Killing Pain with Methadone Might Also Kill the Patient

Methadone abuse has been reported to be a real issue in Mississippi. People are getting addicted to it, overdosing, and dying from it. In fact, it's one of the most dangerous drugs around and one of the most addictive. Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe OxyContin and similar painkillers because they have a reputation for addiction and abuse. Instead, they're prescribing methadone, apparently unaware they're giving the patient a drug that may be even more dangerous that the alternatives. Perhaps the worst news in all this, however, is the role played by insurance companies.

Insurance companies, in an effort to save money, will sometimes only approve the cheapest medicine available - and drugs don't get much cheaper than methadone. You can buy it for pennies on the dollar, compared to the many dollars one can pay for just one dose of other drugs. Not that any of them are much better. Every opiate painkiller on the market carries the risk of prescription drug addiction.

The overall need for painkillers also frequently comes back to the insurance companies. A patient may have chronic back pain that requires chiropractic, for example, but many insurance companies won't cover it. And those that do usually only cover a few visits - not enough to thoroughly address the problem. The same is true of acupuncture, which can also be very effective at pain relief, and natural supplements.

This is yet another blatant example of how messed up the priorities of the U.S. healthcare industry really are. With our exorbitantly high insurance costs you'd think we'd be given red carpet treatment. Not so. An evaluation of healthcare systems around the world places the U.S. at about number 35. Not too good for the most powerful country in the free world.

The problem with methadone is chiefly that it stays in the bloodstream much longer than it provides relief from pain. Some estimate it can take up to 59 hours for the drug to get out of the bloodstream- but the pain relief lasts for only four to eight hours. Thinking the drug has worn off, people take more of it. This causes a build up to toxic levels that can be deadly.

Rather than taking more methadone, patients might resort to different types of painkillers. All painkillers are central nervous system depressants. They slow down the respiratory rate and, with no warning whatever, can completely shut it down. That's how they kill people. Unfortunately, patients are not always adequately educated by their doctors on these facts and, as the use of the drug becomes more common, the death rate also climbs.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. If the pain relief only lasts for four to eight hours and the patient can't take more methadone, what are they going to do?

While methadone has certainly made its way to the streets - there are plenty of people taking it without a prescription - many of the overdoses and methadone-related deaths involve patients who are taking it for a legitimate reason - they need pain relief. But they risk their lives to get it.

Our healthcare system needs a lot of reform. Much of it is essentially controlled by Big Pharma so, of course, treatment is going to revolve around drugs. And the more people who are addicted, the more powerful and more wealthy the drug companies become. Which, for many, seems to be their highest priority. Sure, any business should make money, but not that way.

There may be drug-free alternatives for even the worst situation. If someone is dependant on prescription painkillers, they'd be wise to check out these alternatives. An addiction treatment center can help them get off the drugs. Then they can find a solution that will improve their quality of life without the risk.