Methadone addiction in Canada

Drug Rehab Services is a no cost referral agency in Canada for drug and alcohol dependency. We have helped thousands of persons getting the proper help in the following detox services:

• Methadone detox
• NA meetings
• Residential treatment for methadone
• Methadone outpatient rehabs
• Methadone intervention

Our goal is to provide you the best advice possible for treatment clinics so you or a loved one get a methadone free life. This page covers information on methadone addiction in Canada.

PS: We do not refer to methadone clinics. Drug Rehab Services does not believe in the use of methadone to cure addiction to opiates.

What is Methadone?

Methadone addiction is a big problem in Canada, both because of medical and recreational use. Methadone is a substance used to treat drug addiction in some treatment centers. But because of its addictive nature, this sort of treatment can lead to methadone addiction and does so often enough. So the methadone epidemic in Canada is two-folded. Some people just plain abuse it and become addicted, and others are given it for medical reasons and develop a methadone addiction. In 2003, a survey was made all over Canada with people between 14 and 23 years old, and it reported that 33 % had abused methadone in a recreational context during their lifetime. That means that a lot of them could have developed an addiction for methadone.

In Vancouver, in 1999, in just one part of the city, there were over 170 patients on methadone, most of them men. This is very dangerous as prolonged use of methadone, even if medically prescribed, can lead to a strong addiction. Nowadays, there are almost 3,000 patients located in Vancouver that are on a methadone treatment. And a lot of pharmacies actually can dispense methadone to people who have a prescription. These kind of numbers are very alarming because a majority of them will develop an addiction to methadone, to lesser or greater degree.

Now for the province of Quebec, there are also a lot of people dealing with methadone addiction. Just to give you an idea of how many are struggling with an addiction to methadone, in 2002, there were 1,795 people that were on methadone in Quebec. In the city of Montreal, a survey was done on the streets with young people and 8 % of them reported having taken methadone at some point in their lives.

Methadone is sometimes used to treat drug addiction. But regular use of methadone will usually create a strong physical addiction. That is solving a problem with another problem. When a person starts developing an addiction to methadone, there are various symptoms, such as drowsiness, constipation. When one actually abuses methadone frequently, it can get dangerous when things such as respiratory problems happen. So people can get a lot of problems because of methadone addiction.

Where can I found a Methadone treatment?

There are several places where you can find help for Methadone addiction in canada. There are different settings such as residential, outpatient etc. Is a detox needed? If one needs a drug rehab center, it can also be found. One of our counselors can do an assessment and give you the best option for you or someone you love. Let us help you.

If you or a loved one have a problem with methadone addiction
We can help!
Call one of our counsellors today!
1-877-254-3348

^{Works Cited
http://www.cqld.ca/cqld_en/livre/en/18-methadone.htm
http://www.bcmj.org/pain-and-wasting-main-and-hastings-perspective-vancouver-native-health-society-medical-clinic
http://vancouver.ca/fourpillars/newsletter/Sept08/Methadone.htm
http://www.toxquebec.com/livre_drogues/en/main_methadone.html
http://www.heroinaddiction.com/heroin_methadone.html}