Comments on: Series: 10 Things You Should Know About Methadone (Number 8)

By: Ginny

Ginny — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:14:44 +0000

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being in methadone maintenance treatment it’s that there is no point in trying to deal with the administrators by yelling/threatening/using words to try to communicate to them on a personal level at all. Just imagine what kind of person seeks out a job like that who doesn’t have a passion for helping people. It’s a person who gets their jollies by having this ultimate power over other people’s lives. So by getting upset enough to make all those threats you aren’t helping yourself and you certainly aren’t hurting them. From working in a methadone clinic their only reaction to you will be mild amusement because even if by some chance you really do have all the connections you were talking about, if you are on Medicaid you can’t afford a lawyer. If you could afford to retain a lawyer for a case like this then paying 3 months worth of clinic fees would be nothing for you. So let’s drop that. The best way to deal with them is to have absolutely nothing to say to them directly. Call the number provided to you by RecoveryHelpDesk and contact your state’s methadone authority. That is your best chance of making any headway whatsoever in this situation. Also I would contact a local advocate for Medicaid patients to see about possibly getting your Medicaid reinstated and then you could possibly get those bills retroactively covered. No matter what there is no sense in losing your cool and getting emotional in front of these people. If they really are the sadists they seem to be then you getting upset enough to make up threats is only going to satisfy them more. Don’t give them the satisfaction. They will be way more worried if you don’t say a word and just casually walk over to the nearest poster with your state’s Substance Abuse Authority’s number posted on it and copy it down before you leave.

By: recoveryhelpdesk

recoveryhelpdesk — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:46:08 +0000

Hi Dano -First off, congrats on the two years of recovery!

I believe it is unethical for methadone clinics to use your medication as a debt collection tool. It would be like the cancer clinic cutting someones dose of chemotherapy because they missed a copay. It’s vile and disgusting.

Please be careful about what you say to people at the clinic. You don’t want them to be able to claim that you are threatening them. I suggest you communicate with them about this topic through your lawyer.

You should discuss any side effects that you think may be related to methadone with your doctor. Methadone does not harm teeth. Many people ignore dental care for years while living with addiction, and then blame their dental problems on methadone. The two are not related. If anything, people in methadone treatment are better able to address their dental care needs –which often includes repairing the damage done by years of neglect.

You and your lawyer should call 850-413-6625 to contact the person designated as the methadone authority for the State of Florida and report your concerns.

Best of luck!

By: DANOTHEMANO111

DANOTHEMANO111 — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:49:52 +0000

I HAVE BEEN ON METHADONE GOING ON 2 YEARS THIS CHRISTMAS…2 YEARS CLEAN…RARARA…RECENTLY SOMEHOW MEDICAID DROPPED ME AND DID NOT LET ME OR THE CLINIC KNOW!!!THIS IS THE CLINIC IN LARGO FLORIDA..PAR…MAPS….OK THE ONLY THING I HAVE DONE EVERY DAY FOR 2 YEARS IS WALK UP TO THE WINDOW AND GIVE THEM MY FIRST 3 LETTERS OF MY NAME AND THEY TELL ME TO HAVE A GOOD DAY…OK…I WALKED UP TO THE WINDOW YESTERDAY AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY THEM BACKPAY FOR THREE FUNKIN MONTHS OR THEY WILL START DROPPING ME 45MG A DAY AND I’M AT”"210 “” WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FALIURE WITH COPD AND PHEREPHIAL EDEMA IN MY LEGS….OK….I WILL LITTERRALLY DIE BECAUSE I KNOW 2 WELL WHAT IT IS LIKE COMING OFF 100MG COLD TURKEY AFTER 5 YEARS…MY HEART WILL SHUT DOWN…I JUST HAD GOTTEN MY LAST UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK DEC 6TH AND CANNOT PAY 85 DOLLARS A WEEK…I’M ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH IGORIPHOBIA AND HAVE BEEN EATING MY MEDS JUST SO I CAN THINK STRAIGHT.I TOLD THE PERSON IN CHARGE THE MONEY DISCREPENCY IS NOT MY PROBLEM..I THOUGHT THE CLINIC IS SUPPOSED TO HELP US BUT ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY AND ALSO TOLD HIM THAT IF ANYTHING CHANGES I WILL BRING THIS PLACE DOWN..MY LAWER IS ALREADY UNDERCOVER WITH HIS P.I AND FROM WHAT HE SEES HE HAS SEEN NOTHING LIKE IT..ALSO I HAVE 4 FRIENDS THAT WORK FOR THE AUDITERS AT THE IRS ….SOOO I TOLD THE SOO CALLED BIG CHEESE THERE AT THE CLINIC IF U TOUCH MY DOSE THE NEXT TIME I WALK THROUGH THAT FRONT DOOR NOT ONLY WILL U BE SERVED WITH PAPERS BUT 4 IRS AUDITERS WILL SHUT YOU DOWN AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS IN FEAR AND DO I MEAN FEAR…WANTS I GET THIS PLACE TIED UP I THINK I SHOULD GO TO THE OTHER CLINIC BUT U HAVE TO PAY THEM 12 DOLLARS A DAY BUT THATS OK….SO WHAT DO U THINK DO I HAVE ANYTHING TO STAND ON EXEPT TO MAKE THEM LOSE ALOT AND DO I MEAN ALOT OF MONEY….AND ALSO THEY DON’T TELL YOU OR GIVE YOU ANY PAPERWORK STATING WHAT THIS CRAP WILL DO TO YOUR BODY…MAN OHH MAN MY TEETH ARE LITTERALLY CRUMBLING AND I GAINED 100 LBS THE FIRST YEAR I WAS THERE AND LOST MY LIBIDO AND ALL MY JOINTS I FEEL LIKE AN 80 YEAR OLD MAN AND IM ONLY 35 AND OTHER 26 YEAR OLD KIDS IN LINE ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THIER TEETH PULLED ….BUT ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREAT ON WHAT I’M GOING THRU AT THIS VERY RUDE CLINIC CALLED PAR MAPS IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA……………………….

By: Our Complicated Relationship With Methadone

Our Complicated Relationship With Methadone — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:59:28 +0000

[...] about methadone can be a barrier to successful treatment. Methadone treatment requires a strong commitment to recovery. Mixed feelings about methadone can make it more difficult for a methadone patient to sustain the [...]

By: Methadone Has Drug Overdose Risk and Benefits

Methadone Has Drug Overdose Risk and Benefits — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:36:07 +0000