Become a member of Allies in Recovery and we’ll teach you how to intervene, communicate and guide your loved one toward treatment.Become a member of Allies in Recovery today.

Can My Son Go off Methadone Alone?

Dominique Simon June 10, 2016

methadone addiction narcan family intervention allies in recovery Allies in Recovery

Illustration © Eleanor Davis

 

He Wants to Go Off Methadone

An Allies in Recovery member recently wrote in about her son’s desire to go off methadone on his own. Dominique Simon-Levine responds to her concerns below.

“Hi, Not sure how to get info. I am dealing with a loved one who is on a methadone treatment plan. He is absolutely hating this, even though it was his choice years back. It has been 6 yrs and it seems there is no way out. 

Problem is that while not arriving at the location in time, one day’s dose was missed and since he “dealt” with the ups and downs that day, now he feels that he can go off of this alone. I am terrified that it is going to spiral even further out of control. I REALLY want him off this plan BUT I feel he is over confident about doing this on his own. 

He doesn’t talk to any counselors outside the facility. He hates talking about this at all.  How do I help?”

Your son left his methadone clinic after missing his daily dose and now wants to “go off of this alone.” He wants to stop taking methadone.

I am sorry you are going through this. You are right to be concerned about this.

I also understand why your son wants to leave the clinic. 6 years is a long time. I don’t think many people sign on to a treatment, expecting to be attending 6 years on. In my opinion, methadone providers believe being on methadone is the safest thing to do, so there is little motivation on their part to address the end game. It takes a long time to taper off methadone but I encourage your son to consider doing it. The alternatives, as you will see below, are also not great.

 

This Will Be a Big Challenge

Getting off of methadone is very hard. It has a long half life (the time it takes for 50% of the drug to leave your system); it will feel like it is hanging on forever. If your son isn’t mentally prepared and supported for what will quite possibly be weeks of withdrawal, there is a chance your son may relapse and use again to make himself feel better.

One option is a detoxification program. This would address the worst of the withdrawals but he would still need to be mentally very strong not to use opiates during and after this period. He will leave the detox not feeling well, and this will last for some time afterward.

 

Consider Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Another option is Suboxone treatment. This would provide your son more freedom than methadone. It doesn’t solve the problem of being dependent on an opiate, if his wish is to be completely drug free, but the support, privacy and freedom of being treated by a doctor might address some of your son’s concerns. It is not like methadone: suboxone is prescribed by a private doctor, who provides a weekly prescription to start. Your son wouldn’t have to go to a clinic every day to be dosed.

To be prescribed suboxone, your son will need to be clear of the methadone….at least 72 hours, maybe more. He needs to ask a suboxone doctor about the length of this wait period, as it depends on the dose of methadone he was on. If the Methadone isn’t out of his system, the suboxone will kick in a serious withdrawal.

Finally, some people succeed in becoming opiate free by tapering off of another opiate. Again, I am not a doctor but I think your son will understand this.

Will your son read something you give him? Read this article from The Fix about getting off suboxone, which most agree is easier than methadone. The article does two things. It sets out the difficulties of getting off suboxone and suggests some ways people have succeeded. It also makes the case that for some, suboxone works.

 

Be Prepared for Relapse

You should probably be prepared in case your son relapses. Your son probably knows this but his tolerance will drop precipitously even a few days off the methadone….he cannot use in the amounts he used to prior to going on the methadone. This is critically important. Please read up on Narcan (here is a piece on how to get and use it; you should have some ready).

Can you give your son the piece from the Fix and this post and have a conversation with him?

→ This link helps you find a suboxone doctor in Massachusetts.

A membership at Allies in Recovery brings you into contact with experts in the fields of recovery and treatment for drug and alcohol issues. Our learning platform introduces you to CRAFT and guides you through the best techniques for unblocking the situation. Together we will move your loved one towards recovery. Learn more here.

Categories: Drug Addiction Treatment
Tagged: ,
Loading
Dominique Simon
Dominique launched Allies in Recovery in 2003. Her work has been featured on HBO and NPR. She is a facilitator and a trained speaker on issues of addiction and the family. She has worked extensively developing and evaluating federally-funded substance abuse programs for organizations and clinics throughout Massachusetts and New York. With an interest in recovery and substance abuse that spans 20 years, she sees a huge need to help families develop the skills to help a loved one recover fully in a supportive, whole, and lasting way in their families and in their communities. Her mission is to have Allies in Recovery fill that gap.

Related Posts from "Drug Addiction Treatment"

Real Allies in Recovery Success Stories: Families Share How CRAFT Helped Their Loved Ones with SUD

Read real success stories from families who used the CRAFT approach to help their loved ones with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Learn how CRAFT helped them engage their loved ones into treatment, and how it improved their relationships and reduced stress levels. Discover how you can use the CRAFT method to help your loved ones find recovery, and visit AlliesinRecovery.net for more stories and resources.

Dominique Simon March 31, 2023

How Do I Prepare for My Daughter with SUD to Come Home? And What About Her Boyfriend?

Her daughter is involved with a man who may be sabotaging her efforts to stop using substances. But she’s expressed some readiness to get help, and mom wants to support her in any way that she can. Mom’s working on ignoring the bad-news boyfriend while setting up guidelines for her return home. She needs guidance on the details…Allies in Recovery weighs in with some CRAFT-based tips.

Dominique Simon March 24, 2023

My Son is in Detox for Fentanyl – What Medication is the Best Option?

Our Alliesinrecovery.net member seeks guidance about helping her loved one find the right medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Her son has tried Suboxone and Methadone and is looking for an alternative. He has concerns about sleep and anxiety, and our member is wondering which medications may best suit his needs. Allies Director Dominique Simon-Levine gives a detailed answer, as well as some great CRAFT pointers for supporting his recovery.

Dominique Simon January 27, 2023

How Can We Help our Daughter Find Residential Treatment?

What her daughter needs—a solid residential treatment program for women—should not be so hard to find. Unfortunately, such programs often are. We sorted through some of the options in the state where this Allies in Recovery member lives, so she can focus her search on a program most likely to help her daughter continue to improve. The family can also keep doing CRAFT to help support the relationship with their daughter in recovery, and to take care of themselves in the process. Staying in touch with Allies staff can also help support them.

Dominique Simon January 20, 2023
Hands - Arms - Support

In-Person & Virtual Recovery Resources for Your Loved One

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA World Services, Inc.) Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. This is an informational website for anyone interested in learning more about their organization, 12-step program of recovery, and how to find local meetings. PHONE: 212.870.3400 Click here for Online AA Meetings What is AA? What to Expect in an AA Meeting  What is Anonymity in AA?  AA INTERGROUP ONLINE MEETING FINDER IN THE ROOMS In The Rooms offers over 150+ weekly live online meetings, a variety 12-Step and Non-12- Step Fellowships, and Specialty meetings. Some of our most popular meetings are AA, NA, ACA, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon meetings, and much more. In The Rooms has 69 live online AA meetings weekly, so there’s bound to be one that fits your schedule! We have specialty AA meetings too, like AA Pride (LGBTQ). We also have an Agnostic AA meeting, if you’re seeking a meeting without a secular approach to recovery. We have 30 NA meetings on ITR weekly. Like AA, there’s also an NA Pride meeting (LGBTQ) and an Agnostic NA meeting. For support for the family, friends, and allies of those in recovery, In The Rooms has both Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meetings, which each meeting, 1-3 times a week. We also have many other 12-step fellowship groups, like Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and Sex Addicts Anonymous, CODA, Dual Diagnosis, and much more. If you can think of a Recovery fellowship, we probably have it.  FULL LISTING of LIVE VIRTUAL/ONLINE MEETINGS  12Step.Org We strive to provide information, tools, and resources for working a 12 Step program (or any program using 12 step principles for recovery) in as simple and effective way as possible. Online Meeting Calendar Online Video Meetings Phone Meetings Forums, Text Chats, and Email Meetings List RECOVERY DHARMA Recovery Dharma is a peer-led movement and community that is unified by our trust in the potential of each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. We believe that the traditional Buddhist teachings, often referred to as…

Allies in Recovery December 16, 2022

I Think I’m Ready to Ask Him to Leave – Even Though I’ve Been Doing CRAFT

An active Allies in Recovery member wrote in to our “Pose a Question” blog with an update about her partner who continues to use substances and to be emotionally volatile, despite having previously done a 30-day recovery program. While she says that participating in our Wednesday night support group with Kayla, along with other CRAFT resources on our site, has been “a huge help” with her own well-being, she still isn’t having success in engaging her loved one into treatment again. She asks: Has the time come to ask him to leave?

Dominique Simon September 16, 2022

Is Suboxone a Good Thing for Your Loved One?

An Allies in Recovery member is overwhelmed by all the conflicting information and stances on Suboxone. Her 40-year-old son has struggled for 15 years with opioids and other drugs, and his new treatment plan includes Suboxone. Is this a good thing? CRAFT Trainer and Family Recovery Advocate, Laurie MacDougall, weighs in with an array of facts and lived experience.

Laurie MacDougall June 30, 2022
Helping Hands to Summit

My Son’s Drug is Meth

She knows her son needs help, but he often disappears for long stretches of time right after he starts opening up to her. Read on for Dominique Simon-Levine’s insights as she lays out some important considerations for this situation.

Dominique Simon April 16, 2019

Drug Addict Husband – She’s Hopeless and Exhausted

She has struggled through 12 years of her husband’s addiction, having single-handedly provided for their family for all of these years, and is now at a loss. All of the patience, love and compassion she used to have seem long gone, and resentment keeps mounting. CRAFT looks at where to best focus our energies when these feelings weigh us down.

Dominique Simon March 1, 2019
Allies in Recovery, AiR, Addiction, Addiciton recovery, Dominique Simon-Levine, dsl, drugs, heroin, regret, hopelessness, wish or dip, family, Thansgiving, treatment

He’s Full of Regret And Hopelessness

Five weeks after changing the lock and having her son leave the house, she received a text from him. He expresses discontent with where his life is and feelings hopelessness. This is the equivalent of what CRAFT calls a “dip”. Here’s what to do when you’re lucky enough to be present for a “dip”.

Dominique Simon December 14, 2018
sober housing halfway house treatment allies in recovery dominique simon-levine drug intervention alcohol intervention addiction addict recovery

What Happens If Sober Housing Doesn’t Work Out?

In order to start anew with the process of sobriety, a resident who has relapsed should be sent to a more intensive level of treatment (for example: clinical stabilization services or CSS in Massachusetts), but too often nothing is available and the only option is detox. Here is some useful information for pursuing the next level of treatment.

Dominique Simon October 14, 2016

Report

Harassment or bullying behavior
Contains mature or sensitive content
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .