Ok NSA I'm a little confused about what questions your asking me but I'll try to respond and if I misunderstand feel free to clarify.
My opinion of methadone is that it should be used as a last resort when all other treatment options have failed. Before I got on it I tried Rehab, suboxone, detox, counseling all multiple times over the course of 6 years. I ended up back on heroin every time very quickly. I've been on it for 3 months so maybe you can argue I don't have enough experience to make a determination but I'll give it to you from my perspective.
Pros: helped my cravings for heroin immensely, I get addiction counseling through the clinic, I have stopped using heroin almost completely I had 55 days until I had 1 slip up last week, I physically feel much better on it then on suboxone or no opiates.
Cons: somewhat expensive but much cheaper than dope, constipation, still addicted to opiates, have to go everyday until I can quit smoking weed, makes traveling on a whim much more difficult.
Methadone provides me with treatment in that I get a counselor assigned to me who I can see whenever I want during the week. He also has acted as a social worker helping me make mental health appointments and get food stamps. There are also free group therapy sessions everyday at the clinic I can attend. It has given me a lifeline to sort out my co occurring mental health issues without dealing with withdrawal or a habit at the same time. I went to rehab and tried to do both at once and found it to be impossible. The withdrawal just made at all far to painful to do any kind of deep work on myself. I was basically out of options my heroin habit was up too 80 dollars a day. It was only a matter of time before I got in legal trouble, ODed, or caught a deadly infection. That's why I got n methadone.
I'm describing myself not some other person so I dont know what you meant by that. Yeah I guess I have become a functioning opiate addict if that's how you want to describe it. And I'll tell you it's a he'll of a lot better than a non functioning opiate addict. I don't consider my use of methadone any different than a person with type 2 diabetes who needs insulin. Would it have been better if they would have controlled there weight and not gotten diabetes? Of course! But I didn't so hear I am. I don't consider them cuffs at all. If I want to travel all I have to do is let my counselor know a few days in advance to get guest dosing set up. Once I get take homes it will be even easier. Heroin and suboxone are very hard drugs as well so I fail to see your point there.
If I thought I was capable of getting completely off opiates I would of done it. But I couldn't so I chose to save my life with methadone. I refuse to be one of those revolving door rehab clients who are convinced that there 10th shot at rehab will be the one. That's no way to live a life. I'm glad complete sobriety works well for you but to criticize others who can't do it is a little bit fucked up. Addiction is a very individual illness what worked for me might not work for you and vice versa. I don't mind living a highly drug influenced life. I like drugs. You don't see me on here advocating Anyone with under 4-5 years of addiction and multiple failed rehab attempts to get on methadone. It's a last resort. And I was at a last resort.
As far as getting off goes. When and if I decide it's time I will do a very long slow taper. if i missed any questions you want to ask me let me know.
.. I just know where I was and where I am now. Shits not even the same universe. TRUE.