Why Many Addicts Choose Methadone or Suboxone Over Dose Reduction

Drug addiction is a complex issue that affects millions of lives around the world. Many addicts find themselves torn between the desire to quit and the fear of the withdrawal process. One of the most frequently discussed topics in this context is the choice between reducing drug dosage and opting for treatment with methadone or suboxone. This piece delves into the reasons why many choose the latter, highlighting the benefits and challenges of each approach.

Personal and Contextual Factors

For many addicts, such as Vincent, the decision to enter a program like methadone or suboxone is a multifaceted one. Vincent, who became a father, wanted to escape the illegal activities and drug dealing that had been a part of his life. Joining a clinic made his addiction more legal and less dangerous, allowing him to live more normally and stay away from the law, as well as the anguish of his former lifestyle.

"Starting at a clinic makes it your addiction more legal or less dangerous overall. You get to live a lot more normal, cookie-cutter life and get your new child away from that life and experience."

The Hell of Tapering

Tapering off drugs is often likened to living through a nightmare sustained over a prolonged period. Methadone and suboxone, while harsh, are often seen as a lesser evil compared to the immediate and intense withdrawal symptoms of sudden cessation. However, they come with their own set of challenges. According to Vincent, many individuals find that the discomfort associated with methadone and suboxone is even more severe and persisting than that of opioid withdrawal.

"Tapering is the most hellish hell that ever was a hell. Except that is for going cold turkey. But I look at it this way - how long do you want your hell to last? Methadone and suboxone are no hell at all in comparison. It's their very 'value'. It's only putting it off though and from what I have heard many many times methadone and suboxone are much harder to stop. Extremely long discomfort much worse than opioids."

Encouragement from Society and Professionals

It is worth noting that both reduction in dosage and treatment with methadone or suboxone are supported and encouraged by the justice and medical systems. This backing often comes from the perspective that alternative treatments can be more humane and effective in the long run. However, as Vincent points out, this support does not detract from the inherent discomfort and psychological challenges of these treatments.

"However in any case withdrawal sucks. Plus you know the justice system and medical system push drug replacement therapy. So people get a lot of encouragement to do so. It's a flagship example of people still being told that prescription drugs aren't 'drugs'. As the psychological component of having a jones is a very large part of the burden and there is still a physical dependency and 'in conjunction with therapy' isn't something that is affordable for most people..."

A Critique of Methadone and Suboxone Therapy

Not everyone agrees with the efficacy and advisability of methadone or suboxone therapy. Vincent strongly advocates for those who have successfully weaned themselves off all addictive substances to share their experiences, as he believes that mere anecdotes from those who are still struggling do not provide a clear picture of the situation.

"I think drug replacement therapy is a very bad idea. Ask someone who has really gotten completely off of everything not people who still haven't."

A Personal Experience

For Vincent, the benefits of methadone have been significant. Methadone not only helped reduce the hard cravings but also stabilized his pain management, making his experience much more consistent. He is now completely off morphine and has significantly reduced his methadone dosage, maintaining a more normal life without the constant ups and downs of his addiction.

"For me personally the short answer is that methadone not only helped reduce the hard cravings but it also eliminated the up, down rollercoaster of pain control. The pain was finally kept at a much more even reduced level instead of going from under control after an injection of morphine to gradually having the pain steadily increase over the next few hours as the morphine wore off. My tolerance to the drug increased. Then another shot and start all over again - for 15 years. With the methadone the pain control was much more consistent."]

These stories and experiences provide a nuanced view of the challenges and potential benefits of different approaches to drug addiction. Whether through dose reduction or specialized treatment programs, each individual's journey is unique, and the most important factor is finding a path that leads to a sustainable recovery.