Methadone Treatment in Victoria: User Information Booklet

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Introduction

Methadone treatment is a way of dealing with many of the problems you may be experiencing from your use of heroin (or other opiates such as morphine, pethidine or codeine). You should discuss the drugs you use with your doctor.

It is not a cure for heroin addiction. But going on methadone takes the pressure off maintaining a habit, giving you time to think, to work, to sort things out without worrying about where your next hit is coming from, and to help you cut your connections to the drug scene.

Methadone has been used to treat heroin addiction for about 30 years, although the way methadone is used has changed a lot in that time. This booklet is about how methadone treatment works today.

There are two types of methadone program. The commonest type is a maintenance (or long term) program, lasting months or years. The goal is to reduce the harm associated with drug use, and to improve overall quality of life. Methadone treatment can also take the form of a withdrawal (or short term) program, lasting days or weeks, where methadone is used to ease the discomfort of withdrawing off heroin.

Most people find they do better on a maintenance program, rather than a withdrawal program. The program for you will depend on your particular needs and situation, and this should be discussed with your doctor.

Contents

• Introduction
• Confidentiality
• Benefits of Methadone Treatment
• Issues to Consider
• Methadone: the Drug
• Side Effects of Methadone
• Interactions with Other Drugs
• Alcohol
• Sedatives
• Opioids
• Dextropropoxyphene
• Phenytoin
• Driving
• The Methadone Program
• Your Treatment Team
• Starting Up
• The Routine
• Pregnancy
• HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis
• Holidays, Travel and Take-Aways
• Coming off Methadone
• Discontinued Treatment
• Difficulties and Complaints
• Overdose Warning
• Other Drug Treatments
• Contacts

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Methadone Treatment in Victoria - User Information Booklet (226kb, pdf)

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