Methadone addiction is a serious issue in the United States. If you or someone you love is struggling with a methadone addiction, now is the time to seek help. Call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now to find safe, reliable rehab centers where you can begin your recovery from opioid addiction.

What Is Methadone?

Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist sometimes used to treat pain but most often used to treat opioid addiction. Unfortunately, though, many individuals become addicted to the drug while taking it as a treatment medication because it can cause the same intense euphoric effects other opioids can. According to the National Library of Medicine, “In the United States, the most commonly abused opioids are heroin and methadone.”

Methadone is only dispensed from government-approved clinics, and patients are meant to visit the facility daily to receive their medication. Even with all these safeguards put into place, methadone abuse and diversion to the black market still occurs on a large scale, and many individuals become addicted to the drug.

Recognizing Methadone Addiction

Being able to recognize methadone addiction is extremely important, as a growing number of individuals are experiencing issues with methadone abuse and overdose. Some of the common signs that a person has become addicted to this drug include

You can overcome methadone addiction! Call our helpline to find a rehab near you.

• Hiding methadone use from friends and family members
• Taking the drug in higher doses, more often, or in different ways than prescribed
• Experiencing cravings for methadone
• Frequently experiencing withdrawal symptoms when unable to abuse the drug
• Experiencing tolerance for the drug’s effects (needing more and more of the drug to experience the same effects)
• Behaving in the same ways one once did when abusing other types of opioids
• Isolating one’s self from others
• Doing illegal or dangerous things in order to obtain more methadone including
  • Breaking the law
  • Doctor shopping
  • Buying the drug on the street or online
• Overdosing on methadone, which can lead to coma, brain damage, and even death
• Being unable to stop abusing methadone without help

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when a person starts using drugs, they can choose to do so, but over time, drug abuse changes the way the brain works so the individual is no longer in control of their actions. Those who abuse methadone are likely already struggling with this issue because the drug is usually prescribed as a treatment medication for addiction. If you have begun misusing your methadone medication, you are likely to experience severe effects and to become addicted to the drug.

Types of Methadone Addiction Rehab Centers

Methadone addiction requires intensive, professional treatment in a rehab center. Individuals who have been taking the drug as a treatment method and have become addicted to it will often need more intensive treatment than the program they were previously attending. Below are some of the common types of methadone addiction rehab centers.

• Inpatient rehab: Inpatient centers provide 24-hour care in a controlled environment. Patients receive around-the-clock access to nurses and doctors who can help them recover as well as evidence-based treatments.
  • Not everyone needs treatment in an inpatient center, but in many cases, this option is necessary. If you were in a more hands-off treatment program when you began abusing methadone, you may want to consider inpatient care now.
  • According to a study published in Psychiatric Quarterly, people with “high psychiatric severity and/or a poor social support system” will often fare better in inpatient care.
• Outpatient rehab: Outpatient centers offer many of the same treatment options inpatient centers do, but they do not provide 24-hour care. Patients can be treated and then go back to work, go to school, or go home to their families.
  • While many individuals choose outpatient care if they have jobs and other social supports, this may not provide those with a methadone addiction as much help as necessary, especially if the addiction formed while the patient was receiving care previously.
• Luxury rehab: Some rehab centers offer hotel-like rooms, amenities, and creature comforts to those willing to pay for them. These facilities may also provide luxury treatment options such as massages and spa treatments. However, luxury rehab is not necessary for a safe recovery.
• Free rehab: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 4 percent of all substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States provide completely free care. Many programs also offer at least some type of payment assistance to patients who require it.

There are many different types of rehab programs available to those suffering from a methadone addiction. But the treatment options provided in these facilities are largely the same.

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Treatment Options for Methadone Addiction

In most cases, it is important for a methadone addict to be treated with methadone in order to recover safely and effectively. Buprenorphine, another medication often used to treat opioid addiction, is not as effective as optimal-dose methadone, and most methadone addicts have severe dependencies. Therefore, methadone maintenance treatment (or MMT) is usually the best treatment program for methadone addiction.

• MMT allows patients to take their medication daily in order to avoid experiencing the withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction and to stay maintained as they go through treatment.
  • As stated by the NIDA, this is not merely a replacement for addiction, though some people view it that way.
  • When the patient is given doctor-prescribed doses of methadone, they never experience the euphoric high associated with opioids.
• MMT is a well-rounded treatment program that provides more than just medication (National Institute of Justice). Patients also receive access to
  • Behavioral therapies that help patients understand why they began using drugs in the first place and learn skills to avoid drug use in the future, including
    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • Group therapy
    • Family and couples therapy
    • 12-step facilitation therapy
    • Motivational enhancement therapy
  • Vocational counseling
  • Housing help
  • HIV prevention and testing
  • Medical services
• In addition, some facilities may offer holistic treatment options like yoga and meditation in order to provide patients with as well rounded a program as possible.

Although buprenorphine and naltrexone are also pharmacological treatment alternatives for methadone addiction, most patients need methadone medication––and the time-tested program surrounding its use––to safely recover from their addiction syndrome. If you did not experience satisfactory results with MMT in the past, you may want to consider seeking a more intensive rehab center, like an inpatient program, that still offers methadone maintenance in order to receive all the help you will need going forward.

How Long Does Methadone Addiction Treatment Last?

Patients are usually expected to stay in MMT for at least a year before they can discuss being weaned off the drug with their doctor. This allows for individuals to become more stable in their recoveries before going off the drug. However, if you choose another type of program for your methadone addiction treatment, it may last a different amount of time.

The common timelines for substance abuse treatment include

• 28/30 days (based on the Minnesota model)
• 60 days
• 90 days (considered to be the minimum amount of time a patient should be in treatment)
• 6 months
• 1 year
• 2 years

Paying for Methadone Addiction Treatment

Many people are concerned about paying for their addiction treatment program, especially after going through a previous treatment program that did not yield helpful results. The good news is you have many options that can make paying for treatment less difficult and much more manageable.

There are other ways to pay for treatment if you can’t afford it.

• Insurance: According to gov, all plans sold on the Health Insurance Market must cover treatment for substance use disorders, and many private and group plans will as well. It is important to know what your particular plan will cover and to find a rehab center that will accept your plan in order to reduce your costs. Call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now to find out more.
• Sliding-fee scale: Some rehab centers offer treatment on a sliding-fee scale. Based on your income and other factors, you and facility may agree together on an amount you will be able to pay for your treatment program.
• Financing: If you are still paying a large amount out-of-pocket, you may choose to finance your treatment costs and pay a certain amount upfront (decided upon by you and facility together). Then, you will be able to pay the rest in smaller increments.
• Ask for help: It is likely that your friends and family members want to see you get the help you need, whether that means inpatient care or another type of professional treatment. You may want to ask your loved ones for help in paying for your rehab.

In addition, many individuals qualify for free or low-cost treatment depending on the severity of their financial situation, a low income, family need, etc. And even if you do not qualify for this type of care, there are many ways to minimize your treatment costs and to pay for methadone addiction rehab.

Finding the Best Methadone Rehab Centers

Finding rehab programs that suit your needs can seem like a large-scale task, but it is very important to remember that you are not alone. We want to help you find the program that will best suit your needs, so call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? today to speak with a treatment advisor.

• Our treatment advisors are always available to help you find the right recovery options for yourself or for a loved one.
• We will gather your information (like your insurance plan and provider, your medical history, etc.) in order to create a clear picture of your needs and the best options for your recovery.
• We will then match you to a rehab center (or several) that meet these needs, and you can learn more about what they offer and how they will be able to help you.
• Once you choose a program that suits you, we will help you create a step-by-step plan to get into the program of your choice and to begin your recovery as safely as possible.

Looking for addiction treatment isn’t always easy, especially if you don’t know where to start. But we want to help you find the best options for your recovery so you can begin creating the life you want to live, a life free of substance abuse.

What Happens After Methadone Rehab?

Life after rehab isn’t always easy. In many cases, people need more treatment in order to continue a safe and effective recovery. According to the NIDA, long-term or multiple rehab programs are often the key to a successful, drug-free life. But even if you do not choose to attend another treatment program just yet, there are some important things to remember about post-rehab life.

• Just because you finished a rehab program does not mean your addiction is cured. You must be aware of yourself and your needs and remember that relapse is always a possibility.
• Asking your friends and family members for help does not mean you are failing at your recovery. Instead, it is an important way of reaching out to your loved ones to make yourself stronger and to reinforce that you are doing the right thing by staying drug-free.
• Staying healthy is a great way to strengthen your resolve and to avoid relapse. This means exercising regularly, eating right, and getting at least seven hours of sleep every night.
• Try to avoid the places and people that will remind you of your history with drug abuse. They may act as a trigger and bring up cravings for methadone even long after your treatment has ended.

Some people stay on methadone maintenance indefinitely while others are slowly weaned off the drug when they and their doctor agree the time is right. Whatever choice you make in your recovery, it is always important to consider your needs and how your decisions will affect your ability to stay drug-free.

Find Treatment Today

Finding treatment for methadone addiction is essential to a safe and happy life free of substance abuse. Let us help you find the right option for your needs and begin living the life you want. Just call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? today to speak with a treatment advisor and start on your road to recovery.