Vermont Drug Rehab Information

As an opiate, regular use of methadone causes physical dependency - if you've been using it regularly (prescribed or not) once you stop you will experience a withdrawal. The physical changes due to the drug are similar to other opiates (like heroin). If you are a woman using methadone you may not have regular periods - but you are still able to conceive. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours (if you are using methadone you will not withdraw for this period) A Personal story of methadone withdrawal: “I've been on both ends of withdrawals, heroin and methadone, every patient of methadone will always tell you the same, as I do; I can kick heroin anytime, but methadone that is something else. In 15 yrs of heroin addiction, I've kicked 3 times, 'cold-turkey'. In 10 years on methadone I've never kicked methadone.”

Drug addiction treatment to be effective needs to help and guide the individual in confronting and gaining the skills and abilities needed to resolve all areas of their lives – not merely ceasing their drug use which is only the beginning. Personal issues of nutrition and gaining a healthy balance need to be addressed. Issues of cravings, quilt, and depression resulting from addiction need confronted and relieved, legal issues often exist. Broken or strained relationships in the family and workplace need resolved. The issue of how the addict gets on with his life in a drug free and productive manner, and be happy and fulfilled doing so, can be one of the biggest issues of all. Addicts and alcoholics are often quite concerned about being miserable and suffering without the drugs or alcohol. Narconon Arrowhead is an empowering program that assists the individual in resolving each of these situations as well as others he or she may have. We don’t enforce or insist rather we help, guide, and assist the individual in finding their own unique answers that will work and more importantly continue to work for them. This helps insure a continuing drug free life as their solutions are theirs and not something dictated or enforced on them.

As any loved one of an addict can tell you, the effects of addiction go far and beyond just the effects created on the addict himself. The amount of stress and distress created in the wake of active addiction can and do effect the emotional and physical well being of loved ones and associates or the addict. Financial ruin, destroyed marriages, emotional upsets to children, distrust, and repulsion are just a few that can be named. The sad part of it is the fact that the addict himself is often unaware of creating these situations until they have reached a breaking point. As drug and alcohol addiction reduce awareness of the environment and often distort it, it is a sad commentary that the addict when he becomes aware of these harms actually feel great guilt and depression, which often leads to more and more drugs in an attempt to numb him or herself.

Morphine can be highly addictive with Tolerance, physical, and psychological addiction to Morphine developing quickly. Morphine activates the brain’s reward systems. Activation of the brains’ receptors is very intense, causing the individual to crave Morphine and to focus his or her activities around the taking of Morphine. This causes the added effects of guilt and depression as ones responsibilities and values are compromised in order to obtain the drug. Morphine also reduces a person’s level of consciousness and awareness, harming the ability to think clearly or be fully aware of present surroundings Withdrawal from Morphine causes nausea, tearing, yawning, chills, and sweating lasting up to three days.