Methadone works in a similar way to heroin but with a more subtle ‘buzz.’ A student who is supervised by a doctor and using methadone as prescribed, will probably not appear drug affected and be able to function normally.
WHAT?
Methadone is a medication prescribed by doctors to help people dependant on heroin (or other opiate drugs) manage cravings and cut ties with dealers. It essentially works in the body in the same way as heroin but is legal, made safely in a lab and lasts longer – meaning a person using methadone is not constantly ‘looking for the next hit’.
A student prescribed Methadone will usually need to go to the pharmacist every day to take their dose under supervision.
OTHER NAMES
Done, The Done, Pharmacotherapy, OSTP, Opiate Substitution Therapy Program, ORT, Opiate Replacement Program, The Program, Methadone Hydrochloride Tablets
SIGNS SOMEONE HAS RECENTLY USED THIS DRUG
Methadone works in a similar way to heroin but with a more subtle ‘buzz.’ A student who is supervised by a doctor and using methadone as prescribed, will probably not appear drug affected and be able to function normally.
A student who is using methadone in an unsupervised way may appear sleepy and ‘on the nod’ with small pupils and slurred speech and movements. They may feel relaxed and detached with reduced physical and emotional pain. Many young people use opiates because they have the power to temporarily dull physical and emotional pain.
People have died from methadone overdose. If a student cannot be woken, has shallow breathing or bluish lips, call 000 immediately.
SIGNS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE USING OR DEALING AT MY SCHOOL
Like many prescription medications, there is also a black market for Methadone and it can be obtained illegally on the street.
Most commonly methadone will appear as a pink or reddish liquid (like raspberry cordial) which is diluted with water in small (50ml) clear plastic bottles.It has a sweet, medicinal smell and taste.
Methadone is also available in tablet form however this is much less common. Methadone is usually drunk however some people do inject. Injecting methadone is a high risk activity and speaks of other psychosocial vulnerabilities. It would be unusual to find a young person still engaged with schooling injecting methadone.
HOW COMMON IS USAGE?
In 2009, approximately 30,000 Australians were prescribed methadone to help with Opiate dependency (National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data collection, 2009).
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CLASSROOM
Taking the right dose of prescribed Methadone (it can take some time to work out the right dose for each individual) should not hold a student back from participating in the classroom and achieving learning goals.
Using methadone that is not prescribed will impair a young person’s ability to focus and engage. More importantly, in our experience methadone use in a young person (other than once off experimental use), is often related to high psycho-social vulnerability. If you do suspect methadone use, surrounding that young person with support factors and getting school welfare involved would be a good starting point. You could also call YoDAA for secondary consult and talk through what you have observed.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL CAMP
There are laws concerning the storage and handling of Methadone. If a young person is prescribed Methadone, their Doctor and Pharmacist should be contacted early in the School Camp planning process to arrange a way for them to get their daily dose whilst away from home.
