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Is It Normal For My Friend To Cotinue With Opiate Treatment Program For Drug Addiction?
my friend has been in an opiate treatment program thru the VA for 15 years, clean and sober for 15 years. They still refer to him as a drug addict and must continue with this program for the rest of his life. Is this normal? Heroin was the drug of choice after a botched hip replacement which left him with one leg 3 shorter then the other
Tue, 18 Feb 2014
Hi,
It appears that your friend is still on some opioid, either methadone or Suboxone, which is provided by the opioid treatment center where he is enrolled. People on heroin who are unwilling or unable to quit the substance are offered harm reduction in the form of less harmful opioids like methadone or Suboxone. Obviously this continues for long as quitting these substances also results in withdrawal. If your friend wishes, he can be off Suboxone or methadone, though it will take time and will not be an easy process.
Best wishes.
It appears that your friend is still on some opioid, either methadone or Suboxone, which is provided by the opioid treatment center where he is enrolled. People on heroin who are unwilling or unable to quit the substance are offered harm reduction in the form of less harmful opioids like methadone or Suboxone. Obviously this continues for long as quitting these substances also results in withdrawal. If your friend wishes, he can be off Suboxone or methadone, though it will take time and will not be an easy process.
Best wishes.
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