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#1 | |
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With a clinic in place, those families with a member who uses methadone have a place to come for vacation. They don't vacation at the clinic, they get area lodging and enjoy. The person who is on methadone therapy has a place to go to get their medicine. Without a clinic nearby those in need would not be able to come to the area for vacation or they would satisfy their needs in a less family friendly manner. The tranquility and beauty of the lakes region is a fine setting to relieve tensions and relax. Good for the whole family particularly when they are caring for a family member with a problem. It is another attraction to the area. The clinic will help cut down drug related thefts for locals making other tourists and area residents safer and more secure. MA has just decriminalized marijuana possession. A misdemeanor for an ounce or less. That is a drawing card for pot heads. NH and a Laconia methadone clinic draws a different crowd. A methadone clinic helps make the area a more family friendly place to be.
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#2 |
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My sister lived in Lynn and a methadone clinic was opened on her short residential street. They had a very hard time selling their houseand when they finally did they lost a lot of money. It was not a family friendly place and it was not Disneyland.
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#3 | |
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For an extreme example, consider many of our major American cities, e.g. The Bronx: while blocks levelled, demolished, with scores of abandoned buildings; burnt hulks of cars left untowed on the streets. The problem, people, is not the methadone clinics, which are innocuous and well meaning responses to a major problem, the problem is the availability and use of hard drugs. Junkies are victims; the trafficers should be hunted down and penalties enhanced, to include the death penalty if deemed appropriate. There can be no happy ending here. |
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#4 |
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Great idea,JK....maybe the Chamber of Commerce could pick up on it and run ads accross the country.."Junkies welcome...stay wasted while enjoying the lakes" Joe,you're speaking of these people as though they we all fuzzy,loving families of professional types,mavbe doctors and lawyers,who just happen to have a loving member who needs a little help with a small problem.I think you'll find that the type of "families" that you'd attract are as bad as the junkies themselves.
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#5 | |
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#6 |
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First off while I agree with many of you, I think the word "junkie" is thrown around a bit too liberally if anything. Not every person who seeks treatment for addiction is the stereo-typical heroin addict sticking themselves with needles. That's not the case anymore. Nowadays more people are seeking treatment for addictions to pain pills that were prescribed to them by Doctors.
Case in point: I have a good friend who was in a car accident four years ago. She suffered a great deal of trauma to her spine and ruptured three disks in her back. She was barely able to walk for weeks afterward. Instead of sending her to continual physical therapy, chiropractors, aquatherapy etc. her Doctor prescribed her enough pain medication to knock out a horse, and told her all the other options available to treat pain were "useless". After two years her doses had quadrupled as her tolerance quickly adjusted. Shortly after her "know it all" Doctor got in trouble with the DEA for over-prescribing narcotics and not keeping accurate records, and his license was suspended. She went to pick up her prescriptions and found a note stating that this would be the last RX her would be able to write her and any other patients. An estimated 75 patients that he had basically turned into drug addicts were left to fend for themselves. No other Doctors would agree to prescribe her the medications, or even wean her off. I myself took her to the ER once where they gave her a shot and suggested she go to a detox facility ![]() I accompanied her to a follow up appointment with a Pain Specialist. The woman was very honest and told her that this was no way to treat chronic pain. If my friend were ever to be involved in an accident there would be no way to stabilize her condition seeing she was already on such high doses of narcotics. She was far too young to be on such high doses of narcotics, for when the tolerance rises to a certain point, there's nothing left to do. After a long time, no drug will do it anymore. She suggested the same exact things I had suggested to her years before. Aquatherapy, physical therapy, massage and chiropractics. Also many non-narcotic pain medicines are helpful. My friend was left with no choice but to turn to a methadone clinic to help with her withdrawal. She lives in Manchester and attended a clinic owned by another company. However after six months of therapy and working in conjunction with the Pain Specialist she is narcotic free and has learned many new ways to manage her pain. My point is that not all people who seek treatment are "junkies", or "bad" people. Some of them have become addicts and don't even know it. I work in the pharmaceutical industry and I will tell you, a lot of Doctors are nothing but legal drug pushers. No it is not the entire fault of the Doctor, I know that the Patient has the choice to say no, however when you have a Doctor telling you that this is the only thing that will work, most people tend to believe the Doctor. After giving birth to my daughter via c-section I had more people trying to push pills on me then I could imagine. I left the hospital with a stack of prescriptions, and all but one went in the trash. Not to mention the things they were trying to dose me with while I was in labor....unimaginable. It's no wonder addiction is so rampant in this society. |
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#7 |
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Here is the letter I promised to post from a person who had been reading this thread and wanted to be heard yet remain anonymous. I am posting this with permission from the author. I did not edit any content but did edit the font for easier reading - Nadia
I wanted to briefly clarify some things I have been reading in this thread. First of all the clinic I attend is owned by the same company that is opening the Laconia clinic. I am a 28 year old resident of Laconia. I work two jobs and have no children. I live in an apartment by myself and do not collect any type of welfare or use state insurance. I pay cash for my treatment. I have been getting treatment for close to nine months now. The clinic does not advertise. There are people walking in and out constantly but other then that you would never know what the place is. Patients are clearly told not to linger in the parking lot as it may be cause for discharge. There are two staff members continuously monitoring the parking lot through the large glass windows in the front of the building. They watch for clients parking in handicapped spots, lingering in the parking lot, or any suspicious activity. One time I parked in a handicapped spot (being lazy) and I was immediately reprimanded when I walked inside. They saw me through the glass window and paged the person at the front desk who told me I was not to park in the handicapped spots. I also witnessed staff members quickly approach a female patient who had borrowed another patients lock box and attempted to walk into the clinic and pass it off as her own. The clinic was giving most patients take home doses due to a large snow storm the next day. This person did not have a lock box (which is mandatory for any take home doses) and in a last ditch attempt to avoid driving in the snow storm, attempted to borrow someone else’s. This is the extent of “criminal” activity I have witnessed. The parking lot is well monitored by the staff. No one is permitted to loiter. There have been no accidents that I have witnessed. No one appears impaired inside or outside the clinic. When I first decided to seek help I called and was made a next day appt. I was asked some questions on the phone. How long I had been using, why I wanted to stop, and how the clinic could help me? My intake fee would be $75 and if I was to be dosed that day (which was not promised and was up to the Nurse) it would be an additional $15. A total of $90. On my first day I had an appointment with a counselor. He asked me a lot of questions about my history and was very friendly. He explained all the rules and policies of the clinic. I did a lot of signing and answering questions. After roughly two hours a nurse came in and did an assessment of my physical withdrawal symptoms. She took my vitals and looked at a few other things like my eyes, my arms for goose bumps, and asked me to explain how I was feeling. She put my answers on a scale, and depending on the answer a number corresponded. She then added up the numbers and said I would be started at 20 mg’s today. My counselor took me up to the dosing window and explained the privacy policies. One patient at a time at the window, no cell phones, no drinks etc. When I went to the window I was greeted by the same nurse. She was very friendly and compassionate, as I was not feeling well. She issued me my first dose in a clearly labeled plastic cup which was sealed prior. She removed the lid and handed it to me. She instructed me to fill it with water from the fountain next to the window and swig it quickly afterward, as the taste is horrible, and it was. My face made her laugh. She told me that the nurses will prompt you to speak to them when your finished, checking your not hiding any of the liquid in your mouth. Hence why beverages are not allowed in the line. A partial dose can be spit back into a drink and given to someone else outside the clinic (if your that desperate). She gave me some tips to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal since they would still be present. 20 mgs is a low dose. My counselor instructed me to call the clinic, the 24 hour emergency line, or visit my local hospital should I experience any adverse symptoms. I was given a list of the signs of an allergic reaction, and the phone numbers. I was told to return the next day at 6 AM to see the clinic Doctor. I was seen immediately. He reviewed my medical history, double checked any meds I was on, and asked me more questions pertaining to my medical history. He then asked for more detail on my drug usage, and my withdrawal symptoms. He again took my vital signs. He told me that I would be given 40 mg today and within two weeks would be stabilized. He wished me luck on my way out and gave me his hours for future reference. I was given 40 mg at the dosing window. I was allowed to increase my dose every two days by 10 mg’s, and with the Nurses recommendation, until I reached a comfortable level or 80 mg where the Doctor had maxed me out. After 80 mg’s I had to see the Doctor again. Luckily I was stabilized at 80 mg. The Nurse’s questioned me every day about my symptoms. They called me by my first name. They always asked me how I was feeling. They did not encourage me to increase my dose constantly. They actually encouraged me to try staying at a lower dose for a few days. It took nearly two weeks before I felt well again. After a month I was completely back to normal. It is $15 per day to dose no matter your dose amount. For the first three months you are drug tested weekly by urine screenings. After that it is once monthly. I have not failed any drug screenings so I do not know what happens when you do! However I do know you can be at risk of discharge for failing drug screenings and also you will never be given take home doses. I just earned my third take home dose. I drive to Concord four out of seven days per week. All patients are mandated to attend certain groups on a regular basis depending on where they are in the program. There are also groups that are not mandatory but are available for support. You must meet with your counselor two times per month at the least, although they are available at anytime for the most part. The clinic has roughly 500 patients. The staff are friendly and helpful. Most of them know you by name. A day in my life on a day I must attend the clinic is as follows: I awake at 4:45 AM to make it to the clinic by 5:30. I run inside, tell the person at the desk my patient number (which they usually already know), and they hand me a card. I get into line if there is one. I go to the dosing window and hand the Nurse my card. We talk quickly about my day or possibly the weather, I dose and I leave. The person at the desk greets me away. I drive off and back home to get ready for work at 8:00 AM. I am not at all impaired by this medication. I am fully tolerant to my dose which has only gone up once to 90 mg in all this time, and I feel no side effects. My work, driving, and life in general has never been impaired by methadone. If I did not tell people I was in treatment I guarantee they would never even have thought! There is nothing about my appearance that suggests I am a “junkie”. For the record, I have never used heroin or a needle. I was addicted to Oxycontin that I purchased off the street. My counselor and I have designed a treatment plan that suggests I begin weaning slowly off methadone after one year of treatment. I will wean by incriments of 1 milligram per week. For the record I have never been in any trouble with the law or had car accidents. I am a law abiding citizen as are many others who attend the clinic with me. The clinic conducts business in a very professional manner and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I support the Laconia Clinic 100% and look forward to not having to drive to Concord four days a week. I know right now it sparks a lot of controversy however I am sure once it is there you won’t even notice it. If people have a place to go to get treated there is less of a chance of them commiting dangerous crimes to support their habits. The cost of methadone is quite low in comparison to a drug habit. I was spending $1,000 per week before I found the clinic. I have always been treated with respect by the staff there. The clinic is very clean and insists that patients maintain a professional appearance and conduct (no coming in with pajama’s). There is absolutely no lingering in the parking lot permitted and I feel that Laconia insisting that a Police Officer be present is not warranted. There is no crime in the parking lot. Our parking lot is shared with three other business’s. I personally feel this is an attempt for Laconia to profit off the clinic, or drive the clinic away because it may cost them too much money and they may not accept the offer. People seeking treatment don’t deserve to be harassed by the Police and I feel that’s what they will be doing there. Thank you for your time and listening to me and for posting this for me |
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#8 |
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Nadia's recent post (#56) put a new light on the subject, in my opinion. I never thought that something like this could occur, but after reading Nadia's post, I now see how it can and does happen.
I am now "on the fence" regarding the methadone clinic. I was against it. I believe we need to help/support the people in the situation Nadia has described so effectively. They are "hooked" through no fault of their own. I am still wondering why there are no programs to get people in this situation off these drugs, instead of having a clinic to supply the durgs. I would think that path would be best for people in the situation Nadia has described. Nadia, thanks for giving me a new view of those in need. R2B |
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#9 | |
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Most methadone clinics operate the same way. They have no interest in losing a "customer". These are the ones we typically see depicted in the media. However, there are a few clinics who are recovery based and realize that although weaning a customer off methadone may cause them to lose some money, there will always be new customers banging down the door. Because of my friend I mentioned, and other stories I have heard, I have to believe there are some clinics out there that are for profit, yet good at the same time. They are smart enough to realize they will never be out of business. Sounds like Colonial Management, the company who wants to open a clinic in Laconia seems to operate this way. R2B, glad I could be helpful. |
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#10 |
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If Nadia is correct, and I, for one, think it is very likely that she is correct, American business, and possibly America, is much more broken than I would ever have imagined.
This is a very sad result of our capitalism model, a model that I have always believed in, and will still believe in with the right controls. I would hope that with all the reform going on, someone will be smart enough to address this and to keep innocent people from getting trapped. What a mess for the unfortunate people in the situation Nadia outlined in post #56. R2B |
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#11 | |
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As long as you have good health insurance (or a lot of money), and a doctor willing to treat you this way, a drug named Suboxone can be prescribed. It can be filled at any pharmacy, and the patient never has to visit a clinic or treatment center. The drug needs to be taken in proper dosage, and the patient's progress (or addict's progress, whichever word you're comfortable with) closely followed by the doctor (in my case, weekly visits). Long, long story...actaully better left for a PM if someone is curious or perhaps is in need of advice or direction. Unless it is for pain related to terminal cancer, stay away from Oxycontin people. It is nothing more than herion made in a legal lab. They both deliver the same message to the brain, and cause it to fire off signals and chemicals instantly. After a long period of time, the brain "foregts" how to create these signals and chemicals on it's own, and "shorts out". The results...the most god awful feelings a human being could ever be asked to deal with. The Meth, or in this case, Suboxone creates instand relief for the patient (addict). Anyway..there is another way....than visiting Methadone Clinics. Want more? Ask for a PM...happy to help. |
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#12 | |
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Suboxone is fairly expensive. Tablets can cost 8-10 dollars each. Doctors visits can be very expensive for those who are not insured. Methadone is much cheaper as is LAAM. Point being there are already clinics and Doctors in the Lakes Region who are treating addicts on a regular basis with Suboxone. Would you believe one of them is right in the Weirs? The Alpenrose Plaza is home to Weirs Beach Health Center, where the Doctor specializes in Suboxone treatment. The clinics are already here, but Methadone seemed to be the last to move in. Although Suboxone has less sedating effects than Methadone and is considered to be less addicting, there are users who say much different. I am a member of a forum where prescription medications are discussed, and I hear many people saying the opposite is true. I also work in a pharmacy part-time as I am studying to be a pharmacist, and I hear patients describe ugly symptoms and side effects all the time. Suboxone has a "ceiling effect" meaning after the drug reaches it's peak it will do nothing even if the person takes more and more, making overdose less likely. Suboxone blocks other opiod medications therefore a person taking Suboxone will not feel the effects of let's say, Oxycontin. Suboxone sits on the opiod receptors and won't let anybody else in. However, Suboxone is also narcotic, and is in the same schedule as Methadone and LAAM. Suboxone eases the symptoms of withdrawal, but does not completely wipe them out. So those in the beggining stages of Suboxone treatment are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms, being treated with a new drug, and driving around the Lakes Region as well. Right in the heart of Weirs Beach... Just some food for thought.... |
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#13 |
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That was quite an insightful letter, thank you. I am curious though, much of the information written on methadone states that judgment and reaction time can be impaired, and some sites even state that driving is not recommended after receiving a "dose". The person in the letter is driving immediately after receiving the dose. Is this normal? Is the dosage amount a factor in whether any impairment is occurring? If the Laconia Police are situated outside the clinic will they be administering DUI testing before people get back on the road?
Not being a Laconia resident I have no preference as to yea or nay on this clinic. However because the drug problem is so bad everywhere this situation could arise in my town or anywhere else. I appreciate the information provided here, so that before a clinic is built down the street from my home or office I'll have some insight into the pros and cons. |
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#14 |
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It is not a good idea to place a clinic in a tourist area. It attracts a bad crowd of people and is seedy and unsafe. These clinics are a joke, for a profit and the people do not want to stop the drug. I am a Maternity nurse and these methadone mothers come in pregnant and deliver these poor drug addicted babies, yes, methadone is very addicting for the baby, and these poor babies suffer will all kinds of withdrawal symptoms and pain. The mothers are all on welfare, so we are paying for this and the babies have to be in special care nurseries for up to 3 months to be weaned off of the methadone and we pay for that too. They know they should not be getting pregnant while on methadone and they do not care. Very selfish and irresponsible and it costs all of us a fortune.
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#15 | |
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Secondly, I have given birth to a child so I am qualified to say...during my entire pregnancy, during labor, and afterward I had more Doctor's, Nurses, and Psychologist's trying to stuff pills down my throat. Trying to get me to take anti-depressants for "post-partum" depression (that I did not even have), trying to pump me full of Pitocin, Nubain, Morphine, Phenargan, Anxiety Medications and so forth? But Methadone is unsafe? I'm confused... Last edited by Nadia; 02-12-2009 at 01:59 PM. |
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#16 | |
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#18 |
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Thanks Nadia for the location. I see it now, thanks.
So, having a methadone clinic located near or within walking distance to a larger population of patients would not need to be a critical part of the criteria for location of the clinic, is what I can draw from this. Not having to drive a long distance is a convenience rather than a need. I don't want to appear overly callous but I would imagine most of the folks who are receiving treatment were not the victims of poor doctoring. In so much as we are all economically challenged today I have cast my vote in the poll for not having the center setup in Laconia. It is unfortunate that some of those who must be inconvienced by having to travel a greater distance are there by no fault of their own. It's kind of a similar situation to what happened here in CT, but not. There was much complaining when a local social security office was going to be closed here a couple of years ago. The folks that needed to travel to this ofice would be inconvienced by a longer drive to another office. Most everyone who used this local office did nothing more than grow old. The closing took place anyway. Just an economic reality today unfortunately. ![]() |
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#19 | |||
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![]() Kidney stone- and gallbladder- attacks are a "10+" on the 1-10 pain scale: I know, 'cause I've had both. ![]() (Women who've had childbirth and kidney stone attacks say kidney stone pain is worse). Quote:
For me, anyway, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone produce the same amount of pain reduction: that is to say, a scant reduction in kidney stone pain but feeling sleepy while suffering pain anyway. ![]() On those occasions when I had mistaken my usual creeping back pain as another attack (a wrongly anticipated attack) the effect of Oxycodone or Hydrocodone is to take ALL aches away from ALL of the body. Based on the result of those occasional "self-mis-diagnoses", I'd expect that nearly all of us live with a certain amount of discomfort all the time. For those of us who are risk-averse—like me today—the rejection of those tablets for mere discomfort or for recreation is very strong. Quote:
Except for one occasion when I threatened to leave a neighbor's house when he couldn't restrain himself any longer from "lighting-up"—I've never been around people who use any illegal drug. I must be quite a fossil to say that. (Still, I'd advise that for all—and especially children). Obviously, I'm opposed to a methadone clinic anywhere near me. To finish here, I'll add what I've asserted before: the "gateway drug" isn't what you'd expect...it's tobacco. ![]() IMHO
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#20 |
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APS...please note...
My post read, "...most god awful FEELINGS", as opposed to "PAIN". Opiod withdrawal, in it's onset, comes with alot more than pain (although there is indeed plenty of pain). When the brain signals first "short out", one feels many contradictory feelings/emotions. Imagine, if you will, feeling hot and cold at the same time, tired and awake, happy and sad, hungry and full. It's insane. Just impossible to be become comfortable. Death seems like a better option. Truly. Oxycontin is dangerous stuff...and some people become addicted thru no fault of their own, without even realizing it. Of coures, at some point, the person certainly knows they are abusing it, as opposed to using it. And of course, obtaining it thru channels considered less than traditional. Sometimes, these are white collar professionals, whom you would never expect. The good news...there is help everywhere, for people (OK, addicts) who truly want it. |
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#21 |
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Acres Per Second's posts are becoming as cryptic and hard to follow sometimes as FLL's!!
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#22 | |
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![]() FLL, actually, wherever he's from—could out-Yankee any Yankee I know. ![]() ![]() As to cryptic—I don't think there's been a change. ![]() ...but sorry about that... ![]() 1) Gallbladder or kidneystones are the worst pains humans can encounter. (Pets, too!) 2) Childbirth is less painful 3) Kidneystone pain has a long onset, and begins with an ordinary dull pain in the lower back. 4) When properly anticipated, opioids offer relief after 20 minutes—but only because you're sleepy (and still in pain). 5) When that dull back pain in the lower back fails to materialize as an intense pain, the pre-emptive taking of opioids will erase all the ordinary pains that we tolerate day-to-day. 6) I advise not taking opioids for that ordinary pain and definitely not for recreational use. I suspect an addictive component to both. 7) You can drive after taking the opioids Hydrocodone or Oxycodone—just not with the full attention that driving demands. ("May cause drowsiness, alcohol intensifies effect, breathing problems if dose is exceeded, use care when operating machines, etc.) 8) Being "risk-averse" means don't do any jumping from perfectly good aircraft. 9) Except for one instance, I've never stayed around people who use any illegal drug. (Edit from my earlier post here: There were two road-racing encounters which I'll save for the blog here). 10) Not just for the children—I advise staying away from any persons who could enable your addiction to anything. For example, drug-addled actor Robert Downey, Jr. was introduced to MJ at age eight. 11) There is no smoke that is harmless to breathe. 12) Recreational drug use increases the cost of healthcare for all who pay insurance premiums: X-Generation's Medicare recipients may "break the bank". 13) I vote for no methadone clinic anywhere near me—and Laconia is too close. Heck, Montreal is too close. ![]()
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#23 | |
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#24 | |
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Clear as a bell...thank you APS!! ![]() |
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#25 |
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the owners of the clinic say it would cost too much for a police detail but would rather have a security gaurd. for the latest check out www.laconiadailysun.com
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#26 | |
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TOO BAD IT WILL COST TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO DO SO AND CREATE A STIGMA FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO GO AND A BARRIER FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO GO. THEY SHOULD BE IDENTIDIED AND KNOWN BY THE POLICY TO BEGIN WITH! My View: you want to get treatment they it does not matter that the police is there, the only people that would care are those that are not there for it to be an actual treatment, jsut as stated in the article by the company spokesman -too expensive, he did not care that it is a good thing or a safe thing, but that it is too expensive, before the place is even there they are worried about bottom line first! This makes me sick! SAUNDERS BETTER NOT BACK DOWN FROM THIS, now is the chance for Laconia citizens to contact her and tell her either not to backdown or ask her to reverse her decision, there is a window of opportunity here people! ![]()
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#27 | |
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#28 |
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I know huh,,,they could screw up a free beer at that paper
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"If common sense was common,everyone would have it" ![]() Ironhorsetim "Always do sober,what you say you'll do drunk, That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" ![]() Ernest Hemmingway |
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#29 |
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I've never considered tobacco a gateway drug. I thought it was alcohol. Now I've got to re-evaluate my gateway theory. Nicotine is definitely a drug and people do get highly addicted to it.
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#30 |
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In order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding I feel it is important to post the following information. I apologize for it's length but it is difficult to explain without using examples:
Oxycodone and Oxycontin, although similar are two different drugs. Oxycodone is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is an immediate release drug and does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. When you combine Oxycodone with Acetomenophen you get the drug Percocet. Percocet is a trade name. It is sold under the generic names: Roxicodone, Endocet, or Oxycodone w/APAP. When you combine Oxycodone with Ibuprofen you get the drug Combunox. This again is a trade name. This is a fairly new drug and I am unsure of the generic names. When you combine Oxycodone with Aspirin the drug Percodan is made. All formulations typically have a 4-6 hour window of "relief" in the body, and all formulations of this drug are considered "short" term pain releivers. Oxycontin is an opioid narcotic analgesic used to releive severe pain. It is a time released version of Oxycodone. It does not contain any Acetomenophen or Ibuprofen. There are no generic versions of Oxycontin. This drug is considered a "long" term pain reliever and typically has a window of 12 hours of releif in the body. Oxycontin has a very high potential for abuse as we all know. The problem occurs when users crush the pill, and then inject, inhale or swallow the crushed pill. The immediate release feature of the drug is destroyed and a copious amount of medication is released into the blood stream immediately. Hydrocodone w/APAP is a generic version of Vicodin. It is a combination of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen. When Hydrocodone Bitartrate is combined with Ibuprofen, the drug Vicoprofen is made. I do not believe there is a generic version of Vicoprofen. There are other formulations of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetomenophen known as Lortab and Zydone. A lower dose of Acetomenophen is used. Vicodin ES is also a controlled release version of Hydrocodone w/APAP. All formulations are narcotic opioid analgesics used for releif of "short" term pain and typically have a window of 4-6 hours, with the exception of Vicodin ES which is typically used 2-4 times per day. All of these drugs can be compared to heroin in one form or another because they are all derivatives of opium, hence the term "opioid". Heroin is also derived from opium and is closest in form to the drug Morphine. All of these drugs have similar side effects and can cause a certain degree of impairment, although there are many circumstances to consider. Tolerance is the main circumstance to consider. After taking these drugs for a certain amount of time the body becomes dependant and must use more of the drug to get the same amount of pain releif. Physical addiction occurs regardless of whether the drug is taken as prescribed, or is taken in double or triple doses. However, tolerance builds much faster when the dose is doubled or tripled (abused), or the drug is delivered by methods other then orally (inhaled/snorted, injected, chewed). An individual on daily Methadone Maintenence has built a tolerance to their dosage. The same goes for a person taking pain medication. They may have experienced side effects at first, however once tolerance is built, side effects tend to diminish. Judgement is rarely impaired by those who are tolerant to their doses. During the first two weeks when they are being stabilized, withdrawal may be present and may slightly impair judgement, but not the Methadone itself. This can be very tricky to understand. Put it this way. Let's say someone is abusing Oxycontin. They are taking 4, 80 mg tablets per day via inhalation or "snorting". They have done this for a year, every day. What they have done is built themselves an enormous tolerance. If they do not use Oxycontin within 12 hours they rapidly become ill. A manifestation of numerous physical and emotional symptoms crop up like SA Meredith said, make you wish you were dead. They decide to go to get help and get on Methadone. Methadone clinics must abide by certain laws. They cannot give someone a dose larger then 35 mg on their first day, or increase doses in increments larger then 10 mg every two days. The persons physical symptoms are evaluated and they are given a dose of 20 mg's of Methadone. They are only permitted to raise their dose every two days, by ten milligrams. To stop the symptoms of withdrawal for a person with that habit I would make an educated guess that 120 mg's of Methadone would just barely cut it. You can imagine how long it will take for them to get to that level. During this time period I would suggest that they may be slightly impaired due to withdrawal, not the Methadone itself. The person already has a high tolerance and would not become impaired until the dose of Methadone got high enough to overpower the amount of Oxycontin they were abusing prior. I know this is difficult to follow, but I hope that explains things a bit. Now, if one of us were to walk into the clinic and get a dose of 120 mgs, if we didn't die first, our judgement would be so impaired we would not even know where we were. |
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#31 | |
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Remember also, just about all abusers remove (or crush) the "time release" part of the oxy tablet, making the "buzz" instant and potent. Awful, awful stuff... |
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#32 | |
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![]() When my Mother first purchased an 8 unit apartment building in downtown Laconia, I moved into one of the units with my husband and managed the building for her. The former landlord warned her that some of the tenants were problematic and disruptive. Come to find out one of the tenants was selling her prescribed Oxycontin. I started to catch on after living there for less than a week. At about 4 pm the traffic would start, up and down the stairs, in and out. Doors slamming, wheels squealing, people yelling. She was not quiet about it either. She did not realize I was outside one day when she opened the window and yelled out to a customer I presume..."I only have two left dude". Her rent was always paid, even ahead sometimes. Her apartment was furnished beautifully, she wore designer clothing, and drove a fairly new Nissan Maxima. Hard to imagine considering she was unemployed? Sooner or later she was evicted, and from over-hearing conversations on the porch I found out who her Doctor was. I placed a call to her as well. This girl was making a better living then I do off a bottle of pills... ![]() |
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#33 |
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Thank you Ironhorsetim for creating the poll on whether or not the Laconia Methadone Clinic should be allowed to operate in O'Shea Industrial Park. Here are the results:
There were a total of 69 voters 26.09% of people voted yes to the question (18 people) 73.91% of people voted no to the question (51 people) Thank you IHT ![]() |
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#34 | |
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"If common sense was common,everyone would have it" ![]() Ironhorsetim "Always do sober,what you say you'll do drunk, That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" ![]() Ernest Hemmingway |
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#35 |
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Sorry but Junkies are not victims.Did somebody force that needle in their arm the first time?Everybody is a victim these days in the liberal view of the world.
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#36 |
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They're victims in the sense that they cannot just quit, although they might want to.
They're like late stage alcoholics, or people who embezzle to support an out of control gambling habit. Regardless, there is a rampant drug problem in America, and like the 800 pound gorilla in the room, it cannot be successfully ignored. Oh sure, we as individuals can arrange our daily lives so as to minimize our exposure to these unseemly elements, but what if it is your kid, or neighbor? What then? I see the destructive effects of drug abuse on a near daily basis as it impacts people in divorce and custody situations. Until recently, I saw the greatest problem with meth, but now cocaine is ascending, as is oxy. |
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