Amazing Recoveries

"Beginning at the age of 16 I began dabbling with drugs. I think I've used just about every drug except for real heroin (I've had lots of synthetic though) crack and Xanax. I never thought I had a real problem 'til I began using Lorcet Plus. These are fairly easy to obtain. Especially if you have good health insurance. My husband and I were completely lost to these pills for more than 14 years. We never were arrested - only by the grace of God! We both had good jobs, we never lost our home or had our kids taken away. We were very lucky. These things happened to many people we knew. I had no problem quitting. I did the "cold turkey" literally hundreds of times. I just could never stay quit. Days, weeks or months would pass and I'd begin to think about getting a buzz. Once I got my hands on them I'd be gone again. We had a name for it. We were on The Lorcet Trail. We would spend all our time, money and energy on The Trail. We would hunt, seek, find, use, lie to each other and to everyone else. It was so tiresome. The only choice we had in the end was methadone. Believe me, I didn't want to go to the clinic. But fortunately my husband made me. He told me that I would have to leave - without my boys - if I didn't. So I did. And Thank God! It's been more than three years and it does what they say it does. I'm able to maintain a normal life. Nobody would ever think that I take anything. I would highly recommend methadone to anyone who is like I was. I would try to exercise my self control but I just wasn't able to fight it off alone. The methadone is the tool I needed to live normally."

Unsigned
Huntsville Metro Treatment Center
Huntsville, Alabama

"In 1992 Huntsville Metro Treatment Center opened and has been a blessing to my husband and I. I became addicted to pain medication and found it very hard to function in daily life. I could hardly go to work, take a shower, drive the car or even walk without having any pain medication to feel normal. My husband was also in the same situation and we were starting to ruin his credit. The two of us had been to every doctor and drug dealer in town getting pain medication and it was starting to run out. The doctors knew that we had problems and that we were now addicted and didn't want to be responsible for writing prescriptions any more. The drug dealers didn't always have pills to buy and when they did the cost for two people was astronomically high, day after day.

"That's when Colonial Management Group opened a methadone treatment center. My husband and I didn't want to get on the methadone clinic at first because there was an intake fee and a $12 a day charge per person. But then we looked at how we wouldn't be spending $150 a day for the two of us to feel normal and we would have our lives back. It was well worth the cost of $12 per person. We went to the methadone clinic and went through the intake and saw the doctor. After going through the exam we were then able to have the medication. The medication was bitter and we were leery if it was going to take all of the withdrawal symptoms away, but within a half hour to forty-five minutes we were feeling like ourselves again.

"We went home and actually had an appetite. For the first time in many months my husband and I were able to sit down and have a conversation without talking about how were we going to get money for pills tomorrow or what doctor was I going to go to get pain pills from and would I drop the pills off at his place of employment.

"The stress and control of finding pills and wondering if we were going to get them and how we were going to pay for them was lifted off of our shoulders. It was like a magic cure. We could get up in the morning and go to the methadone clinic and get our medication and go to work. It was a start of a whole new life. And believe me when I say that I sincerely mean that. Everyone we knew at work, our friends, family members and people at church all wanted to know what was going on in our lives to have made such a big change with our attitude, self-esteem and finances.

"We told some of the people, not all, about the medication that we were taking. We got some positive feedback and some not so positive because they felt like we had exchanged one drug for another. I explained it to them that it was no different from any other medication and that we weren't getting high off of it. Sometimes people have to take blood pressure medication to live a normal life and we had to take methadone to have a normal life. And that the methadone was a blocker and we couldn't take other opiates to get high. That the pills would not work if we did take them. Plus we were going to group education and trying to learn about why we became addicts to begin with and that we were going to individual counseling to change personal things. And sometimes my husband and I would go to counseling together to work on problems that the two of us were having. It was more than what we were doing when we weren't on methadone clinic and we felt it was a positive change. If our friends and family members couldn't accept this we were sorry but our lives were straightened out for now. A person can't get off of drugs because someone else wants them to. They have to do it for themselves. I hope not to have to stay on methadone for the rest of my life but if I do it will be o.k. Because I know I won't be in jail or dead from pain medication. As I said in the beginning it was a blessing to be able to go to the clinic and 10 years later I still believe that."

Unsigned
Huntsville Metro Treatment Center
Huntsville, Alabama

"The methadone maintenance program was not my first choice to treat my addiction. I had an addiction for alcohol as well as drugs, i.e. pain killers. The specific drugs were Percocet, Tylox, Oxycodone and also Dilaudid.
I tried on numerous occasions to control my addiction by myself with varying results which none were desirable. I would always go back to using my drugs of choice. After failing several times by trying to treat myself, I finally realized that I needed help and could not do it by myself.

"I thought that by being a professional with a career in education I could handle my addiction alone. The more I tried the more it became apparent that I needed professional help. My professional career in education was first as a school teacher at a local high-school and later as principal of that same high-school. My career as a high-school principal ended after thirteen years because of my addiction.

"While serving as principal, I entered a twelve-step program that started with thirty days in-house treatment with follow-up aftercare.

"After participating in the twelve-step program, I thought that I had control of my addiction but I was mistaken. I only postponed my drug use by a few months. I eventually went back to the drug use. This time my drug use caused me to lose my job as principal of the local high-school after thirteen years on the job.
After losing my job as principal because of my drug use, it finally became apparent that I not only lost the job that I loved but that I was slowly killing myself with my drug use.

"After being unemployed for several months it became apparent that I had finally hit "bottom." I was unemployed without any money and finding it difficult just to find food to eat and impossible to support my drug addiction.

"After many months on my personal "bottom," I was able to find employment with the help of a few close friends and a few loyal family members. I found employment with a city sewage treatment plant. I knew that I would not be able to keep my new job if I did not address my severe problem with drug addiction.

"After being unemployed for many months, I was determined to keep my new job. But, I still had a drug addiction problem to deal with. I knew that it would be impossible to treat my drug addiction by myself and that a twelve-step program alone would not help me. A close friend to me mentioned that there was a methadone maintenance program available for drug addicts and that this could be a possible solution to my drug problem.

"When I checked into the program further, I found that it might help me. When I talked with a few clients on the methadone program and also talked with counselors and a program director, I decided that this program was probably the only help I could find to help me.

"On February 14, 1993, I started on a methadone maintenance program. I found that I was very fortunate to have found a program and a clinic that wanted to help me with my addiction. Since starting on the program, I have maintained employment, have been able to stop abusing alcohol and other drugs.
I now own my own home, have an almost new automobile, [and] have a savings account as well as a checking account at a local bank. I honestly feel that the methadone program along with proper counseling from people that actually cared about my well being and wanted to help me along with a sincerely honest program director that truly cared not only helped me turn my life around but probably helped to save my life.
I honestly feel that if it had not been for the methadone program that I would not be alive today. I truly feel that methadone used as a treatment for drug addiction can help addicts turn their lives around and help them lead productive lives in today's society."

E.W.

"I would like to take a few minutes to reflect on my life and the impact methadone has had on its survival. Before I decided to commit to this Methadone Treatment Program, my life was on a downhill course, where at the end of the road stood nothing but destruction, darkness or perhaps even death. If I may borrow from the 12-step program, I would have to say that Step 1, best describes where I was at. (Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable). I was truly powerless over my heroin addiction and my life had definitely become unmanageable. An example of this is based on the fact that I would spend every dollar, just about, on purchasing, chasing, and ingesting this drug. Twenty-four hours, seven days a week I was in pursuit of heroin or using it, along with whatever else was available to keep my sickness away (excluding pot).

"Methadone introduced stability into my uncontrollable, extremely unstable lifestyle. More importantly, the Methadone Maintenance Program provided me with the tool that I needed to regain focus, to interject redirection and to practice through implementation a more fulfilling positive and productive lifestyle.
I am thankful today, to have had the opportunity to participate in this program. I am grateful to now have the opportunity to care for my children properly, free from guilt and shame, and with a sober mind and soul. I can now project the type of role model with pride and enthusiasm that my kids can be proud to look up to. I don't know what I'd do without this program. It has revitalized my life force within me, and enabled me to truly live again. Thank you!"

J.P.J.
Dakota Treatment Center
Burnsville, Minnesota

"I have been with Dakota Treatment Center now for three years using methadone and it has been nothing short of a miracle in my life. Five years ago diagnosed with terminal cancer (cervical and ovarian) I had just finished Optometry school and was still working as a nurse. After surgery and a round of chemo my body was left broken, inflicted and in PAIN!! Unfortunately the answer to the pain was almost the undoing of my life. I became a narcotic addict. Under doctor's advice, I went to Dakota Treatment Center to save my children, my husband, my career and … my life. THANK GOD - I have been clean for three years thanks to the Treatment Center, my counselors and oh yes!! METHADONE - EVERYDAY!

"P.S. - ALSO STILL ALIVE AND CURED!!"

S.M.
Dakota Treatment Center
Burnsville, Minnesota

"This letter is to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the staff of Leon County Treatment Center.
I came to this center mast March. I was about three days sick off heroin and not a very nice person to be around. Thinking back, I kind of wonder why they just didn't throw me out the door.

"My intake counselor didn't coddle me or try to pacify. She just leaned forward in her chair, looked straight in my eyes and started talking to me. The first thing I was told was that I made the right decision, 'to be here.' She said, 'Do you understand this?' Her manner was totally professional but her eyes showed only compassion. I started to feel like, maybe I could trust again and these people were here to help.

"It's just about been a year now and in this time I have walked in that door with many problems and issues and everything else. In between, never once was I told 'Oh, that's too bad'or 'I'm sorry'and sent on my way. Instead there was always someone there to say that we needed to talk about it. I don't think I ever left there without a possible solution(s) or total resolve in the matter. This I am most grateful for.

"I am on the lowest dose possible and hope to be totally clean by my anniversary date. I did want to be clean by X-mas and the new year but I have learned not to rush recovery - it happens every day, one day at a time. Crap still happens, on a daily basis but I don't beat myself up as bad now. I feel I've learned to cope more with things and I'm getting reacquainted with my correct decision making process.

"Reflecting, it makes me sad when I see on the news or read in the papers [how] the treatment programs, intervention, and education all fall off or [are] on the bottom of county, state and national fiscal budgets. It's sad that our lawmakers (many who have the demons of addiction in their own families) treat this issue as though it is not a problem. Let alone the hypocrisy of it. They are only making the same mistake as I often have, that of being and living in denial.

"But I thank all the people in your corp. but most of all, the people at Leon County Treatment Center. They do so much more than their jobs say, you will never know. I honestly feel I have no criticism for this center, neither cynical or constructive, only praise. And yes - I do have a job and share a house with a pool. So…. It does get better."

J.B.
Leon County Treatment Center
Tallahassee, Florida

"I'm writing this letter to tell how the Methadone Clinic has helped me as well as my family. I was addicted to pain pills. I was taking 5 to 6 pain pills to get high. Pills like Vicoden, Lorcet, Percocet. It got so bad I started calling in phony prescriptions for myself. I got caught, went to jail not once, but twice for prescription fraud. I'm now on probation for that and passing worthless bank checks. It was making my family's life hard, because I couldn't do anything without them. I started the Methadone Clinic in December. It has worked wonderful for me. It made my body function normal again. As well as taking the withdrawals away. They even have counseling. I have to do UA's for probation and passed every one of them. I would recommend this to anyone who has a problem like me."

A.T.
Leon County Treatment Center
Tallahassee, Florida

"I am presently 47 years old, a small business owner with a mortgage on a lovely 3 bedroom home. Life was not always this way; you see, until just a few years ago I was a heroin addict for most of my adult life. I went through four, 28-day treatment programs as an inpatient, numerous detoxes and the most clean time that I ever managed to put together at one time was about 6 months.

"It was not until I gave my life to Jesus Christ that things finally changed for the good. The Lord works in many different ways and through many different things. The methadone program that I am on is a blessing from Him.

For many years I stayed as far away from methadone clinics as possible. Out of ignorance I bought into many of the prejudices against methadone. Today I am able to understand first hand the truth concerning methadone. I know that God has and is using this program to give me my life back. But even more important He is now able to help others through what He has given to me.

"When I first came to the Metro Treatment Center, I had a difficult time getting and staying clean. But the staff worked with me, encouraged me and believed in me when it was hard for me to believe in myself. The medication, methadone, in and of itself is extremely effective in relieving the withdrawal symptoms of the narcotics addict. It also aids in reducing / eliminating the physical cravings for narcotics and in blocking the euphoric feelings of other narcotics if the methadone patient chooses to indulge.

"While methadone is a wonderful tool in narcotics recovery, there has to be more than simply taking one's daily dose. This where the Metro Treatment Center really makes the difference. Through one-on-one counseling, group therapy, education and taking an active part and interest in my recovery, the Metro staff has been a major part in the blessings that I now enjoy each day.

"For many years I had resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to be free from the horrible nightmare of active addiction. God thought otherwise and He proved it through His grace, power and the Metro Treatment Center."

Marty
New Hanover Metro Treatment Center
Wilmington, North Carolina

"I have been a client at New Hanover Metro Treatment Center for well over 2 years now, and have always been treated with the utmost respect by all staff members. The dosing is always done in an orderly fashion, and at a very quick pace so as to keep the line moving, and no one should be late for work, or any other appointment they may have. The nurses are always very polite, and try to answer any questions you may have relating to the clinic. Shirley and all the counselors always have time for you, and treat you as an equal, meaning like a real human being, never talking down to you. The entire staff is always helpful, and conduct themselves in a professional manner. The groups are helpful, and interesting; I have to respect the facilitator for maintaining complete control while keeping your attention. I've never been treated bad, or unfairly. Having been at other clinics in the past where they try to de-humanize you, it was truly a relief to find New Hanover Metro Treatment Center, where you are treated like the real person you are, not a worthless addict. I've taken it on myself to write this letter to let whom ever reads it know that New Hanover Metro is a positive clinic with an upbeat great staff."

W. H. H.
New Hanover Metro Treatment Center
Wilmington, North Carolina

"My name is David. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the staff of New Hanover Metro Treatment Center, and to Shirley, Vonda, and Hilda in particular.

"I started my treatment at a different facility in Wilmington. I did not have a good experience there. It was a repressive program that had punitive responses for the slightest infraction.

"NHMTC was a breath of fresh air. Patients still have the same responsibilities to the program, but are treated like adults.

"My counselor, Vonda, is wonderful. She has been all that I could ask for in a counselor. When I started on the program, I still used drugs occasionally and had legal problems, and not a whole lot of direction in life. Since Vonda has been my counselor, I have had more drug free time than ever before. She helped me with my legal problems, which are now non-existent. I have also enrolled in college and I am working toward being an x-ray technologist.

"Miss Shirley, the Director of the program has also been great. She has been very approachable and responsive to any problems that needed her attention. I also know she has gone out of her way to help me in many ways. Either by helping with my legal problems or by helping me with the long distance I travel to the program. Without her help, my life would not be as improved as it is.

"Hilda has also been a big help in my recovery. She has been a good help with any medical questions and also helping me with takehomes and generally being supportive.

"If I had not gotten the fine treatment I have gotten at NHMTC, my future would be looking very bleak. I am very thankful I have these fine people helping me in my recovery. They have helped me immensely."

David
New Hanover Metro Treatment Center
Wilmington, North Carolina

"I am 42 years old. I was taking Vicodan after surgery on my ankles. Four years ago the pain was constant, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After the surgery, I started on 500 mgs. and then to 750 Vicodan ES. Then to Vicodan HP then to Percosets. All these increases were doctor approved over a 3 year period. Finally to the patches, Duragesic Patches, 200 mgs. per hour. I could not think clearly, had no energy and saw no end in sight until I called Semoran Treatment Center. I spoke to a gentleman Greg on the phone. He put me at ease, invited me to come and talk to him. I tried the cold turkey approach, taking off both patches one at a time. I would make it about 8-10 hours and the most terrible flu symptoms I had ever experienced would start. It has been approximately 12 months now that I have been under the watchful eye of the doctor and my counselor of the Semoran Treatment Center. My life is totally back on track and I feel as though without this treatment center and its knowledgeable staff God is the only one that knows where I would be today. And I am sure I would not be doing as well as I am, if it was not for the Semoran Treatment Center program. To all the staff at the Semoran Treatment Center, my children, my wife, myself, and my family thank you so much for helping me get me back my life."

M.R.
Semoran Treatment Center
Gary, Indiana

"Living life is so much better now on methadone, instead of searching and seeking out pills everyday. I have peace of mind now and it took three times joining the clinic. The third time was a charm. I stood proud and tall this time and believe me, I thought there were many times suicide crossed my mind but, methadone, the education classes, and talking to my counselor Colleen saved me this time. Your heart has to be in it; you don't go in with a chip on your shoulder because you have to go dose everyday and go to groups every month. You have to take baby steps before you reach your final exam, as I call it. I do miss groups sometimes, now. They helped me so much [by starting a] 'women's group.' I finally opened up and talked about my problems instead of keeping everything buried and bottled up inside. I take up for myself, I take better care of my health and welfare. My life has changed in so many ways: I'm active, go to work part-time, exercise, go for walks, speak my mind very clearly to people who always took advantage of me, no more.

"My doctor is really understanding about methadone. She, my doctor, is not ignorant to this drug. She is for it if she thinks that person really needs it she will me 100%. That was something else about methadone. I finally found doctors all for it. The first I went to, to get an O.K. on my nerve pills along with methadone, …. told Dr. #1 at UAB my story, got to the end and said, 'Do you want me to leave?' Doctor's answer, 'No.' She checked out my story, talked to Colleen and my pills were all over, no more trying to get enough pills in me just to stay not sick. I have never been happier than this time with the clinic's counselors, especially mine. She, Colleen, will go out of her way to do whatever she can for me. She is my friend also.

"Just work with your counselor and go to your meetings. They help more than you will ever know, all forty-four of them (so I counted!). I joined August 18, 1999 and will be there till I die this time. Methadone helped me so much. Suicide finally left me alone. I no longer battle."

R.D.
Huntsville Metro Treatment Center
Huntsville, Alabama

"To Dose or Not to Dose. That is the Question.

"Growing up in the Bronx, New York exposed me to a tough street life in which sooner or later Smack was the cheapest drug dollar for dollar. In high school I could buy 2, 3 and 5 dollar bags and stay high all day. Being on methadone was a way for me to get back on track and live a normal life. I've gotten off the methadone three times and every time I went back to getting high again. One time I walked away from 100 mgs. Everyone told me I couldn't do it but I did. It was horrible. I didn't sleep for ten days. I didn't die from the withdrawal but I never want to go through that ever again. After some years I finally realized that for me its best to stay on the program. This way I'm not so easily tempted to go and get high. Dosing everyday can get pretty expensive. On the other hand the value of living a healthy normal productive life is worth a lot more."

New Yorker
Southwest Miami Treatment Center
Miami, Florida

"HOPE"

"For me, the one special "wish" a person could have when they are dying is another last chance to make a difference or the hope for a better life for the addict and for his or her family.

"Long-term multiple drug addiction can be a very long and cruel disease that causes constant pain of the spirit and mind. I cannot imagine that anyone chooses to stay on this course of life.

"At forty years of age and close to thirty years of addiction with constant intermittent treatment programs of every kind know to man, I finally lost all hope of reaching my goals and fulfilling a few moments of peace of mind.

"Birmingham Metro Treatment Center using not only MMT, but a non-judgmental attitude, along with patience (a lot of it), and many tools including a broad variety of educational, grief, and open topic groups, and with the constant goal of the counselors to find new ways to treat the whole person while treating our disease with respect has changed not only my life but also many others as well.

"This has given me the "hope" that I have been desperately seeking - to control and understand my disease. But especially - I have a new life with trust, support, love and most of all a new self confidence and a belief in myself - to work, learn, give, receive and how to use my hard fought wisdom, in love."

L.J.
Birmingham Metro Treatment Center
Birmingham, Alabama