So I know that I am opening up a can of worms with this one, but what are your opinions about drug-maintenance programs? For anybody not in the loop, they're used to wean someone off of harder drugs (supposed to be used as a last-resort effort).  They include methadone, suboxone, needle-exchange, etc.


I'll add my opinion later. What's yours?

plasticinsanity : They're the only reason I'm not still using. Suboxone has saved my life.
Heroin or other opiates cannot kill someone from withdrawals, but the withdrawals are bad enough to make you wish you were dead. Alcohol and Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium) are the only kinds of withdrawals that can kill you. Trust me, I've spent the past 7 months in rehab learning about this stuff. I've also watched a close friend have seizures from Xanax withdrawal. Addiction is not pretty any way you look at it, but someone attending ANY drug-maintenance program is better than not, regardless of how serious they are about quitting. Every time a person goes through rehab, their chances of quitting improve. The more knowledge you can bestow to the addict, the better off they will be. The more resources for abstinence you provide, the more likely they will use them. No addict is ever a "lost cause" no matter how far they may have fallen. Thank you plastic insanity for creating this thread, as we may be able to shed some light on the subject for those who have never lived it. Also, Willpower has nothing to do with the ability to quit. Addiction changes the way your brain functions to the point that willpower means nothing. The part of your brain that controls your reasoning and willpower only works at 15 - 20 % of what it should, and the part that urges you towards instant gratification runs at 500 %.  If addiction effects any part of your life, be it friend, family, you, or anyone you could possibly help, I greatly urge you to research the subject. I could lecture for days in this one post, but I don't want to put people off with the length of it, so if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask me about anything.
Addiction IS a Chronic Disease.

I know from my pornography addiction, that quitting altogether has been better for me than quitting a little at a time.  Quitting a little at a time only encouraged my addiction, and caused it to reemerge.  I was not completely committed to avoiding it.  I still have the addiction, though.  It's not gone.  My desire to look at it is gone, but if I ever see it, I have to look away quickly or cause myself to relapse.  I imagine that's the way it is with drug addicts, as well.  Trying to quit entirely at once is a show of strength, not of weakness.  Even if the body gives out, the person's will will be much stronger than if they never tried it.  I fully believe those not willing to give it up all at once are more likely to relapse in the future, because their will is weaker.  It is better to die with a strong will than with a weak one.  Pushing against the bad is what brings the bad to light, not the other way around.

supernerd117 : Normally I would agree with you - going cold turkey is best. However, with some drugs (strong opiates) the withdrawal effects can actually be enough to kill you. Using a drug-replacement can allow the person to slowly wean off with minimal withdrawal effects while still living a normal life (working, etc).

I've seen the methadone program work for someone who was a stone's throw away from death (a 90-pound walking zombie) but I feel like there's still a lot of kinks in it. I'm hoping we implement more resources for addicts and really address the issue at hand - why people feel the need to escape reality by getting high. Getting them to a reasonable level is great, but we need to do more so they don't feel the need to go back to the streets (while on drug-replacements, which I have also seen).

Let me say this outright. Drug-maintenance in North America sucks. A lot. The U.S in particular. It has gone to the point where there are more drug-addicts in prison than in rehab. The only good example of drug rehab I know of was started in Switzerland in the 1980's, called harm reduction. The video in the link below explains that perfectly, and gives a lot more information on drugs and the drug war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJUXLqNHCaI

I think it just encourages them to somewhat clean up their act,they will do just enough to score their next fix. Giving them drugs is no better than them buying it themselves. In my state there is a heroin issue and the cops are given a needle to save the worthless junkie's life. I am going to sound like a heartless bastard here,but if they cannot clean up after 3 tries,just waste the loser. They are a drain on social services,the police,their families,their communities and the gene pool.  Maybe I am a heartless bastard,but that little video is right about one thing.

The War on Drugs is a colossal failure,just like Prohibition. People will always find a way to get what they want and if they must lie,cheat,steal,harm,maim,or kill to do it,they will do it without remorse. I think that a person deserves a few chances to clean up,but after so long,they should be considered a lost cause. It is like idiots that get multiple DUI's. The states keep slapping that on them,but they still drink and drive. Just put the junkie out of their misery.