Is Methadone the best way?

[Betsy1901]

Is Methadone the best answer for someone who has been smoking heroine for 6 months? Is doing it cold turkey not advisable? I am worried they will get hooked on methadone instead...although they say they will taper straight away...

[marycarmel]

You've been given great advice from the experts.  My heart breaks for you. As a mom, we want the best for our kids.  They are always our babies no matter how old they are.  Our town has an enormous pill & heroin problem.  So far my kids have stayed far away from it but so many kids got caught up with it.  It would be great if he would agree to go to rehab but if he's not truly ready, there's not much you can do other than get support for yourself & your family.  Listen to those that really know about this. This is really the best forum ... maybe your son would be open to posting here?  Praying for the best for your son & your family.

[ActingBrandNew]

Hang in there...I wish I could tell you its going to be alright. I know its easier said than done but during this time...you have to take care of YOU. Im sure your mother instinct and love for your son will trump that but I PROMISE that by you looking out for you....you will also be looking out for your son by doing that.

Please keep us posted

[Betsy1901]

Thank you very much - some hard truths here but I am very grateful for them!
I realise he has to want to do this for himself and not for me and I am praying to God that he will.  Thanks to all of you for your advice and support.  x

[Betsy1901]

Thank you very much Ricart for your comments, good to speak to someone who's been through all this themselves....he is 25 years old, so not a child anymore....but he still lives at home with us. All I can do is be there for him and hopefully together we can overcome this.  Really scared at the moment, I don't know what tomorrow will bring - gratefull for the support and comments in this forum, I did not know where else to go - glad I found you. thank you

[ActingBrandNew]

You asked Jenelle2020;

"he does not want to go to the GP, he wants to get methadone from the same people who supplied the heroine.....and start tapering straight away...he says he can do it in a week....shall I believe him? "

Short answer...NO

Ricart laid it out beautifully in the above post. It seems like your son is trying to placate you because you confronted him. I am a long time IV Heroin addict whose been clean 3+ years. Ive never detoxed using methadone and I have been on runs that lasted years. Yes, it hurts...but its doable. I really like what Ricart said about the rehab. Great advice...if you have money for the methadone...invest it in a detox. They will give him comfort meds like Ricart said. I did a 9 dayer in detox. Easier than detoxing cold turkey.

But, is your son ready? If hes not...he will sell you the dream that he is and string you along so be careful. Ive been there done that. Broke my moms heart 100 times over with lies. Personally I...dislike Naranon and Alanon....but tough love and and not enabling your son by co signing his BS is how you will avoid getting hurt like my mom did. It wont cause him to get clean because it has to be for him...not you, but by tough love...you protect yourself. You sound very concerned as any mother would be...but please realize theres not much you can do for him when it comes down to it.

Try to push the detox. Methadone is a bad deal...dont go there ESPECIALLY if hes saying hes going to buy it off the streets...hes running game! Hopefully your son can make a choice because if not...smoking it will possibly lead to IV use...and then he will be like me...fighting off this horrible Hep C virus thats trying to take my life.

Good luck and God bless.

[VICourageous]

Good Job ricart...Right to the point I am  glad I got in in touch you said it all!
vickie

[ricart70]

smoking.injecting,snorting,it's all bad,and I am sure he is hooked.Lot's of people say they will taper right away when they get on meth and sub.Then most end up on it until it stops working for them,which could be years and then when they have to come off of it they realize that they were not "clean" after all.Lots of people(not all) who get on replacements do not change their behaviors or try to make improvements in their lives because they are still satisfied by the same opiates that got them where they ended up in the first place.
If He has the resources for 600$ a month at the methadone clinic why not check into rehab or go to the.doctor and get some comfort meds.
  That being said,He will not stop until HE decides to and judging by your story it sounds like He is trying to placate you because He was confronted.It will be very hard to "keep an eye" an him as we can be very sneaky.  I was on very high powered prescription pain meds.(iv opana,dilaudid,fentanyl etc.) I ended up on iv heroin due to the availability and price. I have detoxed at home before but it was tough and this time I decided to just check into rehab for detox for a few days.They gave me a few comfort meds.that were non-narcotic.All I really needed was to be locked away from access until I could get a day or so to get my head straight,as when you are in active addiction you will do and say anything to keep going,especially if a loved one is willing to enable you or foot the bill.   I am now 8 months clean this time and I have my life back.He can have his back too but only if he is willing to do so.  How old is He? If I may ask. Do not give him money and do not believe everything He says.
I wish you the best  in this and really hope He gets clean.That is top priority at this point.

[VICourageous]

Hi now I get it...Just to make sure you understand the med-help people might move you to a area that is for people helping a family member. But maybe not if they do you can find it in that area and we can go there too!!From what I have read, The way we use the drugs get us addicted quicker. Like snorting them, smokeing them and Yes shooting is the quickest. Just keep checking this post and I am going to let the expereinced herion X users come in..I will PM some and let them knwo you need some help..The way you posted it looks like a methedone thread and if they can catch the herion it would catch the eye..No worry they will roll in and out soon..OK
Hang tight..
vickie

[VICourageous]

Now I am confused..Are you on it or your son???

[Betsy1901]

Thank you Vicki for your kind words....as I said to Jenelle above, I am very new to this, I am trying to help my son who has been smoking heroine for the last 6 months....he wants to get off it, but he is scared without the methadone,and I am very worried he will get hooked on that instead...what do you think he should do?  Can you tell me if smoking heroine is the same as injecting? Is it just as bad?
thanks Vickie xx

[VICourageous]

I agree with Jenelle. I was around alot of people on herion and they just did it..They told me that they would jump a cliff if they had to come off of the methedone...They said that the herion is more natual and it detoxs quicker. But it is up to you...You will get alot of different experiences regarding this situation...Alot of them were saved by the subs.(suboxen-subx) It is your choice...
God Bless u for wanting your life back...
vickie

[Betsy1901]

Thank you very much for your message Jenelle, I am very worried, I jsut found out that my son has been smoking heroine for the last six months, I confronted him today and he has admitted it and wants to come off it straight away.....he does not want to go to the GP, he wants to get methadone from the same people who supplied the heroine.....and start tapering straight away...he says he can do it in a week....shall I believe him? If I keep an eye on how much methadone he takes each day?  Is smoking heroine the same as injecting? Are the w/ds the same?  Please talk to me if you can....I am at a loss as this is the first tiome I am having to deal with anything like this!! Thank you very much Jenelle

[Jenelle2020]

Hi Betsy, you have only been on heroin for 6  months, as someone who has been on methadone for 7 plus years, I can tell you that  you are far better to just get off the heroin, you will be done in a week or less. You really don't want to get in to the methadone, trust me, it is an extremely addictive drug that likes to hang around in your body for a long time. You will just get addicted to it and have to come off it too and it takes MUCH longer to get off methadone that it does heroin. Your withdrawal will be bad but only for a few days and then you are done. It has taken me FOREVER to wean myself off the methadone so I don't go in to withdrawals. I have been on it for over 7 years, at 130mgs at the highest, after 3 years of tapering I am now down to 1mg and will be off in 5 days. You really don't want to get yourself in to this mess you are much better just dealing with going off the heroin. Please consider this. Take care and please keep us posted as to how you are doing. There are many people here with detox experience and there is a lot of help to be had on this forum, so please just let us know what is going on, what your symptoms are, and  you will get a lot of help. I wish you the very best.

[VICourageous]

Hi and welome there are alot here that did do it....with the meds out there by a doctor..I was to scared of herion nut go figure I trusted my doctor to put me on methedone and I became very addicted to it for over 12ys and other meds with...I have read alot of blessing here of people comming clean and alot stay clean with the aftercare..So hang in they will be here with some experience....
God Be with you.
vickie