Woman died from drug abuse (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Any methadone patient who drinks alcohol and sniffs Butane (whats up with that?) is eventually going to die. It almost sounds like she wanted to die, why else would she want to stockpile methadone? We arent given methadone pills, we are given the liquid, and in Ca clinis are open 7 days a week holidays included. To get any take homes,we have to prove we arent using anything unless it is prescribed. I had to be a patient for a year before I got my take homes. All we get are 6, but I dont wamt anymore I need to go and check in with my counselor every Friday (My choice) I just started a new clinic, and it is so neat. It lookes just like a doctors office and it is accross the street from the jail. We get a lot of Government workers because it is so close to our downtown. Great doctor, great director, I love my counslor, and with the freeway I can get there in 12 minutes. It is called MedMark and it is a state of the art. Most of us are in our 40's and 50's so we arent messing around. We are serious about not using and our health

FrankiesMom wrote:

Any methadone patient who drinks alcohol and sniffs Butane (whats up with that?) is eventually going to die. It almost sounds like she wanted to die, why else would she want to stockpile methadone? We arent given methadone pills, we are given the liquid, and in Ca clinis are open 7 days a week holidays included. To get any take homes,we have to prove we arent using anything unless it is prescribed. I had to be a patient for a year before I got my take homes. All we get are 6, but I dont wamt anymore I need to go and check in with my counselor every Friday (My choice) I just started a new clinic, and it is so neat. It lookes just like a doctors office and it is accross the street from the jail. We get a lot of Government workers because it is so close to our downtown. Great doctor, great director, I love my counslor, and with the freeway I can get there in 12 minutes. It is called MedMark and it is a state of the art. Most of us are in our 40's and 50's so we arent messing around. We are serious about not using and our health

how long to you plan to be on methadone?do you have plans to get off of it?im not being cute.i just wonder if you really want to be drug free?do you do anything besides methadone to help stay clean?

Here's another one I feel leaves much to be pondered. First, why would her boyfriend keep clean needles for her if she was clean from heroin? And why was she allowed to continue her mmt if she was sniffing butane and drinking alcohol? From the article, she "sniffed up to six cans of butane a day." This is NOT harm reduction.

FM, the clinic you go to is much more strict concerning takehomes than the one here. Here, they are open 6 days a week, closed on all holidays, and I know that at least up until the first part of last year, a person who passed ua's had a full week of takehomes at one year. And it also sounds like most of the people at your clinic are about twice the age of most of the people at the one here as well.

Terry, do you post at WSM?

Or does anyone else reading this?

Well if anyone here is reading who also posts over there, please respond to the girl who posted in the off-topic section and let her know what's really going on...

I wonder if anyone will help the poor girl.

Ruby wrote:

I wonder if anyone will help the poor girl.

I don't know. But someone sure needs to. That's not right.

mike1975 wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know. But someone sure needs to. That's not right.

This is the only help they've given her, extremely sad.

http://www.readybb.com/nama_wespeakmethadone/...

mike1975 wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know. But someone sure needs to. That's not right.

I don't want to register to post on that website, but you can copy and paste my reply if you'd like.

I have been addicted to Percocet and did not use anything to quit. My husband had a severe addiction to pain relievers and was fortunate enough to find a psychologist that was certified to perscribe SUBOXONE. It will not cause a person to fall asleep and you can not get addicted to it (as far as I know). It basically stops the pain from withdrawl so that a person who wants to quit, can. It also makes you sick if you try to take a pain pill and won't allow the pain meds to work. From what I've read and seen it is not a drug that anyone would even want to abuse because they don't get high. My husband said it was a miracle. It also is something that you don't get "stuck" on forever. You gradually decrease your dose and are off all meds within a few months.

Here's a link to Suboxone... http://www.suboxone.com/

FrankiesMom wrote:

Any methadone patient who drinks alcohol and sniffs Butane (whats up with that?) is eventually going to die. It almost sounds like she wanted to die, why else would she want to stockpile methadone? We arent given methadone pills, we are given the liquid, and in Ca clinis are open 7 days a week holidays included. To get any take homes,we have to prove we arent using anything unless it is prescribed. I had to be a patient for a year before I got my take homes. All we get are 6, but I dont wamt anymore I need to go and check in with my counselor every Friday (My choice) I just started a new clinic, and it is so neat. It lookes just like a doctors office and it is accross the street from the jail. We get a lot of Government workers because it is so close to our downtown. Great doctor, great director, I love my counslor, and with the freeway I can get there in 12 minutes. It is called MedMark and it is a state of the art. Most of us are in our 40's and 50's so we arent messing around. We are serious about not using and our health

Do people that switch to methadone ever have a plan to quit completely? I'm not trying to be mean, I really would like to know.

peaceful warrior wrote:

<quoted text>how long to you plan to be on methadone?do you have plans to get off of it?im not being cute.i just wonder if you really want to be drug free?do you do anything besides methadone to help stay clean?

I know you arent trying to be cute, so no worries. I am 53 years old, I have been on this rollercoaster since I was 15 years old, I tried 12 step groups (Off and on for 12 years) I tried out patient, inpatient, CT, and then I was on a trial study for Bup. Methadone is the only thing that has worked for me, and believe me, I tried everything, so right now, I would have to say that I will be on methadone until there is a cure for my heroin addiction.Some people say its a cop out, a crutch, well, whatever it is, I havent stuck a needle in my arm since July 2002I havent even thought of using any opiates.I had a hard time the first year, but when I finally asked for help because I was still using, I knew I was going to die because I was fixing 2gm and I was on 130mg of methadone, the doctor worked with me, I went up on my dose, I saw my counselor 2 times a week, and then I saw my very best friend in the whole world dead in her coffin, something inside of me snapped that was July1,2002 and I havent used since. I dont drink. I dont smoke pot, all I do is take my dose and whatever my PCP gives me I take tyroid pills and an antidepressent. So whatever anyone else thinks, I am clean.

peaceful warrior wrote:

<quoted text>how long to you plan to be on methadone?do you have plans to get off of it?im not being cute.i just wonder if you really want to be drug free?do you do anything besides methadone to help stay clean?

Sorry, I didnt answer the last part of your question. The things I do to stay clean is, I have counseling once a month, although I usually see her once a week, I dont hang out with anyone who is using,I am honest with my PCP, my dentist, and when I am prescribed a medication, I run it by the clinc doctor to make sure there are no problems with my methadone and my other meducations together

mike1975 wrote:

Here's another one I feel leaves much to be pondered. First, why would her boyfriend keep clean needles for her if she was clean from heroin? And why was she allowed to continue her mmt if she was sniffing butane and drinking alcohol? From the article, she "sniffed up to six cans of butane a day." This is NOT harm reduction.
FM, the clinic you go to is much more strict concerning takehomes than the one here. Here, they are open 6 days a week, closed on all holidays, and I know that at least up until the first part of last year, a person who passed ua's had a full week of takehomes at one year. And it also sounds like most of the people at your clinic are about twice the age of most of the people at the one here as well.

I had to read the story a few times because it didnt make sense to me. Getting methadone at a pharmacy. I finally figured it out, In Enland methadone patients get their dose at a pharmacy. But this story still doesnt make sense. Indeed, why did her BF keep clean needles for her? When I quit using, I took all of my needles to the exchange clean ones too. And why didnt the chemist check her Blood level for alcohol and I still dont get the butane. Why would anyone use that? Maybe I am too old, but I never knew anyone who did that kind of stuff. At my clinic, if a patient smells like alcohol, or is known to drink, they do not get their dose. This isnt to be mean, but to protect the patient and the clinic. The whole story has me thinking "what is really going on"?
Yeah, the clinics in California (I think itt is a State Law) always stay open 7 days a week, holidays too.We do get a weeks take home if we have negative UA's. I have 6 bottles (the max) we can have, because all of my UA's are negative for illegal drugs and positive for methadone electrolites.When Mike and I go out of town, we get as many extra take homes as we need, so I dont feel like I have a ball and chain around me.I think that the reason the clinic I go to has older people is for a few reasons, the clinic is right across the street from the county jail, so a lot of youngsters stay away, it is very hard to get into the clinic. A person cant walk in and say "I am an addict, I want to be on methadone" we have to have 2 failed attempts at staying clean, and it has to be documented. People in their 40's and 50's are too old and tired to just try to con our way in, and there are a lot of workers in the area. We have the Courthouse, all of the Governemnt buildings,etc. Most of the patients are working full time. Now we also have a juice bar clinic that I have heard about but have never been to. A lot of the patients that go there arent serious about staying clean, and that is where most of the people I used with go to, so I stay away. I have driven by it but never been inside.Bottom line at the clinic I go to, if you stay clean, follow through on your annual check ups, dont run from the counselors you then get a week take home.

mike1975 wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know. But someone sure needs to. That's not right.

I will try, sorry it took me so long but I just got home a little while ago

my opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't want to register to post on that website, but you can copy and paste my reply if you'd like.
I have been addicted to Percocet and did not use anything to quit. My husband had a severe addiction to pain relievers and was fortunate enough to find a psychologist that was certified to perscribe SUBOXONE. It will not cause a person to fall asleep and you can not get addicted to it (as far as I know). It basically stops the pain from withdrawl so that a person who wants to quit, can. It also makes you sick if you try to take a pain pill and won't allow the pain meds to work. From what I've read and seen it is not a drug that anyone would even want to abuse because they don't get high. My husband said it was a miracle. It also is something that you don't get "stuck" on forever. You gradually decrease your dose and are off all meds within a few months.
Here's a link to Suboxone... http://www.suboxone.com/

Hi Opinion.. I just read your post and I wouild like to help. My E Mail is on my profile page if you would rather not post, but I will try and answer you as best I can. I dont know your whole story so I can only give you some suggestions as well as I can. If you have only been abusing the painkillers and it hasnt been too long,first off, I would tell your doctor even if you didnt get the prescription from him/her. You should not try to go cold turkey. Most people cant quit that way. Are you taking these for pain, and if you are, are you taking more that prescribed? There is a big differance between addiction and dependance. Only you can answer that question. If you are addicted, your best bet is to ask your doctor as I said before, but if you cant, The suboxon would be a good choice. Unfortunatly I had a bad reaction, but people I know say it is a miracle drug. But, do not believe the stories that there are no WD's. If you do use the drug and want to do a taper, do it as per the doctors orders. Whatever you do, dont let anyone talk you into methadone, it is a drug that carries a commitment that is way to big for you. Some people will say to get on a 21 day taper, the 21 day taper will not work, and you will be up to yiour eyeballs into something that you dont need. I wish I could be more helpfull, but I cant unless you are willing to talk with me. If you do, E Mail me, I check my e mails several times a day. Just dont give up on yourself. If you want help, all you have to do is ask. BTW, my name is Patrice

FrankiesMom wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Opinion.. I just read your post and I wouild like to help. My E Mail is on my profile page if you would rather not post, but I will try and answer you as best I can. I dont know your whole story so I can only give you some suggestions as well as I can. If you have only been abusing the painkillers and it hasnt been too long,first off, I would tell your doctor even if you didnt get the prescription from him/her. You should not try to go cold turkey. Most people cant quit that way. Are you taking these for pain, and if you are, are you taking more that prescribed? There is a big differance between addiction and dependance. Only you can answer that question. If you are addicted, your best bet is to ask your doctor as I said before, but if you cant, The suboxon would be a good choice. Unfortunatly I had a bad reaction, but people I know say it is a miracle drug. But, do not believe the stories that there are no WD's. If you do use the drug and want to do a taper, do it as per the doctors orders. Whatever you do, dont let anyone talk you into methadone, it is a drug that carries a commitment that is way to big for you. Some people will say to get on a 21 day taper, the 21 day taper will not work, and you will be up to yiour eyeballs into something that you dont need. I wish I could be more helpfull, but I cant unless you are willing to talk with me. If you do, E Mail me, I check my e mails several times a day. Just dont give up on yourself. If you want help, all you have to do is ask. BTW, my name is Patrice

Hi Patrice. I'm sorry, maybe my post wasn't clear. Apparently there is a girl on another webiste with a boyfriend who is having trouble. I read her story and apparently his doctor gave him methadone for Percocet addiction and he isn't doing well. I didn't want to register and reply on that site so I told the people who came here looking for someone to help her my story/advice.

I was addicted to pain killers, but not as bad as my husband. It doesn't take long taking them before you need them just to feel normal - and then start doing stupid things to avoid running out.

My husband was addicted to hydrocodone. He was going through 100mg or more a day. I saw him go through horrible withdrawls when he tried to quit cold turkey. He was finally honest with his doctor and found Suboxone which worked wonderfully. The first time he took one he was in the middle of full-blown withdrawls and it pulled him out of it within an hour. He was supposed to be on it for 6 months - a year, but weaned himself off in a few months. Every time he cut his dose he was a little sick, like a mild flu for a couple of days, but not bad.

my opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Patrice. I'm sorry, maybe my post wasn't clear. Apparently there is a girl on another webiste with a boyfriend who is having trouble. I read her story and apparently his doctor gave him methadone for Percocet addiction and he isn't doing well. I didn't want to register and reply on that site so I told the people who came here looking for someone to help her my story/advice.
I was addicted to pain killers, but not as bad as my husband. It doesn't take long taking them before you need them just to feel normal - and then start doing stupid things to avoid running out.
My husband was addicted to hydrocodone. He was going through 100mg or more a day. I saw him go through horrible withdrawls when he tried to quit cold turkey. He was finally honest with his doctor and found Suboxone which worked wonderfully. The first time he took one he was in the middle of full-blown withdrawls and it pulled him out of it within an hour. He was supposed to be on it for 6 months - a year, but weaned himself off in a few months. Every time he cut his dose he was a little sick, like a mild flu for a couple of days, but not bad.

Sorry about that. Are you doing ok now? I know all too well about taking more just to feel normal. I called that "The party is over and now this is a full time job". I dont think your friends doctor has his best interest at heart if he is giving him methadone for a percocet addiction. He should never go CT, but there are so many other ways to deal with it before Methadone. FYI, unless his doctor is an addcition specialist,he can not prescribe methadone for opiate addiction. I am glad the Suboxon worked for your husband..Does he have a support group or seeing a counselor? Addiction doesnt end when we stop the drugs,just be aware at all times addiction lies to us. It is the only diease that tells us we dont have a diease.. If youre friend wants to talk you can give her my e mail it is on my profile page