Opioids METHADONE Clinic taking away split dose & all take homes after 3 yrs of CLEAN UA

[666maxx666]

Okay so I am new to posted, but have been long-time lurker of Bluelight. If this is not the correct forum, please move it.. this was the closest I can find.
As far as I can see, this isent something that has been discussed here before, so I hope to get some good info so somewhere down the line (god forbid) if someone is in my situation they will have some info.

Brief history about me and where I am now.
So I have been using heroin since I was 16, I am now 23. I have been on methadone once before, at the age of 18, but due to parental pressure/financial instability I was forced to stop cold turkey at a 30mg dose (see: HELL for an entire month and a half). Managed to keep my self from addiction, although I did use on occasion, say once a month IF that. Best friend got locked up, so I decided to move with my GF out of state, clear across the country in an attempt to distance myself from drugs.

Funny how drugs are available anywhere, huh? Not that hard given that I now live 15min or so from Tiujanna. Anyways, I started using again out here. about 3 1/2 years ago ended up getting prescription to Subotex (not suboxone) and was shooting them. The doctor essentially caught on & cut me off - so decided to get on a methadone program. Best choice i could have made (up until now) as I have been clean since.

Fast forward to today. I get called into the back of the clinic w/ my counselor and the clinic director. They tell me THEY screwed up and haven't given me any UA's for the past 4 MONTHS. It has never been my job to keep track of this, and since I am CLEAN and have been since starting treatment, I didnt realize it had been so long. Well they say they are holding me accountable for this, saying I should have caught their mistake. Now at this point I was up to receive another take home. I was coming in every monday & thursday only, getting take homes the rest of the week. It is also important to mention that I am on a split dose of 260mg, which for those who dont know, means I take 160mg in the morning, and 160mg due to my high metabolism (24hr half-life is a crock). So they tell me they have to take away 1 take home for the next 30 days bc they have no UAs on file. OKay...I am pissed, but I know its better to just cooperate, get the 30 days over with, and go back to normal.

This was yesterday. Today I come in, and my counselor calls me back AGAIN (oh shit) and tells me now they want to do a PEAK AND TOUGH test, which is what was originally required to get split dose in the first place. Basically they dose you early in the morning & hold you hostage at the clinic for 4 hours then take your blood to test the PEAK level of methadone in you. Then 24-hrs later, you come back & they draw blood again to get the TROUGH low point blood levels in you. So how is this going to work if im already on a spit??? Are they going to take away my evening dose (putting me in withdrawal) just to do some bullshit blood test which they already have on file??? No one knows... Well after waiting an hour, having the clinic director call the regional director, i get a call back.

NOW they say they are taking away not 1, but ALL of my take-homes. On top of that, they are taking away my SPLIT DOSE. Saying I now longer qualify bc they forgot to give me UAs for 4 months, so they dont have anything to proof that im not shooting dope. So they want to take 25% off my evening dose, and move it to my morning dose untill I take the full 260mg ALL AT ONCE IN THE MORNING. Then I have to wait 5 DAYS in that hell before they can do a peak and trough test again. When I first did the peak and trough I was getting 130mg once a day... I know that I need a split dose. I dose ever day around 11-1130am, and by 730-800pm I am sweating bullets, my pupils are beyond dilated, and i feel like complete shit - major withdrawals until i get my evening dose in me. They dont care. They say - oh no! you wont be in withdrawal! you are taking the same amount, just all at once! REALLY??? SO suddenly just bc they dropped the ball & forgot my UAs my metabolism suddenly changes?

I am beyond desperate here... They are driving me to use again I swear to god. What they are doing doesnt seem legal at the least, and 100% INHUMANE. They say "well split dose is a take home, and you dont legally qualify for take homes bc you haven't had any UAs in 4 months, and that counts as being dirty. Nevermind the fact I have been clean for the 3+years I've been on treatment, nevermind the fact I have always provided a UA when they ask, never mind the fact I have already done the peak and trough. Oh and on top of that, they want to charge me $50 to do the damn test.

Hopefully someone out there in bluelight land has some insight into this. Is this even legal? Any advice, there-theres, positive words, anything would be greatly appreciated. I have no one to talk to about this shit besides my GF (its hard enough to make friends, esp when you have to break all ties with everyone you previously knew to stay clean - so I have none) I am feeling lower than I have in years... I recently started exercising and eating healthy too (doing the Insanity workout videos) and I am worried I will be to ill to continue, which is a HUGE let down to myself personally - and working out was something that was greatly helping my self esteem, and now I am worried I cannot continue, in which case I will feel like a huge failure, and even more depressed than I am now.

Hope someones listening.

 

[FlippingTop]

shit man, I have just read your post and I really fucking feel for you. I am afraid I have no experience at all but I hope you sort it.

Maybe duplicate this post over into the legal and 2nd opinion sub-forum as different people read different sections and you may get more help.



Please keep us updated.

someone else must be able to help this dude you?

(bump...)

 

[comatoserct]

Some helpful advice would be to lower your dose. I honestly don't think clinics should offer doses over 150mg. You mentioned coming off 30mg of 'done was hell, so have you imagined how bad it's going to be on a dose like yours now?

Even with a fast metabolism I find it hard to believe you absolutely need a split dose. 'Done has a long half life and I think you should be able to stick it out for a couple days while they re-asses the situation.

I do agree with you that it's fucked up that you have to pay for their mistakes, but honestly I think just going along with their protocol and not causing a fuss is going to resolve your problem easier and faster. Just keep letting them know (calmly) that not having a split dose is a cause of extreme discomfort and to make resolving this situation a top priority so you can start functioning normally again.

Best of luck

 

[effie]

Hey there, I'm really sorry about what has happened to you!

Unfortunately legal discussion is closed and we can't give any legal advice relating to drugs; and second opinion doesn't cover drug topics. I'm from the UK so our system is a bit different here, but it's pretty rare to have someone on split dosing.. it's extremely unfair of them to blame you for them not doing any urine tests on you I think, but I don't really know what to advise you or what your options are

I really hope you can stay away from using. I know how tempting it will be, especially given that you have done your best but they have fucked up and put you in a situation where you are experiencing withdrawals; but think about how far you have come. In 5 days (so 3 now) they will give you back the correct dosing, by the sounds of it? It sounds like you've done fantastically getting clean and staying clean for this long, and with the healthy lifestyle stuff too; don't let their mistake mess that up for you.. how are things going now?

I'm going to move this over to Other Drugs as they have more experience with methadone and withdrawals, but I also recommend you check out The Dark Side forum if you need an ear or some friendly advice/support from people who really understand. Good luck

BDD > OD

 

[Tommyboy]

Maybe you can tell them that you will submit a hair sample for them which goes back for a long time. I doubt that they will do it, but it may look good for you if you bring it up to them since they will figure that you have been clean for that time period.

I don't know if there is much else that you can do short of going to a new clinic to see what they say. It sucks that they assume that you are guilty until proven innocent. I had been going to an outpatient program and after 6 months they saw that all my drug tests were negative for everything including benzos while I was being prescribed them (I just always test negative for them, still did at other places too) so they decided that all of my tests up until that point were being forged by using someone elses urine (which I wasn't) and then called up my probation officer and had them mandate that I be sent to inpatient rehab. The crazier part was that I was getting weekly supervised drug tests from a second place, and my tests were all negative there too.

Anyway, I wish I could be more helpful, but mostly I can only empathize with you as a fellow victim of being on the wrong side of drug testing errors in places that are supposed to be helping addicts.

 

[lazylazyjoe]

My old clinic , you had to have atleast one a month. They even told us at intake if a month goes by, to ask for one. I saw people get holds (just until UA happened) for going over a month, but that was it. I can't imagine 4 months going by.

Best advice I can think of is look in the office for their clinic license(must be conspicuous) and see who issued it and file a complaint. Going over the clinics head might be your only recourse. Best of luck.
Also, here's a book on methadone regulation, but its from '95. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309052408

 

[cj]

You should go over there heads to the state licensing board they will get in trouble for a fuck up like this. There company will get fined and counselor may lose there job the states usually take this shit real seriosly.

 

[pbuilder]

why do all people on maintence say they are "clean".

How about you finally just quit cold turkey and get on with your life, being on bupe or methadone is not being "clean". It's just not having the balls to finally just go through your real withdrawals and rid yourself completely of opiates in your life.

i know you mean not using any street drugs or using opiates to get "high", but how can you live years on maintenance instead of just going through a week or two of actual withdrawal?

 

[tricomb]

I think it's pretty fair for those on maintenance who aren't still using heroin on top of their methadone to say they're clean.

Of course, the second they say they're clean to a non-using typical-minded individual, that person is not going to understand the concept of maintenance, and will say "You are not clean, you still take methadone".

Let us not turn this guy's thread, which deals with some pretty serious issues, into a methadone maintenance bashing thread. Pbuilder, this guy can't just go through withdrawals at like 260mg methadone/day.

I know for a fact you have no experience with methadone, or maintenance of any kind, and are new to opiates. I'll just say that methadone withdrawal at 260mg is something that makes my skin crawl and anxiety shoot through the roof. When I first read the OPs post my blood pressure got very high and my pulse was crazy fast.

This guy is in a serious situation and going cold turkey, although a viable option for many who are addicted to opiates, is not ALWAYS an option. I would be very amused if you tried going cold turkey off just 20mg methadone/day and come back here and tell him to go through withdrawal off 260mg. Balls has nothing to do with it.

 

[Tommyboy]

why do all people on maintence say they are "clean".

How about you finally just quit cold turkey and get on with your life, being on bupe or methadone is not being "clean". It's just not having the balls to finally just go through your real withdrawals and rid yourself completely of opiates in your life.

i know you mean not using any street drugs or using opiates to get "high", but how can you live years on maintenance instead of just going through a week or two of actual withdrawal?

This isn't really the thread for this argument, but don't you think that people would stop if they could? Maintenance drugs such as methadone are for chronic relapsers. They have kicked many times, but it never lasts long before they go back to using. It's hard to stay clean when your life is in pieces. Instead of playing the binge/detox/binge/detox game, people go on methadone or suboxone, straighten things out in their life that they were unable to do while actively using, and then they taper off (well at least that's the plan). This way when they get off the drug, they are in a much better place and have the stability in their life to keep them from relapsing.

 

[Missykins]

Did you think that it was normal for them not to test you over that period of time? I am NOT suggesting that you were trying to get over on the clinic, but is there are reason why you didn't ask? I was once in a monitoring program and I was screened twice weekly for two years. If I didn't get a phone call from them requesting a screen by Wednesday then they got a call from me, and there were times where they screwed up--someone was supposed to call and they didn't, etc. And a no show is a positive result.

Also, don't think of yourself as "dirty" or "clean": there are only positive and negative screens, not "clean" or "dirty."

 

[MistaSmokalot]

You should go over there heads to the state licensing board they will get in trouble for a fuck up like this. There company will get fined and counselor may lose there job the states usually take this shit real seriosly.

I would consider doing this. But only if you ABSOLUTELY did not use during that 4 months..if you did use, it's just bad karma. Every clinic has their own set of order and directions, and this one obviously screwed up, and in the end it is screwing you.

Doing healthy things like exercising and all dat, will help you, but im sure you will crave during and after the exercising, there's no getting away with it. Try to wean off methadone (of course), really dude. Your my age and I know alot that have gone thru what you have, just not the insanely high doses of methadone. And it's true what the above poster said as your not 'clean' your still on ops, and if you want to get off, you WILL have to experience some shitty days.

Don't go at this with a FUCK YOU AND YOU AND YOU, AND THIS CLINIC IS FUCKED attitude (Im not saying you are)..it will make you look strung out. and unfortunately clinics have a perception of methadone treatment users as continuing (fucked up) addicts, and they play around.

You're not going to die (I hope your GF can keep you alive for now ) ... and go above them. Peace mane

 

[pbuilder]

I think it's pretty fair for those on maintenance who aren't still using heroin on top of their methadone to say they're clean.

Of course, the second they say they're clean to a non-using typical-minded individual, that person is not going to understand the concept of maintenance, and will say "You are not clean, you still take methadone".

Let us not turn this guy's thread, which deals with some pretty serious issues, into a methadone maintenance bashing thread. Pbuilder, this guy can't just go through withdrawals at like 260mg methadone/day.

I know for a fact you have no experience with methadone, or maintenance of any kind, and are new to opiates. I'll just say that methadone withdrawal at 260mg is something that makes my skin crawl and anxiety shoot through the roof. When I first read the OPs post my blood pressure got very high and my pulse was crazy fast.

This guy is in a serious situation and going cold turkey, although a viable option for many who are addicted to opiates, is not ALWAYS an option. I would be very amused if you tried going cold turkey off just 20mg methadone/day and come back here and tell him to go through withdrawal off 260mg. Balls has nothing to do with it.

sorry i was under the impression that he had been tapering for 3 years, is he still on 260mg methadone? Doesn't a dose that high every day over 3 years completely defeat the purpose of maintenance? I thought he would be on a dose that was a fraction of a fraction of that.

 

[BananasAndOranges]

On topic I have a question regarding takehomes. Its been about a month and two weeks since I have past 2 ua's. I was told my code just got approved for change.....three weeks ago! It hasn't changed at All and I am really losing my fucking patience with thwm. My director is supposedly the one delaying it but my counsoler is new and I have asked her 5 times already what the Fuck is going on and it seems every time I ask its getting Approved by my director who IS an asshole. I am about to switch clinics. I go every other day and its been slightly longer han 2 years. They have fucking pissed me off with this one though. Not only have I been clean they never follow their own instructions Or guidelines. How do I go about this? Im sick of the idiots at my clinic. The New counsolers do not know a damn thing about drugs. Atleast my last counsoler who was there for a whole week had ex drug problems. These people are lazy. Im getting really fed up. Every 90 days hey are supposed to piss test you. Also when I started every two piss tests I passed they would never take longer than a week. My director plays dumb and I am almost positive hes dicking me and I am not having it.

And to the person who posted this shit.....I would be Fucking Pissed off ready to stab my counsoler. My counsolers are dumb as fuck. My olld one decided to talk about my sexual preferences thinking it was ok since shes a lesbian and I am a fag. I instantly said something to her question as no that sounss Kinda Gay.It was in regards to teen suicide or something and being gay and some rally. Ever since that she kinda backed off me about the gay shit. I have had so many counsolers talk to me wrong. My director has talked about my MOM before which hes lucky I was not taking him too seriously or I would have hot coffee pott'd his face. Hes talked about getting blowjobs or lack there of from his qife whom I would LOVE TO MEET. I find this whole clinic shit annoying. It makes me want to taper. No one should have to put up with random Bullshit like that Ever. I feel so fucking bad for this poster. I would call other clinics and explain your situation. Then get hem fined. Ieven funny. really wish killing certain pieces of shit was legal. My director is so off the wall its not even funny. Hes never on time. Hes always late now. He makes eveyone wait an extra 5 minutws outside if he is there because hes a dickwad. I get so sick of his shit. Im sure most of you can tell I find this all a little too annoying.

 

[TammyinMd]

666 have you ever considered going in pain mgmt? I was on Methadone for severe pain. Im in a clinic but hoping to get back into my pain mgmt. Best wishes. When drs have your life in their hands they can do anything they want.

 

[pinpoint]

I'm sure OP got himself sorted by now, it's been over two years.

 

[feelingthepain2]

what you can do about the treatment is

call CARF and tell them your story they willhelp you. they are the people that monitor all the methadone clinics in the us

 

[sekio]

^ This thread was from 2012.