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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Blurb on Methadone

I found this while looking for information on OxyContin abuse*. The full article can be found here, but there was an interesting paragraph on the use of Methadone as a form of treatment of OxyContin abuse. Here it is:


Methadone Treatment

Medications that were developed through NIDA-supported research, such as methadone and LAAM, can be used as effective treatments for addiction to opiates, if available to the patient. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that alters the effects of heroin and other opioids, eliminates withdrawal symptoms, and relieves drug craving. Treatment with methadone requires daily dosing. It has been used successfully for more than 30 years and has allowed many addicts to lead productive lives.


So, a dufus like me just surfing the web can find in about two minutes a reference to the fact that Methadone is an effective treatment for opioid addiction. Oh, and it's from a source that has nothing to do with Heroin, Methadone clinics or the borough of Dunmore.



(*) I was curious as to whether or not OxyContin addiction/abuse could have played a role in comedian Rush Limbaugh's recent cardiac problems. Don't get me wrong...I wish no ill will on the man and I hope he fully recovers from this episode. However I do find him (Limbaugh) to be an appalling hypocrite on many, many levels; in fact I think he once said something about how people who abuse drugs should go to jail and that there is no "right to privacy". Note that when Limbaugh was fighting his doctor-shopping charges in Florida, his defense was based upon, you guessed it, a "right to privacy".

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