Local medical professionals and administrators of drug and alcohol recovery centers in Michigan point to a changing landscape of drug use and addiction that centrally features, ironically, a drug that is frequently used to cure addiction.

That drug is methadone, an opiate with uncommonly long-lasting physical effects that make it a popular choice for weaning users off of hard drugs like heroin and oxycodone. The problem is that, while methadone has helped to reduce the number of heroin users in the state, illicit use of methadone itself has jumped in recent years. Michigan Department of Community Health statistics show that illegal use of the drug increased by well more than 100 percent from 2005 to 2009.

David Blankenship, program director for Victory Clinical Services in Lansing, cites several reasons for the trend. First, he states that pharmaceutical companies are making higher quality drugs than in years past, "at least as pure as street heroin and more consistent." This applies to methadone, which for many people is now a high in itself. Second, he says that he is now seeing doctors prescribe methadone for pain and not for addiction, its original purpose. Third, he points to the singular makeup of methadone as an opiate, specifically, its unusually long life that provides for a lagging body effect that can last for many days. He says that problems begin when users "don't realize this and keep taking more, thinking it isn't kicking in."

Patricia Wheeler, executive director of the Lansing regional area office for the National Council on Alcoholism, knows otherwise. ""Our clients report that methadone is as addictive as heroin," she says. Like Blankenship, she points to the increase of doctors prescribing a drug that is now more potent than formerly. She states more money needs to be spent on treatment, prevention and education.

Related Resource: lansingcitypulse.com "Drugs of choice" July 7, 2010