How Do I Know I’m Ready to Start Taking My Methadone Home?

As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Methadone is typically provided in highly regulated clinics that patients initially have to visit each day to receive their dose; only after several months of adherence to the clinic’s regulations are patients allowed to take home a supply of methadone.” It can be difficult to decide whether or not you are ready to begin taking your supply home, but once you are, it can open up a new stage in your journey through addiction recovery.

Ask Yourself…

It is important to assess your situation and to consider whether or not you are stable enough at this juncture to make a change as serious as taking your medication home. As stated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Methadone can be addictive, so it must be used exactly as prescribed.” If you believe you may have an issue with doing this, perhaps you are not ready to take home your medication after all.

Having a strong support system at home will help you stay sober and continue your methadone treatment.

Ask yourself the questions below, be honest, and determine whether or not you may be ready to be distributed your medication for home use.

Do I feel strong and stable in my recovery?
Are the cravings I feel for opioids very seldom or do I not experience them at all?
Has it been several months (or years) since I relapsed?
Do I have a strong support system of friends and family members at home?
Have I decided to ask one of them to help me if the pressure of having my medication so close becomes too much?
Do the things that used to trigger my cravings do so less now?
Do I feel that I am ready for the responsibility of administering my own medication safely and as prescribed?

If you answered yes to the questions above, it may be the right time for you to begin taking your medication home. It is still necessary, though, for you to speak to your doctor and find out whether or not they feel the same. Once you have both decided this is the best course of action together, you can start taking your medication at home instead of visiting the clinic every day. If you have more questions about methadone maintenance, call 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) today.

Can I Self-Regulate My Methadone Dosage?

If you feel like the dose you are receiving for your methadone maintenance treatment isn’t effectively dealing with your withdrawal and cravings, you may be tempted to self-diagnose and self-medicate. Fight that urge. Methadone is a very strong drug and using it in a manner other than prescribed can lead to overdose and death. For ….