[jpb4815]

As some of you may or may not know I relapsed this summer after being 23 years free of heroin. I am scheduled to start the clinic next week, I was excited at first but now I am having second thoughts.

I feel like I am giving in by just replacing one opiate with another one. My therapist/drug counselor thinks that the routine of getting up to go there every day will be good for me. I don't know why I am second guessing this decision, the thought of not being able to travel worries me(sometimes I need to for my job) And honestly I am sure some of it is my addiction rearing its head.

What is enticing is the year or more of medically assisted "sobriety" I will gain from this so that I can start to work on some of the issues I am self medicating for. One thing is certain, I cannot keep using and maintain my job, or being a good parent etc....

[emgreen]

23 years!!! You should be very proud of that despite the fact you went back out for a while. Relapse is sometimes a part of the bargain. Just this week, a woman I know in AA went back out after 21 years...no one could have seen it coming.

I know very little about methadone & I didn't have withdrawls when I stopped drinking, so I can't offer you much advice...Just a lot of luck no matter how you decide to handle your situation. It's commendable that you want to hang onto your job, but even more so that you want to stay clean for your kids! Be well.

[Mygrandjourney]

Methadone is a well tested treatment. You may not need it forever, but be sure to stick with it once you start. It may take time to get to the right dose for you.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Always here for ya!! Methadone is far better than your current fix.

[Erebos]

Hey jpb, Well done taking your first step towards stability.

I have been a Heroin addict for 7 years and on methadone for six. Methadone as a treatment is debatable. The point in its use is to get you stable and off street drugs. And to this degree it works very well.
However used over the long term will, ruin your teeth, your sleep pattern and kill your libido. If you still have one after using H.
There are things you can do to lessen these effects, and the less time on it the better. If you can use it as a stepping stone to Subutex or similar, is by far your best bet.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to pm me.

Please don't be put off the program, just try and remember what it's really meant for. All the best. And good luck.