[styles353]

I've been an addict for about 10yrs most of which has been opiate related.I had a very severe car accident in april 2000 and almost died due to trama to my upper body and head.I was in the hospital for 3weeks with multiple broken bones to my ribs,arms,and face also bi-lateral lung colaps.Well the injurys to my face and back were the one's that put me on the road to Opiate Addiction.I had lost 6 teeth and whole upper right-side of my jaw they call the Maxilla from the impact of the steering wheel.For 2yrs the Docters did multiple surgerys to replace the bone including titanium plates to hold the bone graphs in place.Well during this time i was started on (Morphine)up until i was discharged from the hospital and on (Oxycotin) for the next 2yrs after.When the treatment for my injurys to the face were over they stopped giving me oxycotin and at this point it was down to 10mg twice a day.Well i still had pain to my back every morning so i started getting oxycotin off the street from a friend of mine but they 40mg and 80mg so i was taking more than i needed but at this point i did'nt care because i was addicted already.Now for the next 3yrs my addiction grew larger because i was depressed from the accident and i thought that i looked different from the facial injury.I was taking at this point 240mg at once, and once i reached 160mg i started feeling the withdrawl effects 18hrs later.So this was becoming very expensive to the point were i was working just to buy these pills and thats all i bought.I had to do something so i went to detox in a drug rehab were they gave me (Suboxone)and i lasted 2wks befor i went right back to using.So this became a cycle i would use for a period of time a then goto detox.Five detox programs over a period of 3yrs and one 28day program!! I completly ruined my life and i thougt ther was nothing else to do to stop.A TOTAL OF 8Yrs I was addicted to (Oxycotin) and the last 2yrs (Suboxone)and Oxycotin.I would Mix these so I WOULD'NT fell the effects of the withdrawl.Suboxone was the worst choice i ever made to battle my addiction and i felt ther was no way out.A friend told me that my last chance to recovery was (Methadone) something that i was afraid of because of all the negative things i heard about it from people who never took it befor!!So why should i believe someone who never experienced it befor?I was convinced to start the Methadone program by someone who completed the 2yr program and has been NOT ONLY DRUG FREE BUT ALCOHOL FREE FOR 10yrs and counting.So i have been on Methadone for 2 months and only at 60mg and this is the first time i've ever felt like I am going to beat this addiction.I hav'nt used anything drug related since i started the program and still have strong fellings against any drug other than Methadone.Ther is a 60% success rate for addicts in this program but this number could be higher if more people would stop trying other programs like (Suboxone)were the addict is in charge of taking the drug when he/she wants to because they hold the medicine!!Methadone is 100% the right answer for Opiate addiction and could be for millions of people, they just dont know it yet.

[newyorkgal]

Styles, I am very glad that you've gotten a handle on your addiction and that methadone maintenance is working well for you. However, I have to strongly disagree with your premise that methadone is "the answer". Methadone maintenance has been around for over 40 years now and while it has helped many, there are still many others still struggling with their addictions. There is no ONE solution to opiate addiction. While you might be the type of person who needs the disciplined regimented schedule of going to a clinic daily to get your medication, there are many people out there determined and dedicated enough to go the suboxone/subutex route where they control the medicine themselves and they have great success. In fact, for many years methadone was the only opiate replacement therapy available but now bupe has become the treatment of choice mostly. You have to be strong but you can be on and off sub within an a matter of months whereas methadone is a long term treatment and very difficult to get off of if/when you ever decide to do so. There are also many who can get of opiates by tapering their drug of choice or going cold turkey. You can NEVER say one system beats another, i.e., methadone is better than suboxone..... The treatment method that works for you and gets your life back on track is the proper mode of treatment --- FOR YOU.

[mpvt]

methadone is a excellent drug for severely addicted patients with a long history of heavy abuse. It is far to strong a drug for addicts with usually less then 5 years abuse and or addicts who use codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine. These patients tend to do much better with buprenorphene which in it's own right is much stronger then the last 4 drugs I mentioned.
I was terribly addicted for almost 25 years and had failed attemps to detox/quit whatever you want to call it. There is a point were the chemical make up of the brain and body are changed by opiate addiction and sometimes it's better to be treated with ORT (Opiate Re[lacement Therapy) which includes methadone or buprenorphene.
These two drugs are paving the way for the future of opiate addiction recocery and maintenance. Although methadone has been around since WW2 it is now being given only to the severely addicted......Dave

[styles353]

I think that suboxone was best put out there for coming off of methadone.

But I don't know 1 person that has'nt used suboxone for anything other than a way to use opiate's and not have to deal with the withdrawls.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by styles353

I think that suboxone was best put out there for coming off of methadone.

But I don't know 1 person that has'nt used suboxone for anything other than a way to use opiate's and not have to deal with the withdrawls.

Then you simply haven't met the people who use have used subs to get clean. Because you haven't met them doesn't mean people don't use subs every day to get clean. You just haven't met them. This forum is full of those people if you read. Bottom line is that you just don't know much about suboxone and how it's used properly. Not judging you and your lack of knowledge just stating the obvious facts. God bless.

[newyorkgal]

styles, sub was NOT put out there for getting off methadone mainly. In fact, most people stable on methadone are discouraged from getting on suboxone. Some people use sub as a way to get high and not get w/ds just like some people buy methadone, take extra or mix them with pills. There will always be people just looking ot get high. But again, I reiterate, tons of people get clean with sub, tons of people are living their lives well on methadone. and many people kick cold turkey or taper. You cannot advocate that methadone is the only best way. There is no BEST way. Whatever way a person gets clean and stays there is the best way for that person.