This article is a perfect example of how Join Together has become a platform for the anti-methadone, anti-harm reduction maniacs who care not one whit for science. Its appearance was predictable given the other news reported about methadone. The article itself is completely meaningless without much more context--it stand to reason that people with histories of substance abuse would be more likely to overdose. But the article implies that it's because they are on Medicaid and have nothing better to do with their time. Can you say right wing media bias?

There is very little chance that these users were addicts or were using their medications addictively. There is clearly a problem with the prescriber, who probably failed to tell their clients that you can NEVER increase your dosage no matter how much you hurt. A different medication needs to be prescribed to supplement the methadone. Suddenly doubling one's dose to relieve a temporary incident of high pain IS deadly. I do not think that implying that the victims are opiate addicts in this case address the real issue that clients are not adequately informed of the risks of taking long-acting methadone and that doubling up can quickly lead to toxicity and death, an event that is unlikely to happen with faster acting opiates like vicodin unless it is deliberately used to get high.

It says "methadone was involved in 64% of fatal overdoses". That should mean they didn't overdose particularly because of just methadone.

I attend a methadone clinic and it is extremely careful in prescribing methadone. Because they have expertise in this area, they know how to administer it. However, most doctors do not have the same expertise, and they prescribe methadone as a “pain killer.” Also, many drug representatives are misinforming doctors about the proper use of Methadone (therefore, they should be liable as well). Methadone should never be used as medication for pain. Because it takes up to 24-36 hrs to build up in the blood (as many “psych” meds do), patients do not get the immediate relief from it; therefore they take another pill; several hours later, and then another. By the time it begins to build up in the blood, the patient is prone to overdose. We need to look at this study objectively, and ask the right questions. Why and to whom are doctors prescribing Methadone? What is the dosage amount? Do they have adequate knowledge about Methadone and how it works? Are there other drugs (e.g., alcohol) involved? I have long fought for more care in prescribing Methadone, and it appears a losing battle. My condolences go out to these poor families subjected to this unfortunate and terrible circumstance.

Other research I've read suggests that methadone overdoses are likely due to methadone being used for pain relief with "opiate naive" individuals; people who aren't opiate addicts. But the study does show the potential harm with methadone. Especially when it's mixed with other drugs, it's a killer. The supposed benefit of methadone's longer half life for maintenance treatment is the culprit here... As it is for the difficulty in methadone users stepping off of methadone, even with a gradual step down.

This article is a great example of why so many people are against methadone. Most methadone clinics supply their patients with liquid methadone, and I bet these "methadone overdoses" are from pills that were prescribed by doctors not affiliated with methadone clinics. Next time please add an editors note or something adding this fact. It's hard enough defending methadone.

I read all this negativity about methadone and why it's a dangerous drug. Believe me all these people that got to the point of addition before taking methadone as they were self prescribing by not following directions.Like anything in life if you want something that is going to reap positive results you need perserverence and a backbone.Methadone Clinics are excellent which that allows a person to get there life together.Its the person that must put forth the effort and stop blaming there weakness on the drug. I was on 200mg.of methadone and I have currently tapered down to 20.It allowed me to stop running the streets and work. I now live a comfortable life compared to having nothing when I was on Herion because of the Methadone clinis(s). Lets stop blaming the drug and lets put the blame where it belongs on the person.

I have been on methadone for over 10 years I take 160 mg. daily along w/ opana oxy codone and other meds. I don't drink or do rereactional drugs I have noticed that the majority of death related cases are infants could someone tell me what long term use will do besides calcium and other things that could happen.by the way recently cut 40 mg. off mjmrozinski@live.com