Methadone is considered to be a safe treatment when taken as prescribed.
The objective of treatment in a rehab center is to provide a safe, controlled environment upon which patients can grow, learn and rebuild their lives. The safety of methadone maintenance at rehab centers is contingent upon those centers following appropriate safety standards and controls that are in place to ensure patient safety and recovery. If you or someone you love is considering MMT as a means of assisted recovery from opiate dependence, consider these proven reasons that make this method of treatment safe.
FDA Regulated
According to the Federal Regulation of Methadone Treatment, “Methadone, like all other prescription drugs, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.” Although federal regulation alone does not make Methadone Maintenance Treatment safe, the stringent controls that are placed upon the prescribing and use of this drug in treatment do help to make a rehab center one of the safest places by which a recovery addict can receive the drug for adequate care.
restore normalcy of any physiologic function disrupted by chronic opioid use
All of these factors can make the process of recovering from opiate addiction under the care and expertise of a professional in a rehab center safer and more effective.
Reduction of Relapse
According to Options for Opioid Maintenance, A Review of Methadone and Buprenorphine, “Numerous studies support the efficacy of MMT in reducing substance use and its related problems.” The use of MMT, either in rehab or not, can greatly reduce the risk of narcotic related death which often occurs following relapse. Patients who take methadone regularly are less likely to relapse and fall victim to the overdose risks associated with a lowered tolerance following a period of abstinence.
Monitoring
According to researchers at the School of Medicine and the University of Washington, “the body processes methadone differently than previously believed. Those incorrect assumptions about methadone have been making it difficult for physicians to understand how and when the drug is cleared from the body and may be responsible for unintentional under- or overdosing, inadequate pain relief, side effects and even death.” Fortunately, when a patient is provided methadone maintenance therapy in a rehab center there is adequate and appropriate monitoring to ensure patient safety. Dosing is adjusted regularly to provide the safest and lowest possible dose to prevent cravings and relapse while maintaining stability and restoring normalcy in the recovering addict’s life.
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