Narconon of Georgia  

Did you know that for several weeks two years ago, more people watched the tragic saga of Anna Nicole Smith and her son than watched the developments of the Iraq war?  At center-stage of this drama is the role that methadone may have had in her death and that of her son, Daniel.  Methadone for many is as mysterious as Anna Nichol’s death.  We just know enough to stay intrigued, but never quite enough to really understand.  But methadone prescriptions are on the rise and attendant accidental deaths are increased by over 200%.  Though we may not hear about these deaths because they are not famous people, each person is important in this world. We need to understand this drug- the truths and misconceptions.

BACKGROUND

In 1937 and 1938 two scientists, Bockmuhl and Erhart, working for the German chemical company, I.G. Farbin, were searching for a painkiller that would be less addictive than morphine.  In 1941 they filed a patent application for their development of Polamidon, which eventually became known as Methadone.  The Nazis did not make any attempt to mass produce the drug, due to its side effects, including nausea and overdose, according to some reports.

I.G. Farben also manufactured the formula Zyklon B., the notorious lethal agent used in the gas chamber of Auschwitz.  After World War II, due to the severity of this and other war crimes, I.G. Farben chemical company was liquidated and methadone became an American possession.

Eli-Lilly pharmaceutical company was given control of the drug and originally named it dolophine.  Contrary to legend, the drug was not named after Adolph Hitler, but is most likely derived from the French words “dolo” (pain and “fin” end.

After clinical trials with dolophine in 1947, reports started coming in of adverse reactions and the drug was taken off the market and did not resurface in the US until the 60s as “methadone.”

It was not until the early 60s that methadone was promoted as a treatment for opiate addicts.  Thus, the concept of the methadone maintenance program was born and maintenance centers spread rapidly through the US and continue to service 20% of the nearly 900,000 heroin addicts.  There are mixed reports on results.  Some methadone patients describe methadone as a life safer while others describe a life not worth living.  Since methadone doses are typically given every 24 hours, the addict ends up tied to the methadone addiction, having to go to the clinic once a day.  Missing even a day can make one quite sick.

Through the years, methadone has expanded beyond methadone clinics.  It is prescribed for pain relief and sold on the street illegally, quite often to methamphetamine addicts who, after being awake for days, use it to sleep.

Doctors who prescribe methadone for pain are not as well educated in drug abuse as those who work in addiction, and consequently their patients are not as well informed.  With the increase use of methadone, especially with the uneducated users, comes the increase of related accidental deaths-frequently the leading cause of overdose in some states.

Some drugs are forgiving-methadone is not.

Mary Rieser CCDC

Executive Director Narconon

www.drugsno.com