The Dangers And Perils Of Opioid Dependency
Methadone is not only used by doctors to treat pain and heroin addiction but it is also one of the abused medicines at present. Methadone abuse is one of the drug abuse cases in rehabilitation centers. It is sad to note that several junkies used methadone to obtain crash and to get "high." At present, there are multitudes illegal prescription drugs and other medicines misused and abused by junkies.
What is methadone?
Methadone is one type of narcotic that belongs to the family of opioid drugs. It has been for the treatment of heroin and morphine addiction and as painkiller for cancer and post-operative surgeries since 1960s. It is available and prescribed by family and drug treatment physicians in rehabilitation centers. Physicians give this medicine to pregnant drug dependent users and to those who have Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
Methadone is more potent than other opium poppies such as morphine and heroin because its painkilling effects last to about twenty-four hours, than other opiates which only last from 2 to 4 hours.
Methadone studies
According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), methadone abuse keeps on rising yearly. In 2004 alone, about 3,849 deaths are caused by methadone overdose. This figure alone manifests a 390% rise compared to that of 1999.
How it works
Similar to morphine and heroin, methadone works by acting on the brain center of an individual. When methadone is introduced into an individual's body, it acts directly to his or her brain center by controlling the craving and euphoric effects of morphine and heroin. When it is intravenously injected, a person does not experience the usual euphoria but the drug will help him or her stop the yearning for illegal drugs.
Side effects of Methadone
Similar to other medicines and prescribed drugs, methadone has its corresponding side effects as well. The common and less severe side effects are nausea, lightheadedness, vomiting, sweating, dizziness and sedation. Meanwhile, the serious repercussions are abdominal pains, flushing, extreme headaches, weakness, flushing, constipation, appetite loss, dry mouth, insomnia, weight gain and decreased libido.
Since it is more powerful than heroin and morphine, its withdrawal symptoms are also dangerous and severe like hypertension, chills, joint pains, diarrhea, yawning and many more. When patients experienced shortness of breath, be sure to seek speedy medical assistance because it can be fatal and dangerous to your health. Because of the lethal and dangerous interactions of this medicine, avoid taking methadone without guidance and close supervision of your doctor.
Because of the detrimental effects of methadone addiction, several treatment centers are constructed to treat addicts and to help them recover from drug addiction .
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