How Can a Methadone Program Help Me?

Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) can minimize drug use, reduce the risk of infection, prevent chronic relapse and effectively help to restore stability into the lives of those in recovery from heroin or opiate addiction. According to the CDC, “its use is still sometimes publicly controversial and many factors limit the effectiveness of MMT services.” If you’re not sure how a methadone program can help, consider these great benefits to MMT:

Reduction of Withdrawal

Methadone can help you overcome addiction and get your life back on track.

According to the National Institute of Justice, “MMT helps opioid-addicted patients alleviate withdrawal symptoms, reduce opiate cravings, and bring about a biochemical balance in the body in order to reduce the illicit use of opioids.” The reduction of withdrawal symptoms is just one of the ways that a methadone program can help you to get on the fast track to recovery from opiate dependence.

Increased Retention in Treatment

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “low dose methadone retained more patients than low or medium doses or buprenorphine (although medium dose buprenorphine suppressed illicit opioid use more effectively than low dose methadone).” A methadone program can help to improve your chances of staying in a treatment program that you are already committed to by reducing your cravings and preventing symptoms of withdrawal, and studies show that the longer you remain in treatment, the greater the overall chance of recovery will be.

Reduced Risk of Infection

In a study published by the CDC, methadone programs provide a number of benefits for those suffering from addiction to heroin, prescription opioids or opiates. A, “reduced risk of overdose and of acquiring or transmitting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B or C, bacterial infections, endocarditis, soft tissue infections, thrombophlebitis, tuberculosis, and STDs,” comes with the use of methadone instead of injected opiates.

Reduced Mortality

Opiate dependent individuals are more likely to die as a result of their drug use than those who are in a methadone program. The CDC study states that, “the median death rate of opiate-dependent individuals in MMT is 30 percent of the rate of those not in MMT.” Taking part in a methadone program can help you by greatly improving your chances of recovery while minimizing the risk of death associated with drug overdose or other serious complications that arise as a result of the use of drugs such as heroin, prescription painkillers or other opiates.