In many cases it has been the intervention of family and loved ones that has turned the situation around.

Unfortunately, a family intervention alone is often not enough. It’s not always successful.

But our experienced intervention specialists who really understand drugs and drug abuse and alcoholism – and what the person is going through – know exactly how to reach someone who is addicted.

They know how to get through to them so they reach for help.

Need Help With A Family Member Or Friend?

If you have a situation that has led you to search the Internet for intervention specialists, give us a call today.

Please don’t wait – addiction certainly doesn’t wait for anyone and the next crisis could be the one that leaves a permanent scar on your lives.

Commit Them to Change

Once they make the decision to seek help and go to rehab we will help you find the best possible drug rehab program that fits your particular needs and budget, so that they can recover and start to rebuild their lives and prosper.

At Rehab Clinic we have performed interventions that have helped hundreds of families deal with the crisis of drug addiction and helped them to find a successful drug rehab program that will finally handle the addiction.

An Intervention Can Save a Life

Sometimes all people need is someone to help them understand that what they are facing is a disease and all they need to really do is commit to change and genuinely want to get well.

Get in Touch

If you would like some free confiedential and no obligation advice about any of the above or just want to know more about what options are available to you, please call 0800 118 2892.

Many people think that once you have eliminated the addiction that is causing the chaos and devastation in your life and theirs ‘that’s it, problem solved’, unfortunately it’s not that simple. For most people living with any addiction, the substance is only a symptom of the many issues they may have.

These issues may have been buried deep for many years, the substance allows the person to bury these issues further, and it allows that person to block out any true emotions and hide behind anything that maybe too uncomfortable to face.

Recovering From Addiction

Whilst in treatment the person is allowed to explore, probably for the first time, the problems that have been covered up by their using. This process can sometimes be painful, as once the substance has been taken out of the equation they are only left with themselves, and recovery is all about looking at yourself, something you may not have done for a long time.

Addiction leaves you in your own little world, the recovery process in treatment will include many group therapy sessions where you will be encouraged to interact with your peers, giving input into their recovery and them giving input into yours.

Most treatment centres will be staffed by people who are actually in recovery themselves and have many years of experience behind them, they will have been in your position once and will fully understand, they will not be phased or shocked by anything you tell them.

No “Quick Fix” for Recovery

There is no quick fix for instant recovery, taking the substance away is obviously the start, but the recovery process is about the person as a whole. People with addictions seem to be quite unique, they come from all walks of life, there are no set rules, and addiction can affect anyone, at anytime in their lives.

By the time you have finished your stay at the treatment centre, you will be equipped with all you need to go out and apply what you have been taught on a day to day basis.

Within a short space of time family and friends will see a difference in you, way before you actually see it in yourself. You will be offered ongoing support from the centre and you will have met a new set of people who understand you and think the same way as you.

Be the Person You Were Supposed To Be

Recovery is so rewarding, you will see things for what they are, you will appreciate small things that occur in your life, and notice things that have been kept at bay by the fog you were living in. You will have patience and tolerance around situations, and you will stop and think before you act.

You will begin to feel well and have more energy than you know what to do with, you will sleep at night and you will be able to eat. Slowly but surely things that you never dreamt were possible become achievable. Most importantly your life can be free of fear, paranoia, chaos and devastation.

Life can be as normal as you wish it to be. Recovery is precious, and once you have found it, you will not want to let go of it.

Alcohol, Drug Rehab

Since setup, thousands have taken that journey with RehabClinics.Org.uk part of Panacea UK group of websites, Advanced Clinics for Addiction Treatment and assessments, recognized as working with best of the most successful and innovative private rehab clinics for addiction and rehabilitation in the country.

With Rehab Clinics in Bournemouth, as well as locations in Bedfordshire and Luton, Kingston upon Thames, Warrington, Chelmsford and Scotland, also further afield Countries like Spain, Cyprus, South Africa and Thailand.

The RehabClinic.Org.uk Institute is known as a leader in Drugs, Opiate, Alcohol, and Benzodiazepine detoxification treatments, as well as eating disorders therapy.

More specifically, The RehabClinics.Org.uk group has helped to free patients of substance abuse and addiction to Prescription Drugs, Heroin, Methadone, Cocaine, and other Drugs.

It’s noted for its use of the great Detox Clinics in combination with a number of therapies to treat addiction, including CBT and NLP with one to one counselling and group which is safer, more effective and less costly than other treatments.

More than 99% of its patients have been successfully and comfortably detoxed through this method. And being placed into the right drug rehab or alcohol treatment clinic makes all the difference.

People who depend on drugs or alcohol know full well how daunting it can be to pick and make a commitment to sobriety and for good. But they don’t have to face another year fighting with addiction alone. In the able and merciful hands of the treatment consultants and counselling staff at RehabClinic.org.uk, 2010 can signify the first day of the remainder of their healthy new drug or alcohol free lives.

If you or someone in your family has a Alcohol or Drug Addiction problem, RehabClinic.Org.uk will help finding a successful alcohol drug rehab program can be a life-saver. Just talking to someone who really understands what you are going through can make a difference. Call 0800 118 2982 now for free expert advice.

The RehabClinic.Org.uk has helped thousands of clients recover and get over the consequences of alcohol, heroin use and other drugs like Methadone, Cocaine and Prescription Drugs.

The mixture of the Rehab Detox Clinics Strategy with a counselling care program is what makes it unique among addiction treatment clinics and its success rate so high.

Many people with an eating disorder use the eating disorder as a way of controlling their lives.

We can help find the right treatment and support at specialised eating disorder clinics.

What most people don’t realise is that it isn’t them in control of their lives; their eating disorder takes control of their lives.

An eating disorder develops for many reasons and as well as treatment for the eating disorder, you will need specialist help to deal with your feelings inside which play a big part in your eating disorder.

How Eating Disorders Develop

When someone develops a problem with food, it is because they use it to cope with various problems and issues in their lives. People use what they believe is their control over food when they are lonely, sad, ashamed of something, bored, angry, isolated or angry.

They use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with emotions and feelings, sometimes without even realising it. Food is a very important part of our daily lives and we all know that we need to eat but for some people their eating patterns become damaging.

Eating Disorder Rehab

This is when you need to get help before it becomes too late. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people with eating disorders to have major health problems that can even lead to fatal consequences. We have specialisted treatment centres that can give you the right support and treatment for your specific need.

Sometimes the realisation of an eating disorder can make you feel ashamed and sad. A problem with food can make you feel like you are on your own but this is an important time to seek help and talk to someone who you can trust.

All our counsellors are highly qualified in this field and you can speak to any of them in complete confidence. They can advise you on what type of treatment would be best suited for you and help guide you to making the right choice of treatment centre for your specific needs.

We only give impartial advice and will only help you make a choice that is best suited to your specific needs.

Bad Eating Habits

Lots of people experiment with food and eating habits during their life. Whether you decide to be a vegetarian or change your diet for a healthy eating plan. But your eating habits become a problem when you use it to deal with painful situations, feelings and emotions. Some people even use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with stress.

Usually an eating disorder is made up from a combination of things affecting someone’s life. They believe they cannot cope with certain situations, feelings and emotions but this can change if you seek the right help and support on how you deal with these emotions and feelings. You can recover from an eating disorder but only if you seek help and support.

Counselling for an Eating Disorder

You can’t do this on your own and we can give you free impartial advise and support – we will help you get through this.

Low self esteem, lack of confidence, relationships, problems in work or with friends, problems with school, college and universities, sexual or physical abuse are all important factors that can trigger an eating order.

Sometimes it can just be the fact that someone feels fat or ugly and their feelings of not being good enough can lead to a problem with food which can develop into a dangerous eating disorder.

Sadly it can take a long time before you seek help and realise that you have lost control over food. As soon as you can acknowledge you have a problem with food, you can then seek help and treatment for your disorder.

Eating Disorders can Affect Everyone

Eating disorders aren’t just confined to young girls; young men can suffer from this problem too. It can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, culture. It will also affect family members and friends of the person suffering from an eating disorder.

Once you realise that your eating disorder has taken control over your life, you need to seek help and get the support that is needed for you, your family and friends – please call us now and seek the help that you need.

There are many different interpretations of addiction; we like to keep it simple:

Once the benefit of excessive drinking has been out weighed by the cost then the slide into ‘problem drinking’ has been made.

Problem Drinking

You do not have to drink or use everyday to necessarily be an alcoholic or addict, alcoholics and addicts can stop drinking for a period of time, its staying stopped that is the problem.

Problem drinking can slide quickly into alcoholism or addiction which is a disease and needs clinical treatment to overcome.

The disease is often progressive and fatal and is characterized by continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with alcohol or drugs, use of alcohol or drugs despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial.

Alcohol or drugs are usually the symptom of the problem but not the actual problem, the real problem of addiction is how someone thinks and feels which is so unpleasant that alcohol and drugs are consistently used to ‘numb’ or anesthetises this experience.

Once an ‘emotional re-arrangement’ has taken place and an individual feels entirely different and begins to see the world and themselves from a much more positive point of view then the desire to drink and use drugs is removed and a far more productive and successful way of living is entered into.

Alcoholics or addicts are not bad people; they are sick people who need treatment.

Ask yourself the following questions?

1. Have people commented on or criticized your drinking or drug use?
2. Have you tried cutting down or stopping and failed repeatedly?
3. Have you woken up feeling confused, frightened or depressed on a regular basis after drinking or using?
4. Have you dropped hobbies or interests because of your drinking or drug use?
5. Do you use drink or drugs to self-medicate your feelings when you feel uncomfortable, frightened or insecure?
6. Is your alcohol or drug use becoming more frequent or the amount you use increasing?

If you answer yes to 3 or more of these question then you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs and should seek professional advice.

Alcohol Interventions

In many cases it has been the intervention of family and loved ones that has turned the situation around. Unfortunately, a family intervention alone is often not enough. It’s not always successful.

But our experienced intervention specialists who really understand drugs and drug abuse and alcoholism – and what the person is going through – know exactly how to reach someone who is addicted. They know how to get through to them so they reach for help.

Researchers have found that cocaine stimulates the brain’s reward system inducing an even greater feeling of pleasure than natural functions. In turn, its influence on the reward circuit can lead a user to bypass survival activities and repeat drug use.

Cocaine Addiction

Chronic cocaine use can lead to a cocaine addiction and in some cases damage the brain and other organs. An addict will continue to use cocaine even when faced with adverse consequences. Dependency can develop in less than 2 weeks.

Some research indicates that a psychological dependency may develop after a single dose of high-potency cocaine. As the person develops a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same level of euphoria.

Facts About Cocaine

Cocaine is a white powder refined from the coca plant which grows in South America. It is usually placed on a smooth surface such as glass and cut up with a razor blade, forming thin lines or trails which can then be sniffed up through a makeshift straw such as a banknote.”Snorting” is the commonest form of consumption although it is sometimes injected.

It is easily absorbed through he lining of the nose. Repeated snorting of cocaine damages the membranes of the nose and can perforate the nasal septum (barrier between one side of the nose and the other.)

If you are suffering from cocaine addiction and want to explore the possibility of cocaine rehab or detox please get in touch. Our counsellors know what you are going through because most of them have been there themselves.We are 100% commited to advising you in the best possible way when choosing what course of action to take next.

How is Cocaine Used?

“Snorting” – absorbing cocaine through the mucous membranes of the nose. Injecting – users mix cocaine powder with water and use a syringe to inject the solution intravenously. Freebasing – Cocaine hydrochloride is converted to a “freebase” which can then be smoked. Crack Cocaine – Cocaine hydrochloride is mixed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and other ingredients, causing it to solidify into pellets or “rocks”.

The crack is then smoked in glass pipes. Cocaine and crack speed up the body in a similar way to amphetamines, but the effect is shorter and more intense – less than an hour for cocaine and as short as several minutes for crack. As with amphetamines, cocaine releases an intense rush of energy, makes a person feel good, mentally sharp, talkative and confident. When blood levels begin to dive, the craving is often overwhelming to take more.

Symptoms of Cocaine Use

The early euphoric experience disappears in heavy users, who can feel very restless, with nausea, excitability, extreme agitation, anxiety, paranoia and possible hallucinations. Very high doses can rarely cause heart failure, convulsions and death. Regular cocaine users often have interrupted sleep patterns.

They feel unable to cope until they’ve had some charlie, stressed-out and irritable. Life for weekend users can become a process of trying to get through the week until Friday.

Regular users may feel that they cannot have a “good time” without the drug. Stopping the drug produces terrible headaches, tiredness, nausea, sleepiness and depression.

Anxiety, panic, bloody nose, increased energy, talking rapidly, rapid pulse and respiration, paranoia, confusion, dilated pupils, hallucinations, altered motor activities (tremors, hyperactivity), stuffiness and a runny nose.

Paraphernalia Commonly Associated With Cocaine?

Paraphernalia associated with inhaling cocaine includes mirrors, razor blades, straws, and rolled paper money. Paraphernalia associated with injecting the drug include syringes, needles, and spoons, along with belts, bandanas, or surgical tubing used to constrict the veins. Scales are used by dealers to weigh the drug. Sometimes substances such as baking soda or mannitol are used to “cut” cocaine in order to dilute the drug and increase the quantity of the drug for sale.

Effects of Cocaine

Through the use of sophisticated technology, scientists can actually see the dynamic changes that occur in the brain as an individual takes cocaine. They can observe the different brain changes that occur as a person experiences the “rush,” the “high,” and finally the craving of cocaine. They can also identify parts of the brain that become active when a cocaine addict sees or hears environmental stimuli that trigger the craving for cocaine.

Researchers know that certain kinds of experiences, such as those involved in learning, can physically change brain structure and affect behaviour. Now, new research in rats shows that exposure to stimulant drugs such as cocaine can impair the ability of specific brain cells to change as a consequence of experience.

Ecstasy is a powerful stimulant and mood changer that speeds up your body system and alters your perception of the world.

Ecstasy addiction is not as common as other class a drug addictions and it is not possible to become physically addicted to ecstasy in the same way as other class A drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Long terms effects of ecstasy use are loss of memory and mood swings. Though ecstasy is not physically addictive, some users find it extremely seductive and during times of craving they can become stressed and lose the ability to concentrate.

If you think that you may be suffering from ecstasy addiction and would like some free advice on steps to take regarding treatment and recovery, call us or fill out the short online form.

It can make you feel both uplifted and relaxed and feeling very happy, usually with an overwhelming urge to dance. The effects of E vary considerably from one person to the next, depending on who you’re with, where you are and how you’re feeling at the time.

Usually coming in the form of small pills selling at around £8 – £12, or more rarely as MDMA powder, the effects of E can be felt for anything up to 8 hours, although this time reduces considerably for regular users.

Effects of Ecstasy

Within 20 minutes to an hour after taking ecstasy, your heart may go into bangin’ gabba overdrive and you might feel a bit hot and sticky while your mouth goes dry. Sometimes, you’ll come up with a huge exhilarating rush and possibly experience hallucinations.

During the two hours when the effects are their strongest, even the sound of a cutlery tray being dropped will sound unbearably danceable, you’ll be walking around with a ludicrous grin on your face and even a set of Millwall fans will appear hugely huggable.

Lights will seem brighter and colours more intense. You’ll feel firmly locked into the groove on the dancefloor and feel happy and confident. These feelings will slowly diminish as the drugs wear down.

Because E removes all feelings of tiredness and thirst it is vital that you keep yourself hydrated if you’re dancing non-stop. Try to drink around a pint of fluid an hour (not alcohol) to replace fluids lost by dancing – isotonic drinks are particularly good. If you’re not dancing then you don’t need to drink so much as it can be harmful – as in the tragic case of Leah Betts.

Side Effects of Ecstasy

Like most strong drugs, expect to appear very strange when encountering straight friends. E can make you strut wildly and enthusiastically to some of the worst tunes in the world while hugging very unsavoury characters. You will also quite probably talk a whole load of bullshit and any photographs taken of you in this state will prove wildly amusing to your friends afterwards.

Avoid taking ecstasy if you’re on anti-depressants, and try to avoid wolfing down cans of Super Tennents as the alcohol will dehydrate you – as well as weaken the effects of the E. Ecstasy puts a tremendous strain on your heart, liver and kidneys, and it’s important to take time out in a chill-out area during the night.

The Dangers

Most of the dangers come from people overheating and not replacing enough fluids while dancing, so it is essential to keep drinking water if you’re dancing. We can’t stress this fact enough. But also be careful not to drink too much – about about a pint an hour is right if you’re on the dancefloor.

Remember that water is not an antidote to E, it just helps combat the dehydrating qualities of the drug.

Always make sure that you can get home safely before taking E, and don’t try to drive. Because E is a stimulant, the comedown is much like that from speed. Once you’ve come down you might feel a bit depressed, anxious, hungry and tired with some people getting it worse than others. You might also notice a laxative effect. Long-term frequent users often get run-down from exhaustion and suffer colds, sore throats and flu. Women can be susceptible to cystitis and thrush.

How long do the effects last? MDMA: 4-6 hours, MDEA: 3-5 hours, MDA: 8-10 hours, MBDB: 4-6 hours. Note: These are approximate times as duration and intensity depend on a variety of factors including the amount of the drug taken, its strength, purity, body weight and the physical and psychological makeup of the individual concerned.

Health Risks of Ecstasy Use

There has been much hysterical speculation about the dangers of taking Ecstasy, and although the vast majority of these articles seem more interested in pursuing a moral agenda than dealing with the health issues, it’s important to recognise that there are some risks involved.

Although it’s true to say that E is a comparably safe drug, in 1999, Ecstasy was mentioned on 26 UK death certificates in 1999 (although on most of these other drugs were listed too).

Ecstasy use in the UK has remained constant over past 5 years, estimated at around 300,000 people per week. Depending on figures and assumptions made, the death rate for first time users ranges from 1 in 10,000 (the same as road accidents) to just 1 in 2,000 (source: Times, 6.Dec.01)

MDMA appears to disturb the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and this can lead to serious problems with overheating and ‘heat shock’. There is no conclusive evidence to the long-term effects of ecstasy, although some experts suspect that there may be a link between brain damage and long term ecstasy use.

In 1995 Leah Betts tragically died after taking an ‘E’ and drinking water to counter the drug’s effect.

Detection Periods

Ecstasy can be detected in the urine up to 2-4 days after use at common levels.

The Law

MDMA and Ecstasy are categorised as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971

Ketamine can produce vivid dreams or hallucinations, and make the user feel as though the mind is separated from the body. This effect is called “dissociation,” which is also the effect of the related drug PCP.

When Ketamine is given to humans for medical reasons, it is often given in combination with another drug that prevents hallucinations.

Ketamine Street Names

Special K, K, Ket, Vitamin K, Cat Tranquilizers

Ketamine effects take two different forms: physical and mental. Ketamine effects are most detrimental to the mental aspect of the user and can be devastating. In fact the same reasons that cause the Ketamine effects to be destructive are the same reasons why they are so seductive. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic.

This means that the drug allows a person to disassociate themselves from their own consciousness. This is what is known as the ‘near death feeling’ or “k-hole” in slang terms. This is the desired Ketamine effect.

What does Ketamine look like?

The Ketamine that is manufactured for medical use is sold in a liquid form, though it is usually converted into a white powder before it is sold illegally. The powder is snorted, mixed into drinks or smoked with marijuana or tobacco. The liquid is added to drinks, or injected. It is usually injected into a muscle, because injecting it into a vein usually causes loss of consciousness.

Ketamine Users

Ketamine is only available legally to veterinarians and medical doctors and has been used for its veterinary properties for nearly 30 years. However, it is then stolen or diverted, and sold illegally on the street or in clubs for recreational use.

There has been a recent increase in the popularity of the drug among young people, which may be linked to its accessibility as a “club drug” at parties and “raves.” Ketamine dissolves in liquid, allowing it to be slipped into drinks, and its sedative effects have been used to prevent victims from resisting sexual assault. For this reason, Ketamine has been commonly referred to in the media as a “date rape” drug. Hence it is advisable to take caution at parties and bars and watch your drink.

How does Ketamine make you feel?

The way Ketamine – or any other drug – affects you depends on many factors: age and body weight, how much you take and how often you take it, how long you’ve been taking it, the method you use to take the drug, whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions, and if you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the counter, herbal or otherwise).

The effects of Ketamine are usually felt between one and ten minutes after taking the drug. Users report a drunken and dizzy feeling and a quick numbness in the body. The range of visual experiences are reported to include blurred vision, seeing “trails,” “astral travel” and intense and terrifying hallucinations. Some report feelings of weightlessness, and “out-of-body” or “near-death” experiences.

When Ketamine is taken in lower doses, users may feel sleepy, distracted and withdrawn. They may find it difficult to think clearly, or feel confused, having a distorted perception of time and their body. At higher doses a Ketamine user may babble, stumble (if they try to walk), have an increased heart rate, find it difficult to breathe and most likely not remember who or where they are . Too high a dose of Ketamine causes loss of consciousness.

The mildest effect of Ketamine is an increase in heart rate along with a slight euphoric feeling. This feeling of euphoria can be deceiving; when something is truly wrong the user may not know it. Furthermore, If their body is being affected in a fatal way the euphoria will not draw their attention to the problem. This can lead to more use and can sometimes lead to death.

How long do the effects of Ketamine last?

The effects of Ketamine usually last about an hour. Some users may feel low or anxious, or even have some memory loss. In some cases the user can experience flashbacks of their drug experience long after the effects of the drug have worn off.

Dangers of Ketamine

Users of Ketamine put themselves at risk a number of ways.

Like all anaesthetics, Ketamine prevents the user from feeling pain. This means that if injury occurs, the user may not know it. Depending on the amount of drug taken, those under its effects may have difficulty standing up or speaking, resulting in an increased risk of injury.

As with other anaesthetics, Ketamine may cause vomiting. Eating or drinking before taking the drug increases the risk of choking on vomit.

When taken in higher doses, Ketamine may depress the central nervous system. This can reduce the level of oxygen that gets to the brain, heart and other muscles, and may even cause death.

The Ketamine sold at clubs may be mixed with other drugs, which in combination could make it even more dangerous. Combining Ketamine with alcohol or other sedatives can be fatal.

Driving or operating machinery while under the influence of Ketamine, or any drug, increases the risk of physical injury to the user, and increases the risk of injury to others.

Is Ketamine addictive?

If Ketamine is used regularly, the user becomes more tolerant to the effects of the drug; meaning more and more is needed to achieve the same initial effect. However, there have been no reports of typical symptoms of drug withdrawal when users stop taking Ketamine.

What are the long-term effects of using Ketamine?

Since there has been little research about the long-term, non-medical use of Ketamine, the long-term effects are not known. Of all the Ketamine effects the most sought after is this feeling of disassociation. With the acquisition of this feeling come many consequences.

If the user continues use to the point of “k-hole” (see above) they can begin to do irreparable damage. The perforation in their consciousness can become permanent. This then creates a neurosis that is inescapable, which leads to periodic episodes of complete consciousness perforation. If this continues the person can become insane beyond psychological assistance.

Is ketamine a problem for you? Are you considering drug rehab or drug detox to help overcome your problem? Get in touch with one of our drug councillors who will be happy to assist you in making the right decision. 0800 118 2892.

Methadone treatment is now common throughout the UK and overseas since it is prescribed for people suffering from methadone addiction.

Methadone Rehab Clinic

A methadone clinic is rather like most drug clinics in that you go through a detox phase, as well as group counselling and one on one counselling.

If you think you or a member of your family or even a friend is suffering from methadone or heroin addcition there is help available to you.

Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid (a synthetic opiate) that was originally synthesised by the German pharmaceutical company Axis during the second world war.

It was first marketed as ‘Dolophine’ and was used as an analgesic (a painkiller) for the treatment of severe pain. It is still occasionally used for pain relief, although it is more widely used now as a substitute drug for people addicted to other opiates (primarily heroin).

Methadone is usually available as a liquid – linctus or methadone mixture – which should be swallowed. Tablets and injectable ampoules are sometimes prescribed, and like many other medicines some of these prescribed drugs are diverted and become available illegally.

Effects of Methadone

When methadone is prescribed to people addicted to other opiates (primarily heroin), the guidelines for the dosage are that enough should be given to prevent physical withdrawal symptoms – when you are prescribed methadone it is not supposed to give you a buzz, or get you high. If you take methadone orally (mixture or linctus), it will take around thirty minutes before you feel the effects.

If you are using injectable methadone (Physeptone) then the drug takes effect much more rapidly.

Physical Changes

As an opiate, regular use of methadone causes physical dependency – if you’ve been using it regularly (prescribed or not) once you stop you will experience a withdrawal. The physical changes due to the drug are similar to other opiates (like heroin); suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation.

Some methadone users feel sick when they first use the drug. If you are a woman using methadone you may not have regular periods – but you are still able to conceive. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours (if you are using methadone you will not withdraw for this period) and can remain in your body for several days.

Keeping Safe When Using Methadone

Methadone is a very powerful drug, and individual doses vary for each person. If you are using methadone that you have bought illegally be aware that you could overdose on an amount that would seem ‘normal’ to somebody else – especially if you are not using opiates regularly, and therefore have a low tolerance (it doesn’t take very much to affect you).

If you are using methadone regularly – prescribed or not – taking a higher dose than normal or using other depressant drugs (like alcohol, heroin, tranquillisers or sleeping tablets) on top could cause you to overdose.

If you do lose consciousness and vomit you may well choke. If you become drowsy you should not try to drive or operate machinery – you could easily have an accident. Methadone is very dangerous for children.

You should store methadone where children are not able to get to it – in a high cupboard, not by your bed or in the fridge. If a child does swallow methadone they should be taken to the Accident and Emergency Department at your local hospital immediately – let the doctors know what has been taken, and if possible at what time and what quantity.

Methadone Laws in the UK

Methadone is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a schedule 2 drug, that is a substance considered to have medical therapeutic use, and legal to possess only if prescribed by a doctor, and then only if taken in accordance with the doctor’s instructions. Methadone is a Class A drug.

Methadone Fact

Contrary to popular belief, Dolophine was not named after Adolph Hitler. Methadone was first synthesized by German pharmacologists before WWII began, its properties were not discovered until after the war. ‘Dolophine’ (the original trade name for methadone hydrochloride), was not derived from the name ‘Adolph’, but from the Latin ‘dolor’ (pain) and ‘fin’ (end)