Methadone deaths | Arthritis Information

Not sure if any of you use this as a pain killer, but there is an article on it here.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_re_us/methadone_deaths;_ylt=AlN5OqMgrispoN6LJBFt_ICs0NUE

bubbagump2008-04-17 14:26:32There are people with RA who use Methadone and if used properly is a good, longterm pain controller. The above article almost entirely references illicit use of Methadone as being the cause of death. Once again the bad publicity that the drug seekers are generating will make it more difficult for the individuals who truly need pain relief to obtain it.

Not only do you have people seeking drugs for an illicit high you have unscrupulous doctors who write prescriptions randomly. On top of that you have people who have obtained legit scripts only to resell the meds. Where does this leave the patient who needs long term pain relief?

I hope that I never reach the point of needing long term relief. No one understands the amount of pain that RA can cause, unless they have it. RA pain is very misunderstood even in the medical arena. Lindy

Methadone used to be used as a substitute to help heroin addicts. I don't know if they still use it for that.

It's getting harder to get legitimate pain medicine. I was treated like a leper when I wanted a few Vicodin to hold me till a doctor's appointment.
Mab, I've heard that from so many people. Fortunately, I have a primary care who understands RA pain and he scripts me for Vicodin. It's the only pain control med I've ever used on a routine basis. I tried Tramadol without any success. Since I'm in clinical remission I'm going to try Tramadol again for the PsA pain. Lindy LinB2008-04-17 18:09:51My RD is very good about prescribing pain meds. Unfortunately, not every RD is.....

I wish there were more info on this part, it says a friend gave a friend the pain killer but it doesn't say how much.

Quote:

In Vermont, a woman was charged last month with giving methadone to a friend who slipped into a coma and died. In New Hampshire, four people have been charged in connection with DeLucca's death, and a task force is investigating Laconia's seven other deaths in hopes of bringing charges.

This is why I wanted to post this, from the article, it doesn't sound like every situation is an overdose.

The majority of the deaths were due to illicit drug use, and the above falls into that catagory. Who knows what else the person was taking when they took the Methadone. If someone just hands you Methadone, and you take it, no questions asked, then I'd say that's illicit drug use. You didn't obtain the medication legitimately, nor was giving it to another person within the laws. If the task force is hoping to bring charges against others it sounds like the other 7 overdose deaths were due to illicit use of drugs.

"Once again the bad publicity that the drug seekers are generating will make it more difficult for the individuals who truly need pain relief to obtain it."