Re: methodone maintenence or heroin maintenence, which is better.

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "roid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>"Pete nospam Zakel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "roid"
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>> >methodone maintenence or heroin maintenence, which is better?
>>
>> I think that should be left up to the individual.
>>
>> >coz i have heard of people who were on methodone who switched to heroin
>> >because methodone made them feel sick or something.  why do doctors
>> >prescribe methodone anyway?  why not just use heroin?
>>
>> In the United States heroin is Schedule I, meaning it cannot be prescribed
>by
>> doctors for any reason.

>yesyes, but i wanted to know the medical value of the 2 treatments, ignoring
>any laws.

That depends on the individual.

>i've come to the conclusion now that (ignoring laws) methodone IS the
>prefered maintenence treatment over heroin.

Prefered by whom?  Yes, the government and many administrators prefer
methadone because it can be given orally and it only needs to be administered
once a day, which makes it easier in a climate where you don't allow the
addict to take anything home.

But in a more legal climate where the addict would be allowed to take home,
say, a month's supply at a time, the prefered maintenance treatment is the
one that works the best for the particular person being treated.

>and heroin should only be used if the person is intollerent to methodone.

If they are intolerant to methadone, they will be intolerant to heroin as
well.

>methodone is prefered because of it's longer lasting action.  and because of
>it's SLOW hit, you would get less "high" (if the high is considered a
>problem).

The person on maintenance is kept from getting high by giving the person a
high regular dose so that tolerance prevents any high.

That works for either heroin or methadone.

In the UK, some addicts have been given heroin-soaked cigarettes to avoid the
injection route.

-Pete Zakel
 ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

"Now and then an innocent man is sent to the Legislature."