The overdose crisis reaches new depths of despair in the criminal justice system, where overdose is the leading cause of death among people returning to their communities.
I’d like to see treatment that works, but I haven’t, yet. The methadone clinics in my area just seem to supplement active addiction, and none of it actually seems to work to get users free from addiction. I don’t know if that’s because those users don’t actually want to stop using or not, but at this point, harm minimization, to users and non-users around them seems worth a try, including not soul-crushing, below-livable wages. As it is, the last item isn’t available for many non-users, so it looks like the system is the problem. Until we address conditions that create despair, symptoms of despair will continue to explode.
The methadone clinics in my area just seem to supplement active addiction, and none of it actually seems to work to get users free from addiction.
I can imagine that there is a difference in
- having to go out in the streets and make money to purchase the hard drugs, which may not be of good quality, and be in touch with part of a possibly larger criminal world, and use it in possibly stressful locations
- getting good quality methadone and use it in less stressful locations
Well, my community is more underserved than the rest of American communities normal underservice, so the clinics supplement your first bullet point. Which is sad and goes hand-in-glove with what the other commenter said about a holistic approach and what I said about not-soul crushing, livable wages.
that is so sad to hear. addiction treatment needs to be holistic in its approach otherwise it simply isn’t very effective. for that, look to the Swiss on how they implemented their heroin addiction clinics. (too lazy to post a link, sorry)
I’d like to see treatment that works, but I haven’t, yet. The methadone clinics in my area just seem to supplement active addiction, and none of it actually seems to work to get users free from addiction. I don’t know if that’s because those users don’t actually want to stop using or not, but at this point, harm minimization, to users and non-users around them seems worth a try, including not soul-crushing, below-livable wages. As it is, the last item isn’t available for many non-users, so it looks like the system is the problem. Until we address conditions that create despair, symptoms of despair will continue to explode.
Let me go ahead and stop you right there, chief. This is MURICA
I can imagine that there is a difference in
- having to go out in the streets and make money to purchase the hard drugs, which may not be of good quality, and be in touch with part of a possibly larger criminal world, and use it in possibly stressful locations
- getting good quality methadone and use it in less stressful locations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabor_Mat%C3%A9#Books From what I’ve read from Gabor Maté this shows promising results in Canada.
Well, my community is more underserved than the rest of American communities normal underservice, so the clinics supplement your first bullet point. Which is sad and goes hand-in-glove with what the other commenter said about a holistic approach and what I said about not-soul crushing, livable wages.
Stop using? Harm reduction is treatment
Removed by mod
that is so sad to hear. addiction treatment needs to be holistic in its approach otherwise it simply isn’t very effective. for that, look to the Swiss on how they implemented their heroin addiction clinics. (too lazy to post a link, sorry)
Thanks, I’ll look for that later on. Hope is needed for the suffering.