Stop the Stigma

Heroin and prescription medicines kill thousands of people every year. According to the CDC, almost 30,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2014. 74 people overdosed on the west side of Chicago within a 72-hour period in October 2015. And closer to home, there were five overdose deaths in Dubuque, Iowa since March 1st. Two of these overdose deaths were brothers. Getting people into treatment and off heroin and off excessive amounts of prescription opioids is critical. But there are stigmas associated with treatment medications, particularly Methadone, that just won’t go away. And this keeps people from accessing help.

“You’re nothing but a junkie.” “Methadone is just as bad as being on heroin.” “If you have to rely on a medication, you’re still an addict.”

Medication Assisted Treatment is the gold standard for addiction to heroin or prescription pain medications. Buprenorphine and Methadone are the most effective and widely used treatment tools. Both stop or avoid withdrawal symptoms from an abrupt cessation of opioids, both decrease cravings for opioids, and both block euphoria if they try to get high while taking them. This serves to discourage attempts to get high. Why wouldn’t you want this kind of assistance?

These two medications are no better or worse than the other. They are both helpful tools. However, one may be more appropriate than another, depending on the person.

For example, someone who may be more successful utilizing Buprenorphine is more likely to have recently become dependent upon opiates; is addicted to low or moderate amounts of daily opiate use; is more likely to be addicted to prescription medications than heroin; is compliant, reliable, has stable housing and steady employment; does not take benzodiazepines; and is highly motivated for office-based treatment which requires less attendance.

Someone who may be more successful utilizing Methadone is likely to have a higher level of addiction with many years of addiction and multiple treatment failures; has a longer history of addiction; is addicted to heroin or pain pills; can benefit from a more structured program with increased attendance and high accountability; may have been incarcerated and have psychiatric problems; is pregnant or considering getting pregnant.

Given the epidemic of overdoses and opiate related deaths, we need to stop this stigma and assist people in getting help.