New boyfriend on methadone program

[newtimes]

Hi everybody
I have just started dating this man and become very attracted to him, he is warm, caring, affectionate and kind. He dropped the “I’m on methadone program” bomb on me after the first week and now I’m seriously not sure whether to continue with him.  He has opened up about being a heroin addict on and off for 3 years and has been on the meth program now for 6 months. We live on a remotely where access to drugs is very difficult so I have no fear that as long as we remain here heroin will not be an issue.  I have read a bit about methadone but he is reluctant to talk about how it affects him. Are there systems that are very common or standard among methadone users? He said he is on 20ml (a week/a day I’m not sure). Emotionally does it affect how you feel or ability to love?  He seems completely normal to me I would have never of picked it if he hadn’t told me. I don’t judge the situation and I believe he is a good person with a recent rough past, I would just like to know what I’m getting myself into here before I fall in love with him. Is this program successful, does anybody ever come off and live happily ever after?      

[newtimes]

thanks. I'm not trying to get him of sorry if thats the immpression I've goven everybody. I support the program and know that it will take time and trust his docter (who is very good) to know what is best for him. I really would like to know if there's life after meth with addiction?? is there anyway he come out of this completely normal with a colourfull past. It really interests me that you say his mind is in a bit of a fog, can you explain more about that, do you think his dose would have that effect? he is very affectionate and loving in his actions, and he comes accross as caring very much for me. I'm worried I'll fall in love with someone that can't mentally love me back whilst he's on meth. Any help is so appreciated

[gnarly_1]

HI and welcome to the forum.....I was on methadone for 6 1/2yrs to manage pain in my lower back I went from a small dose of 30mg all the way up to 150ml to try and kill the pain...you build up a tolerance to it and they slowly move your dose up...I wound up at 150ml and it quit working for pain control so I had a huge addiction to break free of
20ml is a low dose....there are even people here on this forum that have quit at that dose
I personally wouldn't recommend it ....you need to taper down slowly to a much lower dose to avoid major withdrawals...methadone dosent get you high persay but it does
effect you mentally...it sorta puts your mind in a quit fog that you don't notice till your off it...as for the addiction....im still an addict but im not living in active addiction my vise
started off with 10yrs of pain pills b/4 methadone was used as a last resort to kill the pain of 2 bad disks in my back and 3 more deteriorating..today I mange my pain with ivuprofin and tylonol it is enough to take the edge off and I just live with the remaining pain...I can give you a 100 reasons to get off methadone but they will do you no good if he is not ready to get off it...getting off it is difficult but doable it just takes some time
good luck and God bless ....Gnarly.....check you e/mail im sending you a private message    

[newtimes]

and thanks I'll stick to one post, new to this...all of this!

[newtimes]

I know very much that I need to be carefull about raising y kids around addiction, its not an environment I was brought up in and not one I want them in. When I say remotely I'm talking REMOTE, I/we live on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean. The only to get drugs would be through post and/or shipment, I can't see how if he wanted to would be able to access Herion on a regular basis without putting allot of thought, effort and risk into it. For now the methadone program is good it's the symtoms are what I'm worried about, if and when he comes of that we'll have to deal with a come down and then the challange of addiction. Are there any success stories or wll this forever be a challenge. We don't have access to alnon meetings on island, I have concidered talking to his docter with or without him. I am a very stong indapendant happy person, in every way he seems like Mr right apart from this. It would be very hard for me to walk away :-(

[avisg]

I would think very carefully before you get your deeply into a relationship with this man .Heroin is one of the hardest drugs to stay off and methadone is one of the hardest drugs to get off of.I would attend a few alnon meetings where you can talk to others that have a loved one with drug and alcohol problems.

Also try to stick to one thread when you get several going all at the same time it makes it  really hard to help you because bit and pieces are on different threads .

Welcome to the forum let us know how things go.

[Tab57]

Be very careful as addiction is a life long struggle and is handled one day at a time. Mehtodone is a dangerous drug as well. Just because you are in a remote area don't think that drugs aren't available. Addictsare very resourceful when it comes to obtaining materials needed to satisfy their addiction.

Children and addcition don't mix. I grew up in a household where both parents were alcoholics and my mother was also addicted to prescription drugs. Growing up in that househild wa a holy nightmare.

Ultimately you will make your own decision. My comments are based on my experinces from te school of ahrd knocks. Good luck an let me know if there is anything that I can do to help you.