Methadose Mind Wars

Methadone

North Carolina, as most states has it's alcohol and drug treatment centers. Since its inception in 1969, McLeod Center has become the largest Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in the Carolina's. McLeod Center provides an outpatient methadone program.

I have been assisting one of my neighbors and his wife with some financial support and consultation regarding their involvement with the McLoed Center. They have been in this program for well over a year and on alternating days travel to the Marion location for their treatment.

Knowing what I do about the government's drug business and the congressional ties to big pharma profit connections, I was not surprised after a lengthy conversation with both to discover the scams of these non-profit addiction programs. I found it curious that these two participants were indoctrinated into the program with very little medical evaluation. Simple things such as vitals are nearly non-existent. No drug screenings, no blood pressure recording and no medical diagnostics at all.

Every visit costs approximately $11.00 and they are provided a dose of Methadone and sent on their way. I asked both of the time they have been in the program and how the reduction process occurred. Neither had any idea of dosage and said they asked for the dosage each time.

NORMAL METHADONE DOSAGE

Methadone can be administered both orally and via injection. When administered for pain control, the onset of analgesia is approximately three to six hours when methadone therapy is initiated, and this duration typically extends to eight to 12 hours with repeated dosing.

When methadone is administered for drug addiction, its slower onset of action and long half life helps in decreasing the incidence of withdrawal symptoms. In the outpatient setting, methadone dose is slowly increased over 5-7 days, depending on the patient's response. In some opioid tolerant patients, higher doses of methadone may be required over a shorter time.

During the titration phase, daily telephone progress reports by the patient, family members, home health nurses, or hospice personnel are recommended. Patients should be informed that several titrations might be necessary to reach optimal pain control.

In all patients continuous monitoring is required to ensure that withdrawal to opioid is not occurring. The dose can be safely increased in small increments while the patient is in hospital. Transition from high-dosage opioids may have to be completed in an inpatient setting with assistance from a pain specialist.

None of this was confirmed by the two patients and I was outraged by the information they gave me. They have both been sick for weeks and are unable to get the physical evaluation to insure the proper maintenance they need. This prompted me to do some research.

The following is taken from their website

"McLeod Center is different from other addiction programs in that most treatment options are available on demand. Only residential aftercare and inpatient detoxification services are not available through the McLeod Center. However, outpatient clients can often be treated immediately upon assessment, and after a short wait, Residential Treatment can be provided. An individual seeking freedom from chemical dependence has access to a variety of programs. The treatment programs at McLeod Center are as diverse as clients and their needs."

From the News & Observer (specifically on methadone and the McLoed Centers)

http://www.newsobserver.com/689/story/1139969.html

From Zero Unintentional Deaths

http://www.zerodeaths.org/event/?event_id=122

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The major producer remains Mallinckrodt, who sells bulk methadone to most of the producers of generic preparations, and also distributes its own brand name product in the form of tablets, dispersible tablets and oral concentrate under the name Methadose in the United States. Mallinckrodt Incorporated is a set of pharmaceutical, chemical, imaging, and respiratory equipment suppliers based in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Founded in 1867 when the Mallinckrodt brothers formed G. Mallinckrodt & Company to manufacture pharmaceutical chemicals, Mallinckrodt was purchased by Tyco Healthcare (Tyco International) in 2001. More recently in 2007, the healthcare business units were spun off under the new name Covidien.

Mallinckrodt is the sole legal source for cocaine in the United States, which it receives from a Stepan Company plant in Maywood, New Jersey, which is the only firm in the U.S. licensed to import coca leaves. Federal restrictions also bar the importation of drugs such as Esterom manufactured from cocaine, which therefore requires that they use this supplier. Mallinckrodt is also one of the U.S. importers of opium from India.

Interesting TYCO's interest in the painkiller market and the emerging increase in patients and pain. Neuropathy, Fibromyalgia, Thoracic outlet, Radiculopathy, CRPS, Diabetes and injuries have created statistics that show pain represents 60-70 percent complaints for medical treatment. TYCO, Covidien has managed to corner the market and most recently are adding additional new opioids.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSN1732007220090617

This follows the long laundry list of Big PHrMA and CIA drug industry. I am going to write the extended version and send this to the newspapers asking for them to pursue investigation into McLeod and their practices.