Jessica Payne got hooked on drugs at just 16 years old. A prescription for Percocet to treat her chronic pain and a birth defect in her hands opened the door to what would stretch into more than a decade of addiction.
“I would do whatever was put in front of me, whether it was uppers, downers, it didn’t matter,” Payne said. “But OxyContin was my drug of choice.”
Years of intravenous drug use, including heroin, led to a stint in state prison for drug dealing. Payne lost custody of her son. But it wasn’t until her father, who was largely absent during her childhood, died from an overdose of crystal methamphetamine that Payne decided to try methadone treatment.
“It was one of those moments where I realized that if I didn’t change my life I was going to die like him, and it was going to be my son feeling this guilt and wondering why,” she said.
Payne, 34, finally sought help three years ago from the Discovery House methadone clinic in Bangor. She now has been clean for two years and leads a peer support group for methadone patients and others.
Payne, who lives in Bangor, has no doubt she would be dead today were it not for the methadone, a synthetic opiate, and support from her peers and counselors.
“I’ve just been building my life back up,” she said. “I talk to my son now and I have friends who don’t use drugs and I go see blues music and I have a life.”
The Discovery House clinic in Bangor is one of nine methadone clinics in Maine reeling from a state budget cut that some say puts their survival at risk. The cut, which slashes Medicaid reimbursements, has led the state to consider temporarily easing regulations on methadone treatment so clinics can stay in compliance.
As of April 1, Maine’s methadone clinics are receiving $60 per week for each Medicaid patient they treat. That’s down from $70 over the previous year and a half and a steep drop from the $80 reimbursement of the prior decade.
With costs averaging $115 per person each week, clinics have long offered more services than Medicaid has paid them for, according to Dr. Joseph Py, corporate medical director for Discovery House, which has clinics in Bangor, South Portland, Calais and Waterville.
The reduction to $60 per patient per week makes Maine’s Medicaid reimbursement the lowest in the country, he said. Meanwhile, paperwork and counseling requirements have increased, Py said.
“This makes it extremely difficult for us to try and figure out if we can survive,” he said. “We’re not sure at this point how we’re going to do that.”
The reimbursement covers methadone dosing, medical checks, drug screening and counseling.
Roughly 85 percent of all methadone patients in Maine are covered by or eligible for Medicaid, known in the state as MaineCare. That leaves clinics little room to cover their losses by shifting costs to patients with private insurance.
The cut comes as the state Legislature struggles to balance the budget for health and social services. Maine spent $3.6 million in fiscal year 2010 on methadone treatment for 3,500 MaineCare patients, with the federal government kicking in another $6.2 million.
An additional $7 million in state dollars paid for recipients’ transportation to methadone clinics and service sites.
In response to clinics’ financial concerns about the reimbursement rollback, the state is moving toward temporarily relaxing regulations over staffing ratios for methadone clinics. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Substance Abuse has suggested that through June 30, clinics could assign one counselor for every 150 patients.
Licensing regulations call for a ratio of one staffer to every 50 patients.
“It’s an effort to maintain that service at a level that we’re comfortable with,” said Guy Cousins, director of the Office of Substance Abuse. Methadone treatment practices are based on research and clinical expertise, which the state must balance against budget realities, he said.
The 2010 reimbursement cut, to $70 per patient per week plus a $2 co-pay, also resulted in an exemption for some clinics, he said.
It’s not uncommon for the state Office of Substance Abuse to issue waivers, but the staffing ratio proposed in the most recent exemption is unprecedented, Py said.
As a result of the reimbursement cut, clinics have been forced to cut back on counseling services, an integral part of successful methadone treatment, according to Jennifer Minthorn, assistant vice president of development and community relations for Merrimack River Medical Services, which operates the Portland and Lewiston methadone clinics.
“If we do not provide the level of counseling that’s required by our accreditation company, we could lose our accreditation and go out of business,” she said.
Decades of research show that methadone treatment works and is cost-effective, Minthorn said.
“These folks really want to make improvements in their lives, and the research has really shown that it does [work] and we’ve seen firsthand the improvements people make,” she said. “They hit bottom and they’re able to reconnect with their families, they’re able to go back to school, they’re able to get jobs.”
If patients in Maine can’t get treatment, the costs will shift to jails, as addicts steal to get drugs, as well as to emergency rooms, where drug users attempt to score painkillers or wind up after an overdose, she said.
The reimbursement cut is projected to save about $87,000 in this fiscal year, plus $475,000 next year. Those savings are minuscule in light of the public health crisis the cuts would cause in the long term, Py said.
According to a 2011 federal report, Maine tops the nation in the number of residents seeking treatment for prescription drug abuse.
Py said the Office of Substance Abuse is working with clinics to cope with the reimbursement cut.
Clinics also are facing another piece of legislation that would require special authorization for MaineCare patients to continue methadone treatment beyond two years. LD 1840, which lawmakers passed pending final approval of the Legislature’s budget-writing committee, requires providers to get state preapproval for a longer treatment period.
Rep. David Burns, R-Whiting, the bill’s sponsor, said two years of methadone treatment is long enough to determine whether a patient has a medical need to continue.
“Under the current system, addicts can receive methadone for years — it’s open-ended,” he said in a March press release. “This is expensive treatment, and since the taxpayers are paying the bill it’s only fair that we put some oversight in place.”
Burns’ bill is projected to save about $1.5 million in state money in the next fiscal year, and nearly $3 million over each of the following two years.
Minthorn argued that methadone treatment is too individualized to set time limits on patients.
“People come into treatment at different stages of their dependency,” she said. “Some people might have been addicted to opiates for 20 years, versus someone that might have been addicted for only a couple of years.”
Jessica Payne said she’s tapering down her dose of the medication. But she’s not ready to cut off treatment just yet, she said.
“I’ve been on it three solid years and I’m just now at a point where I feel I can live a life without methadone,” Payne said.
Cancer/diabetes/transplant patients can’t receive assistance or transportation yet drug addicts are “entitled”? Hmmmm.
Yeah, isn’t that bizarre?
You’re misinformed. Patients with cancer, diabetes, organ transplants, et al, receive transportation or transportation reimbursement from MaineCare for their medical appointments.
NA
And those that carry their own insurance and don’t qualify for Mainecare assistance because of the extra 50.00 a month they make (don’t take into consideration that they may pay 250.00 a month for healthcare) can’t get public transportation to and from appointments because private insurance doesn’t pay for this. I do know this because I live it. My family member could ride the transportation bus but it would cost a mint.
yes and the state of ME pays a mint to Penquis Cap for providing transportation. try calling and scheduling a ride. I would rather suffer a toothache.
I agree with what you posted.
Only if they qualify as very low income and can get Maine Care. My mother has cancer, is on social security, she does not drive, but she did not qualify. She does not get much money a month but was told she has too much income. Our elderly get thrown to the curb so we can support everyone’s drug habits.
The elderly get thrown to the curb to support tax breaks for billionaires.
ALOT OF THE REASON IS SO WE CAN KEEP SUPPORTING THEM METHADONE CLINICS !!! DID YOU READ WHAT THEY SPENT !!!! OUTRAGEOUS !!!
Not those who have worked hard and have insurance. Nada, zip for them. But if you have messed up your life and abused drugs and don’t work you get the full ride. Upside down country we live in.
So what! Their problem wasn’t self inflicted!
I could not get any form of reimbursement for my cancer treatments. I was told by several different people I was not covered your on your own. However my primary form of insurance is SSDI. MaineCare has paid a very small percentage of my medical care.
You just don’t know were to look for free transpertation theres a lady that drives a kv van an she take people to portland all the time
if someone is on MaineCare Lynx will transport them to medical appts or reimburse them mileage. Hoever, Lynx is a pain in the neck (to put it nicely) to deal with.
I did the math based on the numbers in this article: $9.8M divided by 3500 people is $2,800 per person, per year, PLUS $2,000 in travel. For real?!
Cutting funding is penny wise and pound foolish… If the state cuts funding of the program, we will have more CRIME, MURDER, and will need more JAILS…
I am not a surrender monkey. We can not make addiction attractive for fear of getting robbed. I refuse to live in fear.
There has to be a high % of people on methodone on a lot of state programs, MaineCare, TANF, ASPIRE, Food Stamps, low income housing, Emergency assistance thru the state of ME, GA. does it ever end?
No, maybe they will finally get clean instead of staying addicted to drugs. A drug is a drug is a drug.
“Jessica Payne, 34, of Bangor has been off drugs and taking methadone for three years.”
She’s still an addict.
Only difference is that Mainecare pays her to be addicted now.
You stole my thunder so to speak. She is taking approved snythetic heroin. Calling her clean is like saying someone is not an alcoholic anymore because instead of drinking Jim Beam a bottle at a time they only drink a six pack of beer a day.
EXACTLY !!!!
Your ‘thunder’ sounded more like whining from a place of ignorance than ‘thunder’.
I grew up in Bangor. There were exactly two heroin addicts in the early 1970’s, using smack coming back with the Nam guys. The real drug problems around here didn’t explode until the ’90’s when the big pharmaceutical companies started pumping out their highly addictive poisons. They got this girl addicted. See, if you get people addicted, you can profit from the “illicitly diverted” drugs because you have to manufacture more to make up the difference. It all sells off the shelves legally at the same price. They are no better than a heroin dealer, nor are the doctors that hand out vicodin, oxycodone and oxycontin like candy, and, I strongly suspect, are rewarded by the pharmaceutical companies in some way, shape or form. But hey, it’s legal free enterprise, so it must be O.K. with you. The designer drugs are cheaper, and, once addicted by the pharma cartel, the local addicts will take whatever costs the least. Time for some legislation aimed directly at the medical/pharmaceutical juggernaut that created millions of addicts for profit.
I can’t say I disagree about the pharma cartel. You make an excellent and educated point. I am of the opinion that the medical field itself has created many an addict. I can however attest that addiction to any substance comes down to a choice. You choose to do the work, get the help, and stay clean. Substitution is not living sober.
So are you saying that young teens are as responsible and able to ward off addiction as easily as an adult?
Good point–a lot of Commenters are slamming people for not using “personal responsibility,” without being aware that so many people get addicted as young as 12 to 15 years old. When that happens, 10 or 15 years later you’re looking at a person (a term I prefer to “addict”, which is so popular here) who missed 10 to 15 years of social, emotional and educational growth. They don’t yet have bootstraps to pull themselves up by.
I too agree that some doctors are a little too lenient in passing out the prescription meds. Years ago I suffered a severe blow to my head that left me with a two inch gash and then need for nine staples. The Emergency PA asked me if I was in pain. My response was a little, not too bad. I was told to take Moltrin. I know of people who have gone to the ER for a sunburn and gotten prescriptions for Vicodin.
I think also that some people do not realize that they MUST take medicines like Vicodin, Percocet or Codeine exactly as they are prescribed. They take a pill, dont immediately feel the pain go away and take another one, thus building up a dependence and not allowing the medicine to work properly.
well said. Unfortunately………….the politicians and pharmaceutical companies scratch each others backs………
Well said, I for one are tired of paying for her methadone…
I for two is not tired of paying for her methadone, at least until we come up with a better idea.
Does the plan include a wean off of methadone? Is the plan really to be on methadone for life?
222 people out of 246 agree with this comment. Augusta wake up.
It’s funny that all these mental health & addiction services want people to quit drugs and then they send them straight to a pharmacy with a prescription for mind, mood, and body altering drugs. Most of which are not meant to be on for the long term. They preach therapy therapy therapy and yet don’t actually offer much therapy at all. Only more years of continual “approved” drug addiction. One reason why I’m moving out of Bangor Maine. Also just because something is legal doesn’t men it is safe. Be it meth or prescription drugs for depression or anxiety. They are mind, mood, and body altering drugs that impair good judgment. They only mask symptoms and are no better than street drugs.
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Treating addiction with continuing addictive measures at state expense is not cost effective! The addict remains an addict and tax payers, many of whom can’t get health insurance never mind the perks of transportation and counseling, foot the bill. There’s got to be a better answer. And, why doesn’t someone talk to the Lynxx drivers who witness methadone clients making “deals” to sell their dosage and/or other drugs – a recording of the parking lot conversations would be an eye opening experience. Drugs hurt everyone – and the foster care system is overwhelmed due to the situations drug useage causes. Abuse, neglect, welfare demands for assistances, it’s never ending. The legal system is overwhelmed – court appointed attorneys to represent indigent clients who get caught up in dealing, using, neglecting or committing crimes.
It is time for a class action law-suit against big pharma similar to the one against big tobacco, then the pharmaceutical companies can pay for the counselors and transportation and doses. Big pharma has done uncountable damage to our society in Maine and they certainly have the cash to pay back these communities. I am not saying druggies should get cash, it should go to the communities that put up with the addicts. That would be every community that I know of.
The medical community bears some responsibility for the rampant drug problem in Maine as well. Let’s keep in mind that Oxy’s are controlled substances.
Thank you! It really is the doctors prescribing things willy-nilly. I mean, doctors can still prescribe cocaine. The difference is that they don’t.
The IRS can audit almost anyone’s financial records, so maybe we need to re-think HIPPA and writers of prescriptions should be subject to audits on what they put on the streets. This is life and death- something drastic needs to change. They can use all the money the DEA spends on marijuana prohibition to target the REAL enemies in the drug war- the prescription drug industry being one of the main culprits.
This is the first time I’ve ever agreed with you, and more than likely the last !! But you are SO spot on with this. Doctors write out a prescription for pain killers when patients have a hang nail! Before you know it, you have an addict, rich, poor middle class, it knows no boundary. You just hear about the ones at the clinic.
“Decades of research show that methadone treatment works and is cost-effective, Minthorn said.”
Ya.
For the clinic owners.
“That leaves clinics little room to cover their losses by shifting costs to patients with private insurance.”
For the few who are still fortunate enough to have insurance that is. That number gets fewer by the day. As important as treatment is, we really do have to realize that the number of people who carry the load of what MaineCare doesn’t pay is shrinking.
Also, while I’d rather see patients in treatments (and believe me I would) this statement makes me wonder: “If patients in Maine can’t get treatment, the costs will shift to jails, as addicts steal to get drugs, as well as to emergency rooms, where drug users attempt to score painkillers or wind up after an overdose, she said”
I wonder how much money could be saved (and used for people who are serious about their recovery) if the ones who are already in the clinics aren’t dealing (and still using) drugs on the side. Let’s not kid ourselves. There are many in this area.
Congratulations to Jessica. Coming that far in recovery is no easy task. She should be proud of her accomplishment.
Now go the rest of the way and finally get clean.
Agreed.
I wish the reporter would tell us the actual cost of the methadone.
Methadone is dirt cheap compared to what it will cost to throw all the opiate addicts in prison. Think this through, people.
This is state sponsored support of drug use. These clinics need to all be shut down. We did not have them when I was growing up and drugs were prevelant then. Quit the same way you began, by not using. These clinics are a cancer which will only grow.
an watch crime go up an out jails an prisons will be maxed out an than look at the cost
I would rather pay to keep people who commit drug crimes in prison rather than keep them doped up for enternity with the excuse being that they we have to because who knows what they might do if we dont give them just a little bit of a high.
Agree with you here, Culinarian. But instead of costing us $50,000 a year in jail/prison, I think we should send them to a special farm where they can “rehabilitate” themselves by working to grow food for the farm inmates, as well as for people in nearby communities who cannot afford to eat decent food.
With food pantries constantly running out of food, we need to have more local gardeners and farmers to feed the people of Maine.
Millions worldwide are already on the move looking for food because extreme weather events – and the desertification of formerly-fertile lands through drought – have ruined their lands for growing food.
We here think we’re immune to such, but we’re not. Most of our food comes from far away; the supply line could be cut at any time.
So it would be fitting that methadone-dependent people give back by growing their own and others’ food, which seems to me the least they could do.
Oh, yes, and get off all drugs or stay at the fenced-in, supervised farm for as long as that takes.
As a chef I am familiar with the problems we are facing in food production. Pick one thing on your plate. If you bought it at the supermarket it has most likely taken a route of 1000 miles or more to get to your dinner table. Thats a big carbon footprint isnt it?
I agree with the prison idea you have too. It should apply to all inmates. I watched a program years ago about how prisons like Sing Sing in New York had a dairy and a farm that provided food for the inmates so that New York spent nothing other than the costs of seeds and farm equipment, along with guards to feed inmates. At San Quentin, the inmates for years did the laundry for the US Navy personnel stationed in San Fransisco. They also made all the office furniture that was used in California State Offices.
Of course, being a civilized society, we cant allow those things now. Unless we have fully equiped work out rooms, non stop cable TV with Jerry Springer on it and a nice canteen featuring Candy Bars and Ramen Noodles along with some Instant Coffee Packets we are subjecting inmates to horrible abuse and cruel treatment.
Yes, too true. There are some programs within the Maine prison system, but not nearly enough to teach most inmates how to lead productive, satisfying, self-sufficient lives.
And they can’t be made to work; it’s all voluntary. Nonsense! If we’re working to pay for their keep, they need to contribute to their keep, as well.
look at how drug abuse & crime have increased in Bangor since the methodone clinics and the casino has opened in Bangor
don’t blame the casino! different bird altogether
Actually, the casino itself would make an excellent meth. clinic, lol……..plenty of parking and rooms. ;)
We had all kinds of drug issues before the casino. Besides, most of the people at the casino are between 65 and deceased. Not your average drug a users.
They need to legalize marijuana so we can empty our jails of people who are being incarcerated for possessing a plant. Then they will have plenty of room for these hard core drug addicts.
If they can’t get their lives straightened out then maybe jail will be a good place for them. Perhaps it will deter more from drug use if they know that there will actually be a penalty, unlike now where drug addicts know that can get every resource available and still be allowed (and encouraged) to stay addicted to drugs and calling that “treatment.”
Do you have any idea how much more expensive jail would be than methadone treatment?
If we stop locking up people for possessing a plant we will have plenty of money to incarcerate hard core drug addicts. In the long run, jail will be cheaper than paying the full ride (housing assistance, food assistance, heating assistance, free medical, transportation money, monthly welfare payments) for years and years for druggies who are still addicted to a drug.
So… you would look at a group of people who are living in the community with some assistance and not breaking any laws, and say “Off to jail with you–permanently!”
I would say, please show me how the private citizens of Maine forced you to become an abuser of drugs and then explain why your lack of personal responsibility requires that any of us pay to keep you clean.
Why do we pay people to only be partially addicted to drugs? Why do we submit to the blackmail theory that if we dont keep these drug addicts partially doped up they will run amok and thus its better to control them with a low dose of dope?
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Most of them are driving under the influence daily…..not exactly legal.
Whether or not your belief about them driving is accurate, in America people are still only put in jail after being arrested and having a day in court.
I want to know why they are allowed to drive while on it? Take their license away if they are on long term methadone ‘treatment’. They can take a license for many medical conditions….this is no different.
if they drive after taking this drug they are driving under the influence….simple as that. Cops should sit outside the clinic and nail them all!
The effects of methadone (like other medications) on driving is dependent on dose. You can’t conclude that everyone who takes a certain medication is an impaired driver.
Some people belong in jail. Thats the only place they can be and not be of detriment to the majority of the public. I would rather pay to keep a serial offending drug addict in prison than pay to keep him a little bit high in the hopes that he might not committ another crime. The idea that we have to give people a drug to behave and that its allright because it costs us less money than punishing them for their criminal acts is foolish in my opinion. Looking at that theory in another way one would see as nothing but a form of blackmail.
In case you don’t see my response to others – – we need to put addicts who are unable to wean themselves off opoids and other serious drugs on an enclosed, supervised farm where they grow their own food and food for needy people in the community.
They should be glad to have something productive to do with their lives, and, if they cannot stay off drugs (when they’re let out), then they can stay on the farm growing food forever.
Can’t have dangerous people – and desperate druggies are dangerous people – wandering around loose amongst the populace. They can be productive members of society by growing food on this farm. Might get some more farmers out of that program, since Maine needs thousands more small farmers just to feed ourselves.
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Send them to an enclosed, supervised farm where they learn to work by growing their own food, and food for the needy. Thus, we will actually save money, rather than cost taxpayers’ even more to meet their “needs.”
And take them off all drugs, too. Learn to live real lives instead of being in la-la land all the time at others’ expense.
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In multiple generations before this one, drug addicts spent their first few days or weeks in detox. Once they got clean, they began to work on sobriety. It has worked for many. Pharmaceutical companies who virtually control our healthcare system have convinced many in this society that tapering is the only way to treat drug addiction when we know from the past that other approaches work better in the long run.
If it takes time and counseling, then they should be in the jail system until they can return to the general public and become contributing members of this society. Give them counseling in jail and access to twelve step groups. They will have as much time as they need to get clean.
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Fine. Let’s give them three months with tapering and counseling. That should be more than enough time.
Of course if they still keep hanging out with their druggie friends, it’s all over. Perhaps keep them doing community service work – with frequent drug tests – so they don’t have time or energy to do stupid stuff like harming themselves with drugs.
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Methadone is still a drug, the only reason it works is it helps junkies maintain on a regiment of doled out drugs. Keeps an addict on an even keel. Ever see a junkie jonesing? Not a pretty sight. They will do anything to feel “normal” again. And by normal I do not mean high. They need to maintain or else they are so sick.
Methadone is a horrible drug, in many ways worse than heroin. Very damaging to your body. Hard to stop too, takes weeks of weaning. But sometimes it is better for society to help these lost souls maintain than to become more of a burden by stealing, lying and hurting other people to get what they need. And filling the jails and prisons. Not everyone can come clean from opiate drugs. Just not that easy. A person who has never had experience dealing with an addict could just never understand.
I think what drives a lot of the nastier comments is hatred for addicts. Some people simply want them to suffer, and if they wind up in jail that’s fine too–even though the reason for denying methadone is supposedly to save money, and jail would be far costlier.
Methadone Clinics should have a maximum of three to six months to detox. Otherwise, it’s just trading an illegal addiction to a legal presription addiction. Either way, it is up to the individual to show some responsibility to get clean and stay clean. I don’t buy into the notion that we have to support years of nonproductivity and state-sponsored welfare and addiction because someone can’t man up and get over themselves and their addictions.
How about people showing responsibility when they drive car ,trucks an motorcycles
what has this got to do with rides to methadone clinics???
Some one said they should take responsiblity for there actions so i said the same acbou accidents with car ect we all pay in the long run so its the same
people on meth shouldn’t be driving.
No i ment people that are NOT on Meth.
For all you “perfect people” out there: I have both my daughters back because of the clinic in Bangor! They both fell into that drug craze at the Cohen middle school! Yes, there are drugs at that age there!! I thank GOD and the clinic for bringing them back to us! They are both married now with children and very productive lives in the area! In fact, my youngest is graduating college this Spring!! and will be a drug and rehad counselor to help other young adults to get back on track! I read these comments all the time on here, and it just astounds me how many perfect people and their families are out there. Not all that you see is bad, take your blinders off and look around once in a while! You may be surprised. Oh, and I not hiding behind all these screen names. I am not ashamed of my girls or anyone else’s children that have made a difference in their lives by going thru the program at the clinic.
I’m glad your daughters have recovered.
I also agree that no one’s family is perfect. But we don’t expect everyone else to foot the bill for those imperfections.
Whos footing the bill for poor people an the disable
There’s a big difference between being poor or disabled because of circumstances beyond one’s control and being addicted to an illegal drug that you chose to abuse. I don’t ask you to pay for my choices. Don’t ask me to pay for yours.
I don’t think anyone here is perfect or is claiming they are perfect. We have all had problems with our lives but we did not ask others to pay for those problems. If you accept as fact that there is a limited pool of money for you and yours to take from then you must also accept as fact that we can not pay for everything.
I’m sorry but your daughters got addicted. Your problem and you should pay for it. My kids need stuff to but I’m not taking your money for it.
I’m far from perfect, I can tell you that right now. But, it’s not my children’s problem your children chose to do drugs becoming addicted.
My children lose out because more and more of the money taken from my check every week for taxes goes to pay for those who make the choice to use drugs. My son needs surgery next month and my portion is going to be 1987.00 are you going to pay that for me?
Are your daughters going to pay that for me? Why not? He didn’t choose to need surgery that my private insurance will only cover just so much. So why isn’t the tax payers paying for my son to have a required surgery???????
Get it now?
I’m not trying to sound cruel to you or towards your daughters for I’m glad they have their lives back…What I’m saying is this…You say your daughters are successful now? Do your daughters feel obligated in any way to re pay the State of Maine Tax Payers for paying for them to get off drugs? It’s my opinion that those like your daughters who you say are successful now should be forced to pay back some or all of the money used to fix their problems for we the tax payers did not cause their problems.
It makes me mad as heck because we are struggling, 2 working parent home, 2 health insurance plans and we have to find a way to pay 1987.00 of a 4000.00 surgery our son needs but a drug addict sniffing pills and shooting heroine can be treated 100% free and actually be paid to do so with mileage checks. This makes no sense to most of us Maine Tax Payers.
I did not see anywhere in Aprils post about her daughters treatment being paid for by the state!! second, her daughter is going to be a drug counselor..which means she is intending to help people anyway!!!!!
Thank you! finally someone with some reasonable sense to life’s challenges.
Uhmmm…daughter has children and she’s graduating this spring. Wonder who’s footing the bill for the college education and childcare while she attended school. Glad she’s moving along the right path but there are so many programs out there for addicts and people with children to get a free education when most kids graduate college with huge loans to pay back.
As written……..Both of her daughters are married w/children….Doubt it! My younger brother who is married w/children tried to get on the SNAP program because he was laid off getting unemployment..his wife worked part time and they still did not qualify..You gotta be pretty poor to get any assistance!!
chances are very high that MaineCare pd for her daughters’ treatment. every addict wants to be a drug counselor, “I want to help people, who better than someone who has been there?” I am so sick of hearing it.
I am very sorry you are sick of people who struggle want to help other like themselves!! (sad face) I think it is wonderful myself..
Her daughters received help from the methadone clinic. The clinic is supported by tax payers.
YUP!!!!!!!!! And if she carries her own insurance, her insurance pays her bill!! Your point?
first of all, what makes you think that I didn’t pay for it! See, there you go again, making assumptions. I am sure that none of you have ever needed a hand up??
I don’t begrudge anyone the taxes I pay to help people when they find themselves in circumstances beyond their control. Emergency food and shelter are necessities to which I will gladly contribute. That is what I consider a hand up. Subsidizing someone else’s drug addiction — a problem they created as a result of their own poor choices — is what I consider a handout.
Agreed!
Well, did you pay for all the treatment or id you have help from the state??
wht do people assume only those on state aid are drug addicts?
did you?
“Roughly 85 percent of all methadone patients in Maine are covered by or
eligible for Medicaid, known in the state as MaineCare. That leaves
clinics little room to cover their losses by shifting costs to patients
with private insurance.”
Odds are in maine08’s favor.
Many conservative posters here (not necessarily all conservatives) are certain that they’ve never had any sort of government assistance–and that they will never get laid off, never develop a catastrophic illness, never have their home foreclosed on, never have a child who needs state or federal programs to help pay for college, etc. That way they can advocate for all helpful programs to be closed immediately–since only OTHER families will be harmed.
Social Security and Medicare- Something we all pay into with payroll taxes. The amount of interest on your money you pay in after 50 years of working is about 1%. The employer portion of FICA taxes could be eliminated and the employee could be required to set aside that money in a retirment savings account that could include a 401k, an IRA or even Treasury Bonds(which yield 200 times the interest that SS pays out now). We would all be better off and this silly farce that is Social security could go away. Conservatives have suggested adapoting this plan. Liberals oppose it.
Responsible people carry Long Term and Short Term Disablity to cover the sudden loss of income from accidents or illnesses. Responsible people determine with absolute certainty that they can pay their mortage no matter what happens. Responsible people buy a house with a mortage payment that requires only one weeks of salary in the household to cover. Otherwise they rent, and work towards getting a job that pays them a higher salary that allows them more economic certainty and security.
Stafford Loans for College are paid back in the same way a mortage is. That is not free money to the student borrower. Pell Grants are not required to be paid back but considering the money to fund them comes from taxes it is nothing more that a redistribution of funds or rebate program.
People who are laid off qualify for Unemployment Insurance for 26 weeks. Recently a person could be on unemployment upto 96 weeks. In my opinion this is ridicoulous. My father was laid off once and rather than stay home and complain that the government was not helping him he went and got two jobs to cover the salary that was lost from the one job he formally worked. He had two small children at the time and my mother worked as well. Somehow, they were smart enough and able to work it out without the help of the government.
Some people will respond that not everyone has the same opportunities to find jobs, or cover expenses. That is true, some do not. However, what should we do? Should we lower every person down to the lowest common demoninator? Or should we do things to raise people up, without the typical finger pointing at people with the cry “They have to much and its not fair!”? Can we accept the fact that some people are never going to get with the program and thus cannot be helped at all?
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Everyone, my friend has the right and legal capability to put money into a personal IRA or personal 401K. Perhaps you cannot put in anymore than 5 dollars a week but at least that is something.
We can discuss personal spending habits, should I have a flat screen TV, cable TV and a Cell Phone or should I perhaps buy an insurance policy and save some money in an IRA?
Can I afford to have two children or three?
Should I take advantadge of government programs to get a better education and a better jb or should I whine and complain that my nights and weekends will be taken up by studying?
Should I think about bettering myself or think about how tough it is going to be and thus sit on my rear and be in my present sub par economic state for the next decade of my life?
Should I stop living in East Overshoe where WalMart and McDonalds are the biggest employers or should I move somewhere more economically stable?
The thing is, all the answers to these questions require some on to think, to make sacrifices and to live responsibly in the means that they can, not the means that they want or think they deserve. Thats perhaps a cruel reality for some people but its reality most of us have to face and figure out how to deal with.
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most hosptals will let you pay installments with no interest.. problem solved
My heart goes out to you and your family with huge medical bills. A single-payer system would be the fairest approach. No American family should have to risk medical bankruptcy–and serious illnesses can happen to anyone.
I single payer system?! A fair approach?? Where do you want to live? The USA, or Europe?
You seem to regard “Europe” as a terrifying or disgusting word. You appear to believe that to have a single-payer system would instantly turn America into whatever you imagine “Europe” to be. Neither concept is accurate.
I guess you haven’t been paying attention to current events in GB, France, Greece and other European countries. I don’t regard Europe as disgusting, I regard the thought of the United States following her example as frightening.
Not sure which current events you’re referring to. I’m aware that the drive toward austerity is in the process of bankrupting several countries, as will happen here if Republicans keep being elected.
Examples:
Failed austerity policies in Europe: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/opinion/krugman-pain-without-gain.html?_r=2&hp;
Failed austerity policies in the US: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/opinion/krugman-states-of-depression.html?_r=2&ref=opinion
Republican hypocrisy on the austerity topic: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/opinion/krugman-four-fiscal-phonies.html?_r=2&ref=opinion
Dont try to reason with her. The concept that uncontrolled government spending in an effort to be all things to all people which allows people to retire at age 55, go to school on the government dime until 30 and borrow, borrow, borrow to pay for it all is something she apparently supports.
(((standing and applauding Maine08)))
very well said………..payback if you become successful would be nice.
Are either of your daughters take Methadone or are they 100% off drugs? Getting over drug addiction is something to be proud of for the person who does it. Their loved ones should be proud too. However in my mind letting people take a synthetic narcotic in order to give them a little high in the hopes that they dont use illegal narcotics and do significant damage to themselves or others is not “beating addiction”. It is at best a form of Harm Reduction.
DRUG FREE!!!
Thats awesome! Im very happy for them and for you!
There are other drugs that can be taken for a couple of weeks that work well. Methodone is mean’t to keep people addicted for the rest of their lives.
are they still on methadone?
Are either of your daughters still on methadone??? I myself, as a teen & into my early 20s, had a drug problem, and I just toughed it out & stopped “cold-turkey”!!! So, I KNOW it CAN be done without the state footing the bill!!!
What shouldn’t be happening is the State support at the clinics. I’m far from perfect but I’d expect to be responsible for my kids treatment if I’d allowed them to become drug addicts at 12 years old. I don’t wear blinders. It’s too bad you were when your kids became addicts. It’s not my problem that you didn’t parent well. You still have a shot at it though. Feel free to donate to the clinics that saved your daughters and leave me out of it. I’m glad they are ok but I have no sympathy for you.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about not getting involved in the drug “CRAZE” in the first place. I am sure you are very proud of your kids. But publice money should NOT be used to help YOUR kids get clean, and stay clean. It was their mistake in the first place. Not the public.
I have been told that these addicts get disability benefits- if that is true -then they should be able to pay a big share of the methadone treatment- is this right or wrong information ????
wrong
Addicts used to get those but the rules have been changed.Now the scam is mental illness if you’re 25 and you’ve been on Ritalin since you were 7 .SSDI should be for physical disabilities ONLY and go to those who already worked for a living and paid in!
I have a cousin who works at a mental health clinic in Bangor were they also treat sex offenders. My cousin has often mentioned that several of the patients in treatment have tried to become eligble for SSDI payments based on having PTSD from being in prison on sex charges.
http://news.investors.com/article/608418/201204200802/ssdi-disability-rolls-skyrocket-under-obama.htm
Thanks for the link.
SSDI is only available to those who have a work history or are the dependents of someone who worked. SSI is a welfare program for aged or disabled people, no work history required. There are people with mental health problems who are just as disabled as someone with a physical problem. some people have terrible mental health problems due to being abused as a child. Do we want to throw those people to the wolves?
I’m sad to say that there are many commenters here who hope to throw all disabled people to the wolves.
If the people of Bangor want a methadone clinic let the people of Bangor pay for it. No free lunches people…
We don’t want it!!!
and we definitely don’t want to pay for it!!!
This is like the war in Iraq….Do we tell these Methadone patients when their benefits are going to run out or leave it open ended?
Years on methadone before weaning … ??? That seems ridiculous on the face of it. I was a smoker for years — I quit! No weaning, no patch, no pills, no injections — I quit. Please don’t go on overload telling me about addictions — have heard them all and the sob stories that go with them. Develop a spine, stop the whine and QUIT!
oowwwwwwwww! you quit smoking cigarettes!!!!!!!! cool
Congratulations! And to think, you turned down an opportunity for people who had nothing to do with your choice to smoke to pay for your choice to quit. But seriously, congratulations. My grandfather and all his siblings did it the same way. Im so glad I never started smoking.
Congrats to you!–I was a smoker for 51 years! An addiction I created for myself—I never asked anyone to pay for them for me, or for help quitting.–I did the same as you, I put them away , 4 years ago, and that was it!–No , it sure as hell wasen’t easy, and you have to have a big backbone, a lot of will power, and the desire to quit. And that includes any drug out there. I would suggest people working, as then they can decide if they want to continue the filthy habit and pay for it themselves. That might make a Big difference!
we as a society have no backbone anymore. Everything has to be fixed right now. we live for soundbites. watch someone when they send a text to someone else. if they don’t hear back right away the nervousness and anxiety start pretty quick.
I totally agree!!! And, as I stated before, I had problems with both alcohol & drugs, when I was young, but the hardest drug for me to kick was tobbaco!!!
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Those who use a patch do quit smoking only use it for a few days or weeks. They don’t stay on the patch for years as with methadone.
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How about this?Increase DRASTICALLY the fines for drug dealers and put half that $$ into treatment programs,half toward the cost of jailing the dealer.
who would care for your health problems if they were all in jail?
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
let’s just shut down the clinics. People lived for years & years in Me without methodone clinics.
Legalize marijuana, empty our jails of people who are there for possessing a plant and then stick drug addicts in jail for a while so that they know there will be a penalty for their actions. Have them detox like the old days and then they can serve their time.
Having been familiar with twelve step groups due to family members, I have heard a good many story about how many got clean in jail and decided to stay that way. They served their time and then came back out into society different people. We are doing people a disservice with our present system which not only keeps people addicted, but dependent.
Props to you Jessica for getting clean and maintaining sobriety!! I am sure if there was a better way for people to become free of drug abuse…it would be used. There is an epidemic of drug abuse everywhere…not just Maine..Perhaps Mainers are smart enough to get help oppose to continuously committing crimes, hurting other, and maybe even… they just want to get back to a normal life in hopes of repairing there broken relationships to people in the community and to there family members. I have seen addiction and it is not a pretty thing, nor is it just simply here………for 2 years you can be on this, then your DONE! Nope it dont work that way. These Drs are right…even if you do not like what is being said. We have a problem and its nation wide meaning more needs to be done to help people get off addictive drugs.I lost a relative to alcoholism so I do have lots of empathy for these people. This is a debilitating lifestyle that is sad to watch. I hope the best for this clinic and all the people who are truly trying to straighten there lives out!
Ok first off, I would like to say “good for you trying to better yourself” secondly, it really makes me so mad that I have to pay for this for the addicts, I work my tail off and so does my husband, we pay health insurance each week and then we pay a co-pay (depending on the prescribtion or visit is what the co-pay is) $20-80! my point is make them pay more than $2 co-pay, get off the meth, get a job pay your own way instead of complaining that WE the state wont support your habit.
Has anyone met anyone that has gotten off of methodone through their treatment program?
nope, everyone i have ever met is still on it, some for about 6-7 years know and they keep uping their dose, go figure
State-sponsored addiction. What this article DOESNT say is that many of these patients still use a variety of other drugs WHILE getting methadone. This drug is just free for them. Along with the free coffee and donuts everyday to “help” the methadone settle. Glad someone is trying to set limits on it finally. If they added drug testing for other types of drugs a huge number of patients wouldnt go to the clinic anymore.
Worked in the field for many years. I’ve met only a handful.
yes..and it’s a daily struggle..this person had take homes, but finally decided, that now methadone was controlling their life..being called in for testing at the drop of a hat..not being able to travel to see family without them controlling when..getting to and from the clinic..the cost, ect..we pray everyday our loved one doesn’t “fall” again. It’s been almost 2 yrs..and they were a self pay at the clinic..helped by loved ones. Everyone needs some help sometimes..
So if Im hooked on 151 proof rum will the state pay for my wine coolers….im weening myself!!!
Having an alcoholic in my family I have seen the damage of alcoholism. Having a drug addict in my family I have seen the damage there too. My alcoholic family member used to drink hard liqour. He was given a choice to quit and stay with his family or to keep drinking and be on his way. He quit. It was hard for him and hard for some of us. Not once did anyone advocating he drink just a beer or two to feel normal, so we could all not worry about him getting into a big drunk. I find this methadone issue not one about total weaning from drugs but rather one of harm reduction. In my opinion harm reduction is a crutch and is constantly maintaining someone in an altered state in the hope that they do not go into a higher, more altered state of mind. You dont let a batterer beat someone only on Tuesdays in the hopes that will be enough to prevent him from beating people the other six days. You dont tell people with diabetes to let their blood sugar get out of control one day of the week so that they can have some control the next 6 days. In my opinion the addiction is overcome without the extended use of smaller doses of the addictive drug.
What about the drug addict in my family? Dead at the age of 44. His death brought peace to my elderly grandmother. I hope it brought some peace to him.
Are you hoping that without a methadone “crutch” all the drug-addicted people in Maine will die young, like your drug addicted relative? Such a wish might come true.
No,
Would you support the practice of giving only one shot of liqour to an alcoholic daily, over several years, in an attempt to cure him or her fof Alcoholism? If such a program existed, would you think that it should be tax payer funded in anyway?
Im making the statement that curing people of drug addiction by giving them a liquid synthetic opiate over a period of years makes no sense. That is my opinion. I also dont wish to pay for it as no one forced anyone to become a drug addict. Personal responsibility has to factor in. I know a lot of peope think it shouldnt.
What dose a birth defect in her hands have to do with it. I hurt every day because I worked hard for a living. I do not take any pain meds I deal with the pain .
i know this girl, as a child she had countless surgeries to try to fix her hands so she could grasp objects. she always had severe pains in her hands even when she was very small and believe me the pain was real it was hard to see a child suffer like that.
I could tell you a hard luck story about my childhood to. I Had 3rd degree burns 30 days in A hospital over 15 in ICU, several major operations . A person is suppose to feel pain. Dr. should take some of the blame for over prescribing meds. I still work hard for a living and never have been on meds.
“A person is supposed to feel pain.” I invite you to visit a Shriners hospital, stand beside a suffering child’s bed, and explain that to the child and his or her parents. Or, a bit closer to home, visit the Alfond Cancer Center, and share your wisdom with the patients and their families.
You’re certainly free to suffer as much as it pleases you to suffer. Just don’t demand that others suffer.
Having had 3rd degree burns on my face an leg . As a child 6 years old I know what pain is . What I am getting at is long term pain medicine to eliminate all pain is way too much. Now I have issues with my back . Any Pain I have now is nothing compared to what I went through. Just saying I go to work every day . I just take it a bit easier . I am not saying people should get no pain meds. I am saying the amount they give and for long terms is just wrong. I had my issues with alcohol when I was younger. I have not drank In 13 years . I know pain meds are highly addictive . I would much perfect to feel my pain now than to risk ruining the GOOD life I have now. I am just saying that is an excuse not a reason for abusing pain meds. We all can come up with excuses . I guess I am on of the lucky ones. Like a dam fool at age 30 when i gave up drinking I took up smoking . I would love to get help quitting smoking. Addiction Is a very hard thing to quit I fully understand that. The people using excuses will have a very hard time quitting . I have been very careful the few times I have been giving pain meds for (broken bones) I broke the pills in half and never took the whole prescription . Not saying I enjoy pain just saying it is worth dealing with rather than risking addiction. The physical Pain can be small compared to the emotional pain some people do not deal with and use the physical pain as an excuse. Excuse = Bad.
Thank you for clarifying! I’m glad you’re careful with your pain medications.
People make mistakes . We can all come up with excuses that are counter productive. It is not that I do not think some people need help. I did not try to come across as not having empathy. I just feel when people are using excuses hey are avoiding to reasons. We have no reason. Just mistakes we make . Seems like years on methadone is a long time . We all have hard luck stories . Time for people to be honest with themselves and deal with it. I feel anyone on methadone should also have to be in some sort of counciling . Set goals for themselves work hard at them. We to have need empathy but not sympathy . Not let people make excuses that will get you no where.
your a manly man aren’t you
How much counseling do you think they get for $60/week? With the cost of the drug, cost of the employees, cost of insurance, and cost of the donut and coffee voucher, how much counseling can they get for 12 dollars a day? Enough to keep them hooked on methadone, THAT’S HOW MUCH…
I’ve been on it three solid years and I’m just now at a point where I feel I can live a life without methadone,” Payne said.
Give me a break…sounds like addiction to me. Reminds me of the article last week about the lady that has been on it for FOUR years that crashed her car and her son died….THIS IS AN ADDICTION – TRADING ONE DRUG FOR ANOTHER!!!! LePage has figured this out…why can’t everone else?
the burns bill states a savings of millions of dollars to the budget with that amount of savings and the 31 million from the last report from the tax office we should not even be having this conversation unless the savings are going to tax breaks for the upper income people or to tax breaks for nightclubs and lawmakers business
I have some very strong opinions about replacement drugs and I’m not about to pat someone on the back and say great job for being on Methadone. I’m a drug addict in recovery and have been so for going on 10 years. I didn’t use a replacement and while I’ve had my fair share of struggles, I haven’t had to relapse. The “harm reduction” module doesn’t work, as I’m am still out there trying to help the people I can with their own addictions, I see NO harm reduction in drug replacement therapy. The local men’s and women’s rehab are both a joke and are driven by State assistance. If you want to get off drugs……stop using and try getting a job and helping out those that need the help! My habit was over $ 1000.00 dollars a day for a long time, so don’t tell me I don’t know what it’s like. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see the entire program shut down. Can our cities really get any worse than they are right now?
Congratulations on your ten years. You should be very proud of yourself. You are a great example to others who seek to overcome drug abuse.
I agree with culinarian. Congrats. My wife is a recovering alcoholic and has been drink free for 16 years. She didn’t do it by switching to Budweiser from whiskey. we didn’t quit cigarettes by going to ultralights.
I’ve seen people trading methadone for other drugs they claim they get the methadone from the clinics it’s only helping them to stay high on our tab it needs to stop.shut them all down!!
I am against clinics but I don’t believe what you say is true. The methadone is administered at the clinics and is not available to trade.
oh boy, where do I start? They get “take homes.” Then they sell the “take homes. ” haven’t you heard of all the drug deals in the Acadia parking lot?
I thought it all happened inside the clinic. This “take home” stuff is beyond the pale and really makes me angry.
They really don’t even bother to try and hide it actually!
Maybe all medication should be dispensed daily at pharmacies, just to be on the safe side,?
This is a special circumstance. This is not a medication. It is an addictive drug being traded about by drug users.
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how about the drug deals outsdie the local drug stores arefter people get their Rx’s?
Diversion is a fact of life, but doens’t just happen with methadone takehomes.
why single out those people that divert and happen to be methadone patients?
Good old “aunt Sally” sells off some of her Xanax Rx?
What’s the difference?
agreed. I’m hoping that you have never had the pleasure (sarcasm) of listening to a Methadone addicted baby scream for days on end in the NICU, heartbreaking! And when I say scream, I mean SCREAM almost without pause, day in and day out. And then to have to see the staff treat those parents ( I use that term loosely) as respectfully as they were treating me ( in there with a preemie who wasn’t quite ready to be born yet)……and to see the “parents” sludge on through after they went and got their “dose”, makes a postpartum sad new mommy want to freakin RIP THE THROATS RIGHT OUT OF THEM and give the precious baby to someone who really deserves it!
if you see it ..report it..just saying
diverting all types of medication happens everywhere, including those that get Rx’s from doctors.
mainecare should NOT pay a penny for methadone
you either pay now or pay later which is it ??
Depending on the drug, the guy that used only a couple of years may be in worse shape then the other guy. I think two years of therapy, and MM should be enough time to determine where someone is. We’ve got to be reasonable about the time before lowing dosages but at some point an addict is going to feel some form of withdrawal. Getting clean isn’t as simple as replacement therapy, it’s about GETTING OFF that, as well. Some critics feel Methadone should be a possible lifelong option. I don’t. Chemistry in the brain can RE_ADAPT.
Just to quote that woman “People might not pay their rent so they can get their dose of methadone. People shouldn’t have to make those choices.” Uhmmm… I think us as taxpayers shouldn’t have to pick up the tab because people decided to abuse drugs. They got addicted to it and they need to take responsibility for that. If I decide to quit smoking I dont expect anybody to pay for the patch or the gum. I think the same principle applies.
I may have made an error in this, says she got addicted from a legal prescription. So doctors have a LOT of weight in this huge “Addiction” crisis.
no but you expect people to subsidize your health insurance through their high premiums
I don’t even know why I read these articles about dopers who claim to be “clean” when their “clean” is not having to pay for their drug which is Methadone compliments of the tax payers of Maine. The last I knew Methadone is a drug is it not?
Excuses excuses excuses…
So by your line of reasoning anyone who is taking blood pressure medicine, anti-depressants, and other drugs is not “clean”. Think about it. There are a lot of people who use drugs on a daily basis with positive results. Why is it such a bad thing if someone can lead a normal life by taking methadone? I would rather have an addict take methadone everyday and be a productive member of society versus not giving them access to methadone and having them out trying to get their next fix and getting into god knows what kind of trouble. Written from the hands of a recovering addict who has taken methadone and seen first hand the positive impact it can have for someone who has been addicted to opiates for many years. BTW before you stereotype I am a college graduate who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelors degree and started using in college, which then snowballed out of control. I write this because everyone thinks that addiction only impacts the so called dead beats or losers of society but this is simply not true.
the people I know who go to the clinic are far from being productive member of society
guess you don’t know them all
How many people on methadone actually hold down a job? Isn’t much of their time going back and forth to the clinic? This is the case with the handful that I have met.
Once you have established that you are committed to your recovery and follow all of the rules you can get up to a weeks worth of methadone to take home with you, meaning that you only need to physically go to the clinic one day a week and your visit usually only takes a few minutes. So actually it does not even take as long as going to the grocery store. The only ones who have to go everyday are either those who are starting out or those who are not really committed to their own recovery. You have probably only ever heard of stories from those who are there for the wrong reasons, which admittedly there are plenty, but there are also many more who are there for all of the right reasons. I suggest they up the co-pay to $10 a week instead of $2. I really think this is a reasonable amount to be expected to pay and this would bridge the funding gap for the clinics. Also, did I read correctly that this whole endeavor is saving the state a whopping $47,000???? Come on people, that is such a minor drop in the bucket I can’t believe that they are even wasting their breath talking about it.
Sorry but I have many family members and friends who are alcoholics or drug addicts in recovery. I have a couple of family members still out there doing “research.” They all had to detox for a few days and then they began their long journey of recovery. The first few days were extremely difficult, but once they got through the worst of it, they were well on their way.
I have attended meetings with them over the years and heard story after story about what it is like to be in recovery. It is no doubt very difficult, but those who removed the substances from their bodies and worked hard at sobriety have gone on to have very fulfilling and enriching lives. You will find few people in the halls of recovery programs who will advocate this absurd trend of paying addicts who are trading one drug for another.
The whole endeavor is costing us far more than what you have listed because few have full-time jobs and can support themselves fully. They are getting every resource available and that all adds up. I have yet to meet a methadone patient who works a full-time job and is self-sufficient. Instead, they are still addicted and not able to fully support themselves unlike the addicts who detox and work a program of recovery with no substances in their system.
Their are dying cancer patients, many who are war veterans who are treated like criminals because they smoke marijuana to relieve their physical suffering. They have to somehow find money to buy this medicine because no insurance covers it. They get no help with transportation to drive to a dispensary. This money would be better spent relieving the physical suffering of cancer patients than on keeping addicts addicted.
…Think about it. There are a lot of people who use drugs on a daily basis with positive results. Why is it such a bad thing if someone can lead a normal life by taking marijuana? I would rather have an addict take marijuana everyday and be a productive member of society versus not giving them access to marijuana and having them walking around all sad and mopey when they can’t get a bag…
I completely agree that marijuana should be legal and can’t believe that it is still illegal. I thought when all of the baby boomers grew older they would instill change in our country, since most of our elected officials fall into the older age category. Still waiting….but change is slowly coming.
Excellent points. What you see on these Comments pages is the triumph of Republican efforts to turn desperate people against each other–a divide-and-conquer tactic.
People who are barely scraping by are set against people who are trying to get past heroin addiction. They’re being told that their financial problems also are caused by disabled or impoverished or elderly people who get health care and medication, or by public education, or workers joining together to advocate for themselves, or by programs that help people with catastrophic illnesses.
The Republicans’ message to them is–1) all your problems are caused by having a social safety net; 2) everyone who needs help brought their problems on themselves; and 3) YOU (being a good person) will never need social services for yourself or your loved ones.
If anyone mentions the fact that tax breaks for millionaires helped create and maintain a huge revenue shortfall, they’re accused of fomenting class warfare.
By your logic, since Republicans are in favor of limited government control and personal responsibility, and Democrats are in favor of big government, dependency and spreading wealth nd success, then all of those folks who have expressed disapproval of state sponsored drug clinic must be evil Republicans. Do I have that right? I think you want to turn this into a political argument rather than a common sense discussion.
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Please tell us when exactly you were forced by the tax payers of Maine to start using illegal drugs and thus become addicted to them. Then please explain to us why you believe any of us should fund the treatment of drug addicts with methadone. Please explain to us why we have to accept the blackmail theory that we must keep these addicts maintained on a small amount of synthetic opiate otherwise they might go nuts. Please tell us why we should not expect drug addicts to either become 100% clean and live like responsible citizens or face the consequences for not doing so.
Drug addiction does not only impact the dead beats and losers of society that continue to be drug addicts. It effects the decent people, law abiding people in society too.
I must be “dirty” because I can’t manage my blood pressure with diet and have to take maeds. If I throw them away I’de die.
Guess we expect people with opioid depedancy to do the same thing.
This is the exact problem that people who have become addicted to drugs face. For some reason a drug that is meant to treat drug dependence is the devil’s concoction yet drugs that are made to treat diabetes or blood pressure are the holy grail. Why do we look at each drug so differently?
They are all chemicals, plants, fruits, and other items manipulated together using a formula.
Why is one better or worse than the other?
Why is it acceptable in society’s eyes to spend thousands of dollars a year for someone to treat high blood pressure with drugs yet someone who is trying to get off from drugs using methadone is looked at in a much different light.
BTW, I have detoxed for several days only to find that I went right back to using because the symptoms are too horrible. Until you have experienced it first hand you have no idea the hell you go through. And it is not just a few days, with long term opiate dependence you often feel like crap for at least 2-3 weeks if not more.
Since being on methadone I haven’t touched another drug in over 2 1/2 years and I am now going down on my dose with the ultimate plan of being methadone free by next year. However, if it takes longer it takes longer. You cannot set a firm timeline with drug addiction, it is simply that when your body and mind are ready, they are ready. You cannot set an arbitrary timeline.
Try telling one of the millions of obese individuals on blood pressure medication that they can take the medicine for 2 years but they have to lose weight and start eating healthy because they will no longer get their medicine after the 2 year mark. Yeah, that would fly…. How is that any different than someone addicted to drugs? The high blood pressure is caused by their poor eating, lack of exercise, etc. Tell me how this differs from methadone, that’s right…there is no difference.
I am truly amazed at the amount of opinions on here from people who clearly have no clue about methadone treatment but are so quick to pass judgement about it. If you had any clue at all you surely would not be spouting off about it being a “legal high”. Everyone has a right to their opinion but you really should think about becoming a bit more educated on a topic before you start verbally bashing something that you know nothing about. Here are a few corrections: people don’t simply begin taking methadone and become instantly cured. It involves a lot more than that for a person to be successful on this type of treatment. The thought that this is “switching one drug for another” is absolutely absurd, this is a prescription people, which does serve a physiological purpose other than “getting patients high”. Once at the correct dose there is no “high”. Look I will be the first to say that there are flaws in this type of treatment, but aren’t we all flawed in one way or another? Nothing is perfect but I can say for certain that without this treatment, I would not have been here to give my thoughts on this topic. Doesn’t that count for something? Oh and by the way, before I get accused of receiving a hand out from you hardworking citizens, I better disclose that I pay for my treatment with private insurance available to me through my job. I honestly don’t mind opinions on this subject that happen to differ from mine, as long as they are at least somewhat truthful.
I have seen people who go to the clinic who can’t keep their eyes open. It’s disgusting. they roll out of bed & go for their daily fix.
and are probably mixing alcohol or Xanax with their methadone.
It is , in fact , a legal high. It is , in fact , a replacement drug( switching one for another) Junkies do, in fact, stay on it for years. Most of the “patients” are ,in fact , on the public dole. So I’m not real sure what your so upset about. I applaud you for working on your addiction, and praise the fact that you are doing well and are able to be working. I am pleased that Insurance is helping to cover the cost of the drug. I can relate to the difficulties in fighting addiction, and I am sincere in what I have said to you. But I think you are the exception not the rule.
This does not change the fact that part of the rational behind this drugs use is to replace dirty illegal drugs with a “cleaner” prescription drug, to substitute street traded drugs with a regulated/controlled prescription, to provide it at little to no cost , if needed ,to help alleviate the impact on the community caused by the illegal activities done by those trying to illegally acquire opiates. It has been decided that it is cheaper to dose these folks up and hope for the best, then let them tear up their communities or lock them up. It really is that simple.
No, it is not a legal high or a high at all. A stable methadone patient does not feel anything from his dose, just normal. In higher doses he would just feel very tired, not high. It is not at all a substitute for illegal drugs. It’s a medication to treat a brain disorder. That it’s a substitute is a misconception that is unfortunately being spread by a number of people who don’t understand the treatment but it’s simply not true. A substitute would cause the same effects as the drug it’s substituting. All methadone does is stop cravings for drugs so that the patient can stay drug free. It’s not that different than other medications that treat symptoms of brain disorders.
Much agreed Zitake.
And many methadone patients are business owners and professionals that the public recieves services from daily, but don’t even know it. Guess the joke is on them that think all methadone patients “on the dole”
Methadone, a synthetic opiate reduces a craving for drugs. How exactly does that happen? Is it kind of like how speed supressed the appetite and thus makes people thin? So is a good idea to take speed for weight loss or should one perhaps go on a diet instead?
@Culinarian, it’s a known established fact that methadone works because it reduces or eliminates cravings for opiates and to an extent other drugs. It works because methadone occupies the opiate receptors in the brain and as a result the brain is satisfied and doesn’t crave opiates.
It would be great if everyone could get better with detox and counseling but fact is that for most people it doesn’t work. Most people on methadone have tried it several times. So if they need a medication to prevent relapse that’s not such a horrible thing. For a lot of people there aren’t a lot of options.
And amphetamines, phentermine, are actually used for weight loss and works well for people who can’t stick to a diet on their own.
The truth is I don’t care if the clinics stay open or not. It’s a question of who funds them. I dislike the fact that 85% of the “patients” are eligible for MaineCare to provide their treatment. The people who run the clinic can go raise money some other way. Establish accounts with an expectation of reimbursement when they get you clean. Have bakesales. Do a telethon. The burden of 3500 peoples foolish decisions need to come off working people.
That’s a moronic proposal by you. Bakesales? Have the addicts pay the money back when they get clean? That wouldn’t exactly speed up recovery, now would it? I’ve got news for you: Many of these addicts are “working people” also. They are not all the stereotypical transients that you read about here on BDN because they were busted in a burglary. People from all walks of life use these clinics. Get a clue.
Great. Working people can pay for their treatment. Pull state funding. And you say that addicts would drag their “treatment” out so they wouldn’t have to pay for it? You are making me less sympathetic to addicts if you are implying that they would rather remain an addict than take responsibility for their themself. And what’s wrong with bakesales? I’d rather get a whoopie pie for my 2 cents than the nothing I get now. I think the real problem here is the idea from places like the clinics that we should all give them our tax monies because it’s easier than figuring out how to raise funds. $10 million in tax funds to keep 3500 people on methadone sounds like the clinics benefit from these folks never getting clean. Glad I’m not one of their “patients”.
People on methadone are clean. They are taking a medication for a brain disorder, not using drugs. They are just as clean as the cancer patient taking morphine or the OCD patient taking Valium.
And, in case you didn’t know, a lot of working people qualify for and get Medicaid. The fact that they get it doesn’t mean that they are not working. Why don’t you lobby the state of Maine to raise the minimum wage so that people could get their own health insurance?
The market determines wages. Not the State. Just as in Newton’s Law, for every action in an economy there is an equal and opposite reaction. Raise the minimum wage and small businesses that depend on “entry level” workers will have fewer staff on payroll. Minimum wage is an artificial starting point. No one should aspire to minimum wage after more than a few years making it. If you are still stuck on minimum wage after gaining working experience – you have made a poor personal choice as far as your work goes. Minimum wage jobs do not and should not provide health insurance. That is farce. Health insurance is a benefit – not an entitlement.
Because of the prejudice and stigma aobut methdone treatment, people are unwilling to accept the analogy of the similarity between opiate dependancy and diabetes or a major mental illness.
That addiction is caused by people being “weak” and morally inferior.
Well, my..my…..someone that actually admits having no factual knowledge about methadone treatment, but is willing to be polite and keep an open mind. Bravo to you!!!
Sure, get rid of methadone clinics and then see what happens. The addicts aren’t going anywhere. Except maybe through your bedroom window to find valuables to sell for a fix from the black market. Crime will increase DRAMATICALLY and that increase will have to be dealt with from the same tax dollars (and probably more) you were spending on treatment centers. You can cut treatment center funding, but you will certainly pay for it.
Crime HAS increased dramatically since we started methadone clinics!
That is an outright lie. Show me the evidence. Post the link to it. Crime has increased because of high unemployment, budget cuts to critical programs and a casino. You may lie all you want.
Let me rephrase that. Since methadone clinics became so popular, crime has not decreased.
where to? and where are your statistics?
Where are Rachel’s and other’s statistics to back up the claim that if we don’t keep these people doped up and living off the system that crime rates will increase?
Your argument has fallen apart at the seams, honey. There is much empirical evidence and countless studies that support my assertion, all readily available on the web. There’s also common sense.
where to? and where are your statistics?
If they steal I say lock em up and for a long time .what you say is feed drugs and money and free room and board general assistance yeah that will really work think about it
So I guess more money will go into criminal justice and the jails, and not for treatment.
Now, isn’t that just the way of things?
Sorry folks, no sympathy here. They got themselves on, let them get themselves off!
Don’t do drugs to begin with and you won’t have to worry about visiting a clinic. Shut them all down it’s a waste of money.
Does that headline contain an unintentional pun? ;)
No.
Ya it do
Ms. Payne said ” people should not have to make those choices” in reference to selling their take home or not paying their rent….Perhaps they should think of that before they make the choice to do drugs…I do not believe in the clinics…let them cold turkey in a rehab center for a couple weeks..they may feel like they are going to die, of which they won’t, but oh well….Do we give beer to a whiskey alcoholic to get him off….It is time we become accountable for ourselves and stop making wimps out of this society….If everybody wants to get all this free stuff then they should be made to do severe community service..perhaps that would get them moving to beome someone who puts into society not takes from it and it is a way of life for them….
I have been in treatment for four years now, I got hurt in a car accident several years ago and was perscribed pain killers.when I finally healed up and stopped taking the painkillers I was sick all the time, body ache, vomitting, depression, tired all the time slept 12 hours to work 8 it was terrible. Finally I figured out it was addiction causeing it . when I finally got on the correct dose of methadone my life got a lot better more time with my family because I could stay out of bed because I no longer was feeling sick. I didnot ask for the addiction I am just playing the hand I was delt. Now that iI told my story I kept my job while going though this and I payed for everything myself and drove their every day. I AM GLAD THE STATE IS CUTTING BACK THERE ARE TO MANY PEOPLE USING IT FOR A FREE RIDE A ND HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING OFF THE STUFF THEY MAKE TO MUCH AND DONT EVEN WORK. I SEE IT EVERY DAY . they could work but they dont because they dont have to the 2 year limit is more than fair and the co pay should be higher than 2 dollars I saydrop the price to 60 dollars for everyone and if they cant pay that there lieing because you spend that a day if your an addict. Its time everyone grew up and take care of their own problem were supposed to be adults and thats what adults do.
cry me a river please. get off of the junk. period. these people are still addicted but now I and others that pay taxes are taking care of them. I would rather pay a few bucks extra to keep them in jail than have them out and high on legal smack.
“But she’s not ready to cut off treatment just yet, she said.” of course she isn’t.
Methadone is not the answer…There were
5500 methadone related deaths in 2007.Methadone is a synthetic opiate that is
used to treat pain and addiction for heroin and other opiates. When methadone
is used for pain, doctors write the patient a prescription for various amounts
(120 pills seem to be most common) When methadone is used for addiction patient
must go to a clinic to receive dose of methadone until they earn take home
privileges. Many patients being treated for addiction will remain on medication
for life. Methadone is addicting and withdrawals are severe. Methadone
represented less than 5% of prescribed opiates but was attributed to 1/3 of all
opiate related deaths. A dose that is therapeutic for one person may be lethal
to another person. Methadone’s’ unique properties make it unforgiving and
sometimes lethal. For more information,
please visit http://www.stopmethadonedeaths.com. Please sign petition and join the
forum.
Tonya, since you spend so much time posting this message all over the internet why don’t you spend some time learning the facts about methadone maintenance and the difference between it and pain management with methadone. Deaths among people being treated at clinics are very rare. The vast majority of deaths are of those who use methadone recreationally and those who use it for pain. There is a big difference between addiction and pain treatment and it’s these differences, like the fact that pain patients have a low tolerance and take the methadone several times a day, that make methadone for pain deadly much more often.
Your warnings and stats don’t apply to methadone maintenance treatment.
Most of the “methadone deaths” are actually a result of a “cocktail” of mixing other drugs with methadone. And in the statistic where there is only methadone present, it’s usually methadose pills prescribed for pain, not liquid for addiction. Check your OSA facts a little closer before making braod sweeping statements.
I was addicted to oxycontins for about 4 years. I stole so much money from my parents in my early 20’s (about $10K worth) just to get high. I did an oxy 80 every other day. My father is a recovering alcoholic since 1987 so addiction runs in my family. When I finally hit rock bottom I said enough is enough. Instead of me flocking to the methadone clinic like all the rest of the addicts, I got clean the hard way. Of course I naturally went through horrible withdrawls that left me physically and emotionally sick. It was either that or just TRADE oxycontins for methadone. I absolutely didnt want to go down that road. Methadone is soo toxic for the body that it causes your bones to weaken, get overweight, and yes loss of sex drive and impotence. Each month that went by got better and better until I had no desire to snort oxycontins ever again. I stopped hanging out with my “so-called friends” and left them in the rear view mirror. Basically what I’m trying to say is that get clean and sober the old fashioned way. Tough it out no matter what. Nothing sickens me more is seeing these addicts go from oxycontins to methadone….on OUR TAX PAYER EXPENSE! Just QUIT! It sucks like I said, but each week that passes by is easier than the last.
You are one of a few who are successful just detoxing and never relapsing. Over 90% are not so lucky. Most addicts detox over and over again but most relapse within a few months. That’s why they need medication like methadone or Suboxone – to stop the intense cravings that causes a compulsion to use and leads to relapse. Since you never had that, and most likely never had an addiction, you have no clue why getting and staying clean is so hard.
Methadone doesn’t make you high so it’s in no way switching one drug for another.What it does is restore you to normalcy and removes the desire and cravings for drugs. It does NOT in any way affect your bones, that’s a myth, and it doesn’t cause you to get overweight. It does affect the sex drive for some people but that’s a small price to pay to have your life back.
Saying that methadone clients dont get high is a absolute falsehood. You must work at one of the clinics.
I agree Chris..
If they are on a theraputic dose and don’t mix other drugs with their methadone, they will NOT get high. If there is any doubt about amount being right, blood levels are drawan, like any medication and it’s determined that way.
What are you basing your statement on? There is no truth to it. At a stable dose in a tolerant person there is no euphoria, impairment or “high”. If methadone made you high there would be no addicts on the street. They would all be at the clinic.
I don’t work at a clinic. I do go to one though and except for the first 3-4 days when I did feel something from it I have never got high from it. I feel no different after taking my methadone than I do taking some Tylenol.
Jessica please try Teen Challenge (not just for teens) they have been helping people with drug and alcohol addictions for decades. http://www.tcnewengland.org & for a small fee!
Three months tops!!! You can’t tell me it take two, three, four or more years before some one is clean. This is these big drug co.’s cashing in on people who are in trouble. If you want to come clean, you can do it in a short period of time, you might have to go to counseling for a little longer, but the drugs are out of your system in a short period of time. It is time for the state to stop spending our money on this foolishness!
You don’t understand what methadone maintenance is meant to do. It has little to do with getting off drugs. Addicts get off drugs all the time. The hard part is not getting on again and that’s what methadone helps with. If it was just about getting off drugs going to a detox clinic would work just fine but it doesn’t. The relapse rate is over 90%. With counseling and sober living the results are slightly better, about 80% relapse rate. With methadone maintenance the relapse rate is only about 30%, sometimes less. The longer a person stays in treatment the better the outcome. Two years is the recommended minimum. There are shorter methadone detoxes that last between 3 weeks and 6 months but they are usually a miserable failure as the addict relapses shortly after getting off methadone.
Addiction is not a physical condition. It’s a brain condition which is not fixed by getting off drugs. Addiction is not curable but it is treatable and one way to do that is with medication that treats the symptoms of addiction and helps the addict remain addiction free and live a normal life.
Some opiate addicts that have used opiates for a long time have permanent damage to their endorphin system which causes severe depression, insomnia and anhedonia. These people need artificial endorphins, which opioids are, to treat these debilitating symptoms.
Methadone maintenance treatment is done long term for a
reason. It’s because it’s often needed to keep people with an opioid addiction
drug free and have quality lives. Studies and experience shows that a large
number of people relapse once they get off methadone if it’s done too soon.
That’s why several years of treatment is often needed. A few months and
counseling just doesn’t work.
It’s nice to have your comments Zitake as I get tried of writing the same comments you do. No one wants to hear us.
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and therin lies the heart of Prejudice and Fear
Detoxification only removes drugs from your body, it does not immediately heal a damaged opiate neurotransmitter system in the brain. That takes time and some people’s endorphine systems never completely rebounds.
Just throwing this out there, as I’m sure some readers are not aware of this. Guess who else goes to the clinic?????????? Pregnant woman, oh yes, they get to do Methadone all throughout their pregnancy, and even though they can not possible quit using methadone during their pregnancy, because that would just be way to hard for them…….INSTEAD, THEIR NEWBORN BABIES WILL GO THROUGH THE WITHDRAWALS THAT THEIR MOTHERS DIDN’T HAVE THE GUTS TO DO, I hope that none of you have had the experience of hearing a Methadone addicted baby SCREAM almost without pause, hour after hour and day after day, with no way to console them, until they make it through their withdrawals. Any mother who would put her baby through that should be required to give that baby to a more deserving couple, a mothers first duty is to protect from harm, I’d say after failing the first test, you shouldn’t get another chance to harm that baby!
What the heck are you talking about? You clearly have no clue what you’re talking about. Pregnant women are NOT maintained on methadone because it would be too hard for them to get off. They are maintained because getting off could kill the baby or cause permanent damage as the baby goes through withdrawal in utero. If it was in the baby’s best interest to detox the mother that would definitely be done but it’s not. Case in point is the fact that most jails will cut opiate dependent people off cold turkey with exception of pregnant women because of the major harm it could do to the baby. Pregnant women in jail are maintained on methadone for the sake of the baby, not the mother.
And babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome do NOT scream uncontrolably for days with no way to console them until they make it through withdrawal. If they do the hospital should be sued for malpractice because it definitely doesn’t have to be that way. With proper treatment a baby with NAS can be made comfortable and detoxed slowly with only minor symptoms. Only about half of all babies born to opiate dependent mothers experience any withdrawal symptoms.
Don’t make comments when you have no clue what you’re talking about.
And I join you Zitake on what you’ve, said as it’s all supported by research and scientific facts. You’re singing to the choir with some of us yet wasting your time with the Methadone KKK out there…………..
Please see my above post, pregnant addicts can safely be tapered off methadone as an inpatient while the fetus is being monitored.
You should take your own advice. Pregnant women CAN safely be tapered off methadone on an inpatient basis so they can monitor the fetus while doing so. Any guesses as to why this isn’t the most common practice? I would never suggest that someone should quit cold turkey and harm their unborn baby (more than they already have anyway). And yes, I do have experience with methadone addicted babies, and yes they do cry, a horrible horrible cry, one that is almost unbearable to listen to (not to mention other side effects that they endure) And yes the NICU staff can TRY to make the baby more comfortable with morphine, phenobarbital and several other medications commonly used, but here is a newsflash for you……THE BABY IS STILL GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS! But yes, you are right, lets sue the hospital for malpractice because not every horrible thing that mothers do to their unborn child can be magically fixed! And while we are suing the hospital who is providing treatment that no baby should ever have to endure, lets give poor mommy some more drugs at the same time. And I don’t know what fantasy land you are living in that the babies quietly go through their withdrawals and are easily comforted, I do think it is fabulous if some of the addicted babies have had that experience, but sadly that is not the norm. Last time I had the pleasure of visiting the NICU at my local hospital 39% of the babies in the NICU at that time were drug addicted babies. Do you not see a problem here? I will gladly accept the label METHADONE KKK, it’s actually quite catchy and I will use it, thanks! You guys can continue to justify people having drug addicted babies and you can continue living in your METHADONE IS GREAT fantasy island if it makes you feel better or less guilty, but please do not try to get people (who may not have any first hand knowledge) to believe that these babies don’t suffer the withdrawals that their mothers FORCE on them.
Well, here is an idea that might make us all happy, how about in order for a patient to get their Methadone they must first agree to, and receive a Depo Provera shot every three months as part of their program? I would like to believe that no one would WANT to have a drug addicted baby on purpose…….Problem solved.
——
Yes, that is the most common practice, but again, I will restate: Pregnant woman CAN be SAFELY tapered off while admitted to the hospital WITH fetal monitoring to maintain the safety of the baby. This would cost a lot more than just continuing the patient on methadone. I think both options are horrible and I think the focus should shift to PREVENTION! But then we run into the group who will then argue that they want to be a methadone user AND have a baby too. So I guess the babies will continue to be the ones to suffer because of this notion that we should all be able to have our cake and eat it too.
then after the babies are born..they detox them and let these people have them back..or give them to a family member to care for them, and that baby still has contact with the parent(s) that are still doing drugs…seeing it 1st hand…disgusting
and if they didn’t going into methdone treatment, the babies would likely die from miscarraiges as a result of withdrawals.
but then, I guess that doesn’t matter to alot of people…………….
And maybe, if these women had any integrity, and could use their brains, they would commit to getting 100% clean and start living a responsible life before bringing a poor child with zero choice in the matter to live in their maddness and lunacy.
A cruel thought I am sure.
Perhaps the correct way of thinking really is–
“Im a drug addict and still have to take synthetic opiates that will addict my unborn child and creat hardship and suffering for them at birth. Then my baby will still have a mother that cant be 100% capable of being the best parent she can be.
That doesnt sound selfish, and self absorbed at all.
What makes you think that mothers on methadone can’t be great parents? I know several who are great parents and have great kids. One woman I know is very active in her kids’ school and the leader of her daughter’s girl scout troop. She’s the quintessential soccer mom. Why should she not be allowed to have her kids? In what way is she not 100% the parent she can be?
Not all women who have babies with NAS are addicts either. Many have conditions that require them to take medication. For someone with severe pain conditions getting off medication for nine months is not an option. Maybe these people should never have children. Maybe someone with genetic conditions should not have children either. Maybe only perfect, healthy, young women should have children to ensure that the children won’t have any challenges. But we don’t live in a perfect world and not perfect people choose to have kids and work with their doctors to give their kids the best shot possible. With the right treatment babies born dependent on medication can do very well with minimal or no suffering. If the babies scream and scream they are not getting the right treatment.
Question: Do you think that someone with, say, dwarfism is selfish for having kids since the baby may be a dwarf and could suffer a lifetime of bone issues and other social and practical problems?
——
Prejudice is a frightening force that breeds fear and ignorance.
People have died at the end of this picked stick or been beaten with the other end called Discrimination.
As well it should be, if people would take having a baby more seriously the world would be a better place! People think of their fairytale desire to have a baby and often times fulfill their own desire while ignoring what would be best for a baby. I’m all for people being free to do what they choose, they can sit at home and do drugs all day, I really don’t care, just don’t bring anyone else into that who doesn’t have a choice……babies deserve better than that don’t you think? I think self righteousness is an asset when it comes to the health and well being of our babies and children. I just cant wrap my head around the idea that as a society we should just sit back and accept this drug (legal and illegal) epidemic and not be outraged! Are you not reading the newspapers everyday? Are you not looking around? Do you turn a blind eye to the babies in the NICU? Do you turn a blind eye to all of the children in foster care because their parents are junkies? Do you turn a blind eye to the children who go to school everyday without the proper clothes or breakfast because their mom and dad are strung out and they get themselves off to school? I could go on but I won’t, you get the picture. So am I self righteous? About this issue, I sure am, and if more people were maybe we could start solving the problem instead of pacifying it.
A few things come to mind, first, I don’t know enough about Dwarfism to respond to that specifically, but yes I believe that if you have a child knowing that they will endure physical pain and suffering as a result of something you know they will have then I do believe the person would be selfish for inflicting that on a baby. In a case like that I would fully respect the person’s desire to have a child and think it would be a wonderful opportunity to adopt an unwanted baby! Many babies are born everyday that need a loving home. I do not think people need to be perfect to have children by any stretch of the imagination (although wouldn’t it be nice), I have a very high tolerance for just about anyone having children as long as they they can properly care for the child, they have the mental well being to care for a child, they offer a safe nurturing environment for the child, and that they can take care of themselves first! I can’t help but believe that someone who has such terrible chronic pain that they have to be on Methadone for the rest of their lives needs the added stress and responsibility of raising a child, let alone pregnancy and childbirth. This makes me think of two friends, one who has chronic health problems and decided that because of that she and her husband chose not to have children. And another friend who was on pain medication regularly for an ongoing back injury resulting from a car accident. It took a lot of planning on her part to get a pain plan in place before even trying to conceive, she had to switch from medication to seeing a chiropractor every other day throughout her pregnancy as well as using acupuncture at times. She also had to set up a special birth plan at a facility that was equipped with the things she needed. Now those are two examples of people who considered the effect that their decision was going to have on an innocent baby and considered that of higher importance than their own desires! I’m thankful that I did not have to face those decisions myself but I certainly would have taken one of those paths. I guess I consider having a baby a serious decision and a gift and others just think of it as a right…..they want one so they will have one no matter what. Each to it’s own I guess, the problem isn’t going away anytime soon though. I am aware of one particular medication that doctors require the person using it to be on birth control, they even have to sign a “birth control contract” before the doctor will prescribe it, why not do that for methadone users, but make in mandatory. I think that is a very civilized solution.
“Rep. David Burns, R-Whiting, the bill’s sponsor, said two years of methadone treatment is long enough to determine whether a patient has a medical need to continue.”
1) Yet despite physicians telling him that there is, indeed, a medical need to continue, Burns wants the treatment stopped short.
2) It’s fascinating that Republican politicians seem to fancy themselves medical doctors who can make official pronouncements on how much treatment is needed and for how long. Would you want Burns in charge of your diabetes treatment? Your cancer care?
Whats the difference between him and some insurance executive??
Very little difference–neither has medical training and both try to get between physicians and patients, in order to deny care, to save money.
Unfortunetely, we are experiencing the Methadone Backlash and everything that can be legally done to stop and strangle methadonee treatment IS going to happen. Brace yourself for the dark ages again, as it’s just a question of HOW and WHEN.
I agree the political situation is dire. But I continue to fight. I always told my kids that it’s important to stand up for one’s beliefs even when the odds are stacked against you. So I guess I’d better do that, too!
none
Stop paying for transportation. Do they even check to see how many car pool before paying for transportation?
perhaps I am ignorant but from what I have seen, Methadone is not treating addiction, but just trading one drug substance for another. I can see it being used to wean someone off the stuff to make it physically & mentally more easy to stop the drug using….but I do not understand why it should take years. these people are still going around dependent upon narcotics. last, babies of Methadone mothers are still born addicted & must go thru withdrawal.
It takes years because that’s how clinics like Acadia can keep the cash cow running. Period. It’s all about the money.
Hold on, Zitake the methadone representative is going to have some wisdom for you…
Hahahahahah!
Acadia is a nonprofit business
After the recent incident people think the only place an American in USA can be guaranteed appropriate medical care (at the top of the list/front of the line) is in prison but good alernative for now is “Penny Health” check it out
Let’s see, they were paying for their illegal drugs and Methadone is “dirt cheap” so let them pay for that out of their own pocket instead of the rest of us (who CHOSE to NOT do drugs) pay for it. People make choices every day- there needs to be some accountability and personal responsibility for the consequences of those choices.
Not in socialist utopia. The Nanny State will wipe your bum if you can’t, regardless of why you can’t. As long as we all have that to fall back on, why worry about the consequences of our decisions?
Saying that someone on methadone is clean is like saying that someone is a recovered alcoholic but they still drink beer.
Or a “recovered alcoholic” taking the anti-craving medication Campral?
People who have to take medicines for years to curb the desire to drink or make them physicallly sick after drinking(a form of satation therapy of sorts) are no different than a continual methadone user.
I don’t why the patients (addicts) can pay $10 to make up the difference….we all know they were paying a lot more on the street for their fix…
You are not drug free if you are still taking methadone. That’s like saying an alcoholic is sober because they only drink beer on weekends. Why does the press continue to say these people are drug free. The PPH actually ran an article a few years ago telling people you couldn’t OD on methadone which is not true. In fact methadone OD’s are worse than heroine OD’s because of it’s synthetic properties to stay in the body longer. Methadone can take two to three times that Nalaxone to reverse an overdose than heroine does.
I don’t care if people want to take methadone for the rest of their lives. Just be truthful and honest about it in your reporting. It is still a narcotic, it is still very dangerous and people that take it are still addicts and are not remotely sober or drug free.
I think one of the biggest problems associated with the methadone clinics, is that these clinics are in business to make money. Thus the methadone clinics seemingly prefer to keep the patient coming back by increasing the dose as opposed to starting the dosage at a particular level ,then decreasing the dosage on a constant basis, enabling the patient to work their way down to a zero level.
They should cut the funding all together for these clinics…what a waste of money, a legal way to continue you addiction…
They need to cut the program! A person dying with a disease and you cut him from medical coverage ,yet you give these drug addicts who have choosen this path of self destruction all the drugs they want on the tax payers dollar something is totally screwed up. Whine all you want you won’t get any sympathy from me.
As I see it, they need to cut the whole ____ ing program. These people choose to do drugs in the first place therefore they became addicts. Whose fault is this? Not the tax payers. When we cant give help to those who suffer from a disease that they never asked for, something has definately gone wrong. Oh i know there are some out there that will say that drug addiction is a disease. O.K. but who put those drugs up your nose or down your throat or in your needle, my guess YOU.
but it will be on the tax payers if they go back to using and in jail-jail is much more expensive
Have the patients pay the difference. They were able to get the money for street drugs, which are way more expensive, so they should be able to come up with $50 per week if they really want to!
no because it leads to behaviors that caused them to get into trouble in the first place. they want to get away from having them steal, hustle, deal to pay for methadone.
The issue of the addition aside, when is this crap about sifting costs to those with insurance going to stop? Every medical need is doing this because the government puts this sneaky TAX on those that have a way to pay for medical care! Insurance is fast becoming unafordable because the cost is so high! It’s strangling the economy because businesses are hiring temp. or part time workers only to avoid the benefits cost of medical insurance. These companys (and individuals) that can buy insurance should only have to pay the TRUE cost of their coverage and NOT include what government slips in as a hidden tax! If hospitals, health centers and doctors treat someone on medicaid or medicare they should be paid the same amount as cash patients or insurance covered patients! Costs of medical care under these programs should be open and up for honest debate and the costs very clear without making it a hidden tax on others receiving the same care. I know my property tax costs, income tax costs, SS costs and other tax costs! QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH OUR MEDICAL COVERAGE COSTS!
Addiction that is. Sorry for the misspelling!
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Ibogaine…..
I feel that 2 years is plenty of time to taper yourself off of methadone. Some people don’t want to get off because no matter what, they will get flu like symptoms for about 3 weeks. Well, enough is enough! I am aware of people who have been on methadone for over 7 years. They get reimbursement for travel, whether they use a cab or have someone drive them. The clinics let the people decide when they want to get off of methadone. There are no time goals. So, the choice: stay on methadone or get violently sick for three weeks. What is the easiest route that most methadone users will take? I am betting on the first game plan. If you speak to most people working at Acadia or other medical facilities, the majority will tell you that it is trading one addiction for another. With no guidelines for getting off of methadone, the problem is only going to get worse with no end in site. There is absolutely nothing positive about this sytem. Most people cannot or refuse to work when on this synthetic methadone drug.
You don’t have to go through 3 weeks of sickness at all. If you taper slowly like you’re supposed to you will feel very little discomfort.
It’s also not true that most can’t or won’t work while on methadone. The vast majority of methadone patients do work or go to school.
I find it very interesting that everyone here who know very little about MMT or addiction in general feel qualified to have opinions on how methadone treatment should be done. Has it ever occurred to anyone that there is a reason why things are the way they are and that it’s based on research and decades of experience?
time for some “tough love, maybe their families should get involved, and act like they care.. I know if a family member of mine was an addict I would have an intervention, and offer them help. a methadone clinic can be a great thing. but 3 years of taking it?? she should have been off methadone 2 years ago, and why should tax payers have to suffer for her bad decisions?? that money could be better used elsewhere. “Harm reduction” is not helping them.. it’s allowing the addiction to continue, and eventually return to what it was. NOT HELPING AT ALL!!
I would recommend the methadone user pay for their own pills. I pay for mine.
just have to throw this in here..Thank you to all the Dr’s who constantly want to give an addict (using or not) oxycodone or oxycontins to fix every little ailment they have..headaches/toothaches ect..makes me sick..
there is a legitimate use for opiates. However, life is also full of pain. I worked a 12 hour shift last night with a headache that was out of this world. tylenol and ibuprofen barely took the edge off. So what, I’m not going to take something stronger that might take the pain away but for sure would make me a hazard in the workplace. Again, life is full of pain, that’s the way it is.
Was this article written to induce pity? Because if it was, it didn’t work with me. If you make a mistake, you should pay for it. She can buy her own drugs.
I say close them all down. And also while we’re at it stop the legalization of pot dispensaries. We’ve got enough pot headed losers in Maine as it is on top of the meth-heads. Do we really still want to be the #1 state in the USA with babies born addicted to pain killers anymore??? Come on grow up people!
We need to outlaw alcohol too. More violent crimes are done on alcohol than pot. FAS fetal alcohol syndrome is a major problem that seems to be overlooked. I have not seen to many cases of (fetal pot syndrome) but it might happen I guess. Just saying alcohol is still one of the worst drugs abused by people. It may not be as addictive for some as other drugs but still causes many problems.
PATIENT RATIO CHANGE; THE INSIDE SCOOP:
So, the Office of Substance Abuse is going to change the patient ratio of 50 patients to 1 counselor to 150 patients to one counselor……………………sounds good, but only if you’re a clinic executive.
This will indeed save the clinics money, but the counselors end up on the crappy end of the stick.
Let’s see, for 300 patients you only need two counselors.
These two counselors will be responsible for all extra the paperwork/case management that the other staff used to do, and still be expected to run all the daily group counseling.
The the clinics no longer provide any individual counseling, as that was found to cost too much.
So, what this translates out to is that the owners of the clinics will be able to increase their proftis off the backs of the overworked and underapaid staff and patient quality care will continue declining as there isn’t even any individual counseling to offer anyway.
Be AFRAID………….BE VERY AFRAID counseling staff……….. because with that change in the ratio from 50/1 to 150/1, there will be alot of jobs cut, and out the door to the Unemployment office.
The staff that are left will be overworked and continue to be underpaird, while on the fast track to burnout…………….end of story
Not a pretty picture, but if you work at a methadone clinc, start getting used to it, or make plans to bail out.
Your not technically “clean” if your receiving methadone treatments daily! SORRY!
And about the comment that methadone treatment is too individualized to set time limits on patients is laughable at best. Of course they don’t want you to come in do your treatments, get clean, and be done with methadone. That would ultimately put them out of business… they want people to spend 10 years of their lives standing in line for their 2 dollar high while making money of “CLEAN” tax payers!
See, that comment may be true if all methadone clinics everywhere were for profit but
they are not. Many are non-profit and some are run by local governments. In
most other countries they are all public, ran by and paid for by the government.
In these cases it would be in the government’s interest to get people out as
soon as possible yet that is not done. That’s because they know that longer
treatments have better outcomes and if you discharge people too early they will
just come back, with expensive ER visits and jail stays in between.
When methadone treatment started it was mainly short term with the goal of getting
everyone off any substances asap. But this proved to be a miserable failure so
it’s changed. It has nothing to do with money. Many clinics actually have long
waiting lists so having people leave wouldn’t hurt them financially at all. In
fact it would be better for them since new patients have to pay intake fees and
sometimes other fees for tests, etc. So a steady stream of new people would
make them more money.
Also, do you think that someone with MS who takes Oxycontin for pain is not “clean”? Is
everyone who take medication not clean?
“non profit” doesn’t mean that they can’t make a hefty profit.
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They just switch one drug for another. Plus want the state to pay for it. When the state says no the anger comes out. I have been sober for over 10 yrs. and not once do I think the state should have payed for it. I feel bad for people how are hooked on the methadone and wish I could help. The best advise is get involved in a program that drug and alcohol free being clean it the way.
People here clearly don’t understand methadone treatment and why some patients remain on
methadone for years. Some believe it’s because people are addicted to methadone
or because the clinic wants to continue to make money. That’s not the case at
all. To try to get people to, hopefully, understand let me explain why I’ve
been on methadone for seven years.
To make a long story short, I started using heroin at 15 when I was young and dumb. Through
the years I tried to quit several times. I went to rehab three times and to
detox several times but I always relapsed. One time I detoxed cold turkey and
moved thousands of miles away in an attempt to run from the problem. It worked
for almost a year but I eventually relapsed then too.
After this I decided to try methadone. The first time I tried it I was only on it for about
four months because I was discharged as I couldn’t afford to pay for the
treatment (Medicaid in my state doesn’t cover methadone treatment). The second
try went much better and I stayed at the clinic for a year and a half, doing
really well. I tapered off methadone just fine and thought everything was going
to be just fine. But less than two months later I relapsed, again. Why I
relapsed I don’t even understand myself.
After this my life got really bad again and I was living in a living hell. It was
horrible. After some time, two detox attempts and countless NA meetings I
decided to try methadone again. That was seven years ago and I’ve lived a good,
normal, drug free life ever since. I’m doing great. I have a good marriage, we
own our own home, I work full time and volunteer on my spare time. I take my
methadone with my morning tea and go about my day. I’m happy and healthy and I
want it to remain that way. I never, ever want to go back to active addiction.
Never. But I have relapsed so many times and I know that without methadone
there would be a risk that I’d relapse and I’m NOT willing to take that risk.
So I’ve decided to remain on methadone for now. I figure that if it’s not
broken, don’t fix it. I really, really don’t want to relapse so I’ve made the
choice to increase my chances of not doing so. I don’t see the point of stopping
methadone just for the sake of it. This works. It’s worked for seven years and
I’m not going to change it and take any risks. Why is that so bad?
FYI, I’ve also paid every penny for my treatment out of pocket.
I am sorry, but you say you never want to “relapse”, but in my book and many others’, you are still using an addictive drug. Yes, a drug. End of story, no matter how you spin it.
Yep, me and half of America are taking drugs. I actually take several drugs. I also take Singulair and Albuterol for allergies, diphenhydramine for insomnia, Tylenol for headaches, caffeine for some energy in the morning, etc. Diphenhydramine and caffeine are addictive drugs too but since I’m not addicted to them, just like I’m not addicted to methadone, I don’t see a problem with it.
I don’t believe that you are very knowledgeable about addiction or MMT so I don’t believe that you are qualified to make a judgement on this topic. My treatment is not a matter of opinion so what’s in your book is irrelevant.
If your treatment is not a matter of opinion..than stop telling us about your treatment and the drugs you take! If you write it on here..than anyone is allowed to have an opinion about it and say whatever they damn please. So don’t get all huffy when someone gives their opinion. Its your fault for over sharing in the first place!
First of all, congratulations for being off of the heroin, etc. for so long and for getting your life on track! Your story was very touching as I have a family friend struggling with an addiction right now and he is going through his first round of Methadone treatments.
I have quite often thought of Methadone as being a replacement drug myself so I can certainly understand some of the comments made to you regarding this. Regardless, it’s a medication and some people need medication for various illnesses. Even though drug addiction is a chosen illness, and I will always stand by that, it’s still a very real illness.
After hearing/seeing the family friend struggling with addition, I have far more appreciation for the Methadone than I ever used to. This guy is now able to hold down a conversation, has been holding down a new job, and has been building self confidence that he just may need to get himself back on track. So if he has to be on it for the rest of his life, how could I take that away from him? Holding down a job and having a coherent conversation was NEVER even a remote possibility when he was into the drugs. On Methadone, it is.
Good luck with your continued recovery. You’re doing so great and should be extremely proud of yourself!!! Do NOT let anyone tell you otherwise!
Seems like BDN is always running methadone stories on slow news days.
The reason being that it sells papers and gets the pro and anti methadone forces at each other’s throats.
Plus “negative” news is more entertaining than “positive” news.
this story was actually one of the more neutral ones that BDN has published.
Uusually they are biased and negative because that’s what the general public wants.
Close all the clinics down please or make people pay for their OWN treatment, after all their bad choices got themselves into the mess their in.
LePage wants to defund the clinics so it will cost the State of Maine 100 times as much to treat the addicts in jail or in a hospital !!! Good thinking Governor !!!!! You are brilliant at math !!! Brilliant at life !!! Brilliant solving our problems !!! 2014 can’t come soon enough !!!
In jail..addicts are given a 14 day detox then they are not allowed any other drugs…so how the heck does that cost us more? If anything it saves us $$
Can a clinic FEEL PAIN?
Why should we have to fund someones drug problem? Its not our fault addicts are addicts
What a scam Methadone clinics are
So the state regulations limit each counselor to 50 patients on their caseload, and that now is changing to 150 patients per counselor,??.
There is no way that those overworked staff are going to be able to provide safe monitoring of the patients, especially the ones abusing other drugs, like alcohol and benozdiazapines.
Looks to me that while the clinics gain a little more money back by overworking their staff with the increased patient ratio, (as they previously lost money when the MaineCare rate down to $60. per week) they are also increasing the risk of patient overdose due to “nobody is minding the store”.
Nobody can, cause “nobody” has the time.
There are to have already been some overdose casualties as clinics have been cutting staff positions steadily since last year, right up through the current year.
As they continue to cut more, the deaths will only increase, as the few remaining counselors are not able to provide enough monitoring and safety measures to lower the risk of overdose.
This is a Lose..Lose ……………..all the way around for the patients and the staff.
Counselors lose their jobs, and the patients lose their lives.