Methadone

The program has highlighted a very important matter; METHADONE MIXED WITH OTHER PYSCHOTROPICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS CAN BE FATAL. Main mode of action is probably respiratory depression, since the Ron was put on methadone and valium at the same time. It is in the MALAYSIAN POLICY for Methadone Maintenance Therapy that clients registered must NOT take any other illegal substance or legal substance unless prescribed by the physician.
As with the same here in Malaysia, there are many private clinics who dispense methadone for drug addiction treatment and yet by various witness accounts (patients registered at my hospital) these clinicians hardly sees the patient themselves for proper and thorough assessment.
Plus it has come to my attention that methadone dispensed sometimes includes benzodiazepine (sleeping pills) in it, Increasing the chances of patients getting methadone toxicity.
I propose that all private clinics purchasing methadone shall be put under surveillance, unless those that have been registered for the HARM REDUCTION PROGRAM under the MINISTRY OF HEALTH to curb the growing numbers of unlawful dispensing of methadone. GP’s are milking money of drug addicts and we need to stop them!
Issues:
1) Clients that are employed but just entered the program, do we wait till the 6month period before giving out take away doses?
2) Clients who are unemployed and have financial issues leads to transportation problems, how do we ensure clients comes to hospital daily for the first few months?
3) Stigma and prejudice has cause clients to lose their jobs and are finding it hard to find employment. Lack of skill to work due to years of heroin addiction.
4) Insufficient manpower especially in the field of counseling has cause clients to lose out on the important factor of social counseling to rehab them back into society.
5) Family and friends of client chose to distance themselves from the clients, clients have no social support.
Im like sitting here in my cold cold very cold office, the air condition is centralized can’t do anything much about that, just came back from being away and working the night shift back to back and OH MY. Dramas and more dramas here.

Having none of it, stayed in my room all the way, doors shut to keep out the noise.