kswl

Sometimes I think this board is frequented by people getting information for books and screenplays---although this doesn't look much like a professional writer as it begins with, "Her and her partner . . "

michelleNYC

If this is real, although I have no first-hand knowledge of the area, I would imagine that while your husband is undergoing drug treatment, it really would not be the best time to travel. Perhaps you both should wait until he has been "clean" for a substantial time before you take on traveling which can be stressful and not the best for someone in his situation.

artstuff

Oh my Gawd...kswl....you don't know how many times I've thought the same thing. Some of the fodder on this forum would make for a great book. >- Robyn

kswl

I can picture someone wanting "true life" details about traveling with methadone, getting detained, and the hijinks that ensue.

Or maybe it is just a case of extreme laziness--i.e. "any relevant sites, etc. please let me know."

scooby1011

Hi, I am on a methadone clinic myself and I travel all the time. If you are not using any other illegal drugs than it is not a problem to get "take homes" but, it takes a while to earn them and a person starts with only one a week and builds his/her way up. However, for bad girls and boys (like myself) there are clinics all around the world..there is a website called the worldwide methadone site and they list every country in the world and the possibility of "guest dosing" while on vacation. Your friend could find one in your area and his current clinic will make arrangements with the one he will be going to while on holiday..I am trying to find out if the Bahamas or Aruba have them..I need a vaca I hope that helped you...

AnthonyGA

There's always the option of discontinuing the methadone. If the trip immediately follows the withdrawal, there won't be any easy source of drugs that might encourage a relapse, and the trip could serve as an anchor point for a life that is drug-free. Just a thought.

mztery

this IS a tough crowd...

while I've never been an addict I worked in drug tx for many years. it's VERY common for long time methadone users to get "take homes" - regardless of where they have to go to GET the doess. So whether the clinic is 6 or 60 miles away is irrelevant - a "good" client can get up to about a month, especially for a trip planned in advance.

HIPAA rules are VERY strict about drug treatment, so although I don't know what appers she's referring to, it's possible the CLINIC is not willing to share the information as it's between the DH and the clinic. ESPECIALLY if the clinic staff are thrying ot encourage the DH to take more repsonsibility for taking care of these kinds of issues. (and I admit I am going out on alimb here)

And it is VERY possible the OP knows a lot about clinic procedures and what an addict needs to do to earn takehomes, and not a lot about methadone as a drug. Most of our clinic patiens themselves didn't know exactly what methadone was or , more ot the point, what TYPE of drug it was in a legal sense.

So As the OP has certainly posted lots of posts that had nothing to do with stealing info for a book I would give her some slack.

Mamarosa good luck with your trip ...

laclaire

Anthony- I don't know if you have any experience with people in recovery, but that is a very unhealthy idea. First of all, withdrawal is absolutely horrible with physical and mental consequences. Also, thinking that drugs will not be available is very naïve of you. They are everywhere, unless perhaps you go to some kind of remote location, in which case physical withdrawal might be dangerous to your health.

ekscrunchy

In many cases methadone is a drug that is taken for a lifetime and is not something one would discontinue before a trip. I wonder how the original poster fared.

janisj

OK - mamarosa's trip is loooong over (this thread is over a year old)

I do wonder sometimes tho' - interesting that scooby registers and makes one (only) post, and it is to locate and top a really old thread. His info is useful - but I just find it curious . . . . . .

clairobscur

Maybe scooby discovred this site and since he's himself following a methadone programm, hence directly interested, searched for the word "methadone" , found this thread and responded. Would a first-time poster with a different peculiar issue doing the same surprise you?

Anyway, who cares? Trolls are annoying because they ask loaded, irritating questios and waste everybody's time, but scooby *answered* a question, so I'm not sure why someone would be suspicious or bothered.

janisj

Oh, no - I wasn't calling scooby a troll. His info has a certain ring of truth and might indeed be helpful to someone.

I was just (personally) curious about a brand new poster finding Fodors apparently just to search for "methadone" and post to a year old thread. Nothing wrong w/ that at all. Just curious . . .

(I'm curious about a lot of things - this is just a tiny one.)

suze

janisj, you wouldn't have to find Fodor's first. Google has a strong reach here at Fodor's. A simple general web search under the word methadone could have brought Scooby to us.

AnthonyGA

A change such as a major trip is a good opportunity to try to drop an addiction. It works for cigarettes, it works for alcohol, and it can work for other drugs as well. It can even work for overeating (although Paris is not the ideal choice for someone who wishes to avoid eating).

The principle is that the movement from a familiar environment and its many trigger factors can facilitate kicking a habit. If you are doing something interesting in a completely different place and culture, it's easier to forget a habit or abstain from it.

On multiple occasions I've come across visitors who "forget" to smoke or whatever during a trip; there's just too much to do and too many distractions, and they overlook their addictions. So why not kick the addictions at the same time?

Withdrawal symptoms for opiates are unpleasant but not dangerous. The basis of all addictions is psychological. Change the psychology, and you overcome the addiction. And a dramatic change of pace is a good opportunity to try it.

I suppose that drugs are available anywhere in the world, but you have to look for them in some places, including Paris. Amsterdam might be a poor choice for someone addicted to opiates, but I don't think that Paris is.

ekscrunchy

Anthony with all due respect, your comments about withdrawal are not entirely true. Methadone is a very different drug than the other opiates. Withdrawal is usually done under medical supervision and can take up to one year if done correctly. No one in his or her right mind would consider withdrawing from this particular drug while on a vacation. The addiction in this case is most definitely a physical one, by the way. If you are interested in learning more, I will suggest some sources of information.

kswl

I would be interested in the source of your authority for this opinion, Anthony. "Most" psychologists agree that anything out of the ordinary, including traveling, is by its nature stressful and is thus an inopportune time to attempt to quit a bad habit. An addiction such as drugs or alcohol isn't overcome merely by having lots to do on vacation.

lenox236

and i would like to know why AnthonyGA thinks its appropriate to give medical advice on a travel forum...

Especially bad advice...

crefloors

People can die during alcohol or drug withdrawal, which is why it is usually done with medical supervision. The addiction is more than just in someones head.

suze

Really really REALLY bad advice and misinformation from AnthonyGA.

You think heroin addiction is all in a person's head? Astounding.

LoveItaly

I had a neighbor whose exhusband died. He was an alcoholic, drank himself into a stupor every day by late afternoon. He one day decided to stop oold turkey. He died from what I understand was a heart attack. My neighbor told me that can happen to real heavy drinkers that stop drinking without medical care. First time I had heard of this. So would imagine any heavy addiction could be life threatening with medical help. I sure don't know as I have never been in the medical field and so don't give out medical advise.