium, hence the term "opioid". Heroin is also derived from opium and is closest in form to the drug Morphine. All of these drugs have similar side effects and can cause a certain degree of impairment, although there are many circumstances to consider. Tolerance is the main circumstance to consider. After taking these drugs for a certain amount of time the body becomes dependant and must use more of the drug to get the same amount of pain releif. Physical addiction occurs regardless of whether the drug is taken as prescribed, or is taken in double or triple doses. However, tolerance builds much faster when the dose is doubled or tripled (abused), or the drug is delivered by methods other then orally (inhaled/snorted, injected, chewed).

An individual on daily Methadone Maintenence has built a tolerance to their dosage. The same goes for a person taking pain medication. They may have experienced side effects at first, however once tolerance is built, side effects tend to diminish. Judgement is rarely impaired by those who are tolerant to their doses. During the first two weeks when they are being stabilized, withdrawal may be present and may slightly impair judgement, but not the Methadone itself. This can be very tricky to understand. Put it this way. Let's say someone is abusing Oxycontin. They are taking 4, 80 mg tablets per day via inhalation or "snorting". They have done this for a year, every day. What they have done is built themselves an enormous tolerance. If they do not use Oxycontin within 12 hours they rapidly become ill. A manifestation of numerous physical and emotional symptoms crop up like SA Meredith said, make you wish you were dead. They decide to go to get help and get on Methadone. Methadone clinics must abide by certain laws. They cannot give someone a dose larger then 35 mg on their first day, or increase doses in increments larger then 10 mg every two days. The persons physical symptoms are evaluated and they are given a dose of 20 mg's of Methadone. They are only permitted to raise their dose every two days, by ten milligrams. To stop the symptoms of withdrawal for a person with that habit I would make an educated guess that 120 mg's of Methadone would just barely cut it. You can imagine how long it will take for them to get to that level. During this time period I would suggest that they may be slightly impaired due to withdrawal, not the Methadone itself. The person already has a high tolerance and would not become impaired until the dose of Methadone got high enough to overpower the amount of Oxycontin they were abusing prior. I know this is difficult to follow, but I hope that explains things a bit. Now, if one of us were to walk into the clinic and get a dose of 120 mgs, if we didn't die first, our judgement would be so impaired we would not even know where we were.

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by Nadia

In order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding I feel it is important to post the following information. I apologize for it's length but it is difficult to explain without using examples:

Oxycodone and Oxycontin, although similar are two different drugs.

Oxycodone is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is an immediate release drug and does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. When you combine Oxycodone with Acetomenophen you get the drug Percocet. Percocet is a trade name. It is sold under the generic names: Roxicodone, Endocet, or Oxycodone w/APAP. When you combine Oxycodone with Ibuprofen you get the drug Combunox. This again is a trade name. This is a fairly new drug and I am unsure of the generic names. When you combine Oxycodone with Aspirin the drug Percodan is made. All formulations typically have a 4-6 hour window of "relief" in the body, and all formulations of this drug are considered "short" term pain releivers.

Oxycontin is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to releive severe pain. It is a time released version of Oxycodone. It does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. There are no generic versions of Oxycontin. This drug is considered a "long" term pain reliever and typically has a window of 12 hours of releif in the body. Oxycontin has a very high potential for abuse as we all know. The problem occurs when users crush the pill, and then inject, inhale or swallow the crushed pill. The immediate release feature of the drug is destroyed and a copious amount of medication is released into the blood stream immediately.

Hydrocodone w/APAP is a generic version of Vicodin. It is a combination of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen. When Hydrocodone Bitartrate is combined with Ibuprofen, the drug Vicoprofen is made. I do not believe there is a generic version of Vicoprofen. There are other formulations of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen known as Lortab and Zydone. A lower dose of Acetomenophen is used. Vicodin ES is also a controlled release version of Hydrocodone w/APAP. All formulations are narcotic opioid analgesics used for releif of "short" term pain and typically have a window of 4-6 hours, with the exception of Vicodin ES which is typically used 2-4 times per day.

All of these drugs can be compared to heroin in one form or another because they are all derivatives of opium, hence the term "opioid". Heroin is also derived from opium and is closest in form to the drug Morphine. All of these drugs have similar side effects and can cause a certain degree of impairment, although there are many circumstances to consider. Tolerance is the main circumstance to consider. After taking these drugs for a certain amount of time the body becomes dependant and must use more of the drug to get the same amount of pain releif. Physical addiction occurs regardless of whether the drug is taken as prescribed, or is taken in double or triple doses. However, tolerance builds much faster when the dose is doubled or tripled (abused), or the drug is delivered by methods other then orally (inhaled/snorted, injected, chewed).

An individual on daily Methadone Maintenence has built a tolerance to their dosage. The same goes for a person taking pain medication. They may have experienced side effects at first, however once tolerance is built, side effects tend to diminish. Judgement is rarely impaired by those who are tolerant to their doses. During the first two weeks when they are being stabilized, withdrawal may be present and may slightly impair judgement, but not the Methadone itself. This can be very tricky to understand. Put it this way. Let's say someone is abusing Oxycontin. They are taking 4, 80 mg tablets per day via inhalation or "snorting". They have done this for a year, every day. What they have done is built themselves an enormous tolerance. If they do not use Oxycontin within 12 hours they rapidly become ill. A manifestation of numerous physical and emotional symptoms crop up like SA Meredith said, make you wish you were dead. They decide to go to get help and get on Methadone. Methadone clinics must abide by certain laws. They cannot give someone a dose larger then 35 mg on their first day, or increase doses in increments larger then 10 mg every two days. The persons physical symptoms are evaluated and they are given a dose of 20 mg's of Methadone. They are only permitted to raise their dose every two days, by ten milligrams. To stop the symptoms of withdrawal for a person with that habit I would make an educated guess that 120 mg's of Methadone would just barely cut it. You can imagine how long it will take for them to get to that level. During this time period I would suggest that they may be slightly impaired due to withdrawal, not the Methadone itself. The person already has a high tolerance and would not become impaired until the dose of Methadone got high enough to overpower the amount of Oxycontin they were abusing prior. I know this is difficult to follow, but I hope that explains things a bit. Now, if one of us were to walk into the clinic and get a dose of 120 mgs, if we didn't die first, our judgement would be so impaired we would not even know where we were.

good explanation here....although I cringe at your example...."4, 80's per day for a year". Whew! Now that's a problem. And an expensive one. ($1200/$1500 plus, per week, street price)
Remember also, just about all abusers remove (or crush) the "time release" part of the oxy tablet, making the "buzz" instant and potent.
Awful, awful stuff...

[Nadia]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

good explanation here....although I cringe at your example...."4, 80's per day for a year". Whew! Now that's a problem. And an expensive one.($1200/$1500 plus, per week, street price)
Remember also, just about all abusers remove (or crush) the "time release" part of the oxy tablet, making the "buzz" instant and potent.
Awful, awful stuff...

Ha ha I hear you. That was a pricey example, but we both know it happens. Especially when the medication is prescribed. Like I've said before, I work as a Pharmacy Technician part-time, monthly prescriptions for 120, 80mg Oxycontin's are not uncommon. Furthermore, with the exception of one of my Uncle's, I have never met anyone who uses their Oxycontin as prescribed. It's always abused or diverted. People with prescriptions like the one I mentioned above who are on Medicaid for example, pay $2.00 for that prescription. It has a potential street value of nearly $10,000!!! That's living the high life!!

When my Mother first purchased an 8 unit apartment building in downtown Laconia, I moved into one of the units with my husband and managed the building for her. The former landlord warned her that some of the tenants were problematic and disruptive. Come to find out one of the tenants was selling her prescribed Oxycontin. I started to catch on after living there for less than a week. At about 4 pm the traffic would start, up and down the stairs, in and out. Doors slamming, wheels squealing, people yelling. She was not quiet about it either. She did not realize I was outside one day when she opened the window and yelled out to a customer I presume..."I only have two left dude". Her rent was always paid, even ahead sometimes. Her apartment was furnished beautifully, she wore designer clothing, and drove a fairly new Nissan Maxima. Hard to imagine considering she was unemployed? Sooner or later she was evicted, and from over-hearing conversations on the porch I found out who her Doctor was. I placed a call to her as well. This girl was making a better living then I do off a bottle of pills...

[Nadia]

Thank you Ironhorsetim for creating the poll on whether or not the Laconia Methadone Clinic should be allowed to operate in O'Shea Industrial Park. Here are the results:

There were a total of 69 voters

26.09% of people voted yes to the question (18 people)
73.91% of people voted no to the question (51 people)

Thank you IHT and to all of those who voted