Things You Should Know About Methadone

Recovery Helpdesk
heroin, oxycontin & addiction + methadone, suboxone & recovery
Series: 10 Things You Should Know About Methadone (Number 6)
by RECOVERYHELPDESK on FEBRUARY 14, 2010 ·
1. Methadone is a medication used to treat opiate dependence

2. Methadone prevents withdrawal, limits cravings and blocks the effects of heroin, oxycontin and other opiates

3. Opiate dependent people who are in treatment with methadone live longer

4. Long term treatment with methadone is better than short term treatment with methadone

5. A low methadone dose is not necessarily the best methadone dose

6. Methadone is the gold standard treatment for pregnant women who are opiate dependent

7. Methadone has drug overdose risks and benefits that you should understand

8. Methadone treatment requires a strong commitment to recovery

9. Methadone-assisted recovery is real recovery

10. Methadone is the single most effective treatment for opiate dependence

Methadone is the best treatment for pregnant women who are opiate dependent.

Please read the entire article at:
http://www.recoveryhelpdesk.com/2010/02/14/series-10-things-you-should-know-about-methadone-number-6/

'Socially inept' Pennsylvania judge gets 2-month suspension

'Socially inept' Pennsylvania judge gets 2-month suspension
Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 6:20 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 6:55 PM
The Associated Press

HARRISBURG — A district judge described by his attorney as “socially inept and challenged with women” was suspended without pay Tuesday for two months for behavior that included calling female lawyers repeatedly and making uninvited visits to their homes or offices.

The Court of Judicial Discipline also placed North East District Judge Gerard Alonge on probation until his term expires at the end of next year and directed him to continue getting mental health treatment.


Alonge, 51, apologized in court for behavior that the court described as “bizarre and weird” and “conduct akin to ’stalking.’ ”

“Never did I act or speak with malice, nor did I ever seek to cause distress to the women,” Alonge said during a court hearing that included videotaped testimony by lawyers who praised his work as a judge.

After the decision, his lawyer said he was satisfied with the result.

“He’ll comply with all the conditions and hopefully put this matter behind him and hopefully get back to work,” attorney Philip Friedman said.

In a 20-page written opinion issued last month, the court said Alonge called the women repeatedly — often at night, even after being told to stop — and learned intimate details of their private lives that suggested he had investigated them.

“This is beyond unsettling — this is scary,” wrote Judge Joseph M. James for the seven-member court.

A part-time public defender arrived home in October 2007 with her young son in the car and was surprised when Alonge pulled in behind her, introduced himself and said he was there “to meet the phenomenal and sensational attorney” he had heard about.

When Alonge called her the next night, the woman told her boyfriend, “It appears as though I have a man freak on my hands,” according to the opinion.

“We regard this conduct ... as preposterous and certainly as demonstrating an appalling lack of judgment and good sense,” James wrote.

Friedman described his client as “socially inept and challenged with women,” a harmless would-be Romeo who hasn’t dated in years. He said the never-married judge has difficulty picking up on social cues, takes medication and sees a psychologist weekly for help with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

“This is not a case about a district judge using his office for personal benefit,” Friedman told the court.

But Joseph A. Massa Jr. with the Judicial Conduct Board, which pursued the case against Alonge, said the actions in question did have a link to his status as a judge.

“But for his judicial position, he would not be in a position with these five specific individuals to act as he did,” Massa said.

A second charge, that Alonge had misrepresented his professional credentials when running for office, was previously withdrawn.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/07/socially_inept_pennsylvania_ju.html

Ex-Teacher Melinda Dennehy Pleads Guilty: Sent Nude Photos of Herself to Student

Ex-Teacher Melinda Dennehy Pleads Guilty: Sent Nude Photos of Herself to Student
By Beth Shaw

Ex-teacher Melinda Dennehy has plead guilty. She is alleged to have sent nude photos of herself to one of her students. She sent him text messages and emailed photos that showed exposed her genitals. The way she was found out and how she was identified as the sender are a story in themselves. Read more below and see her photo mugshot and a video report of the story.


Things started heating up at Londonderry High School in Derry, New Hampshire when nude photos of former high school teacher Melinda Dennehy began circulating around the high school. The 41-year-old Dennehy was identified as the person in the photos. She was put on administrative leave, with pay, but resigned three weeks later while facing charges of indecent exposure.


According to the recipient of the former teacher’s emails and text messages, she text messaged him ‘continuously’. He said that she offered to have sex with him and kissed him on the mouth in a classroom at least twice. He told police that he forwarded the nude photos to two of his male friends.

Apparently, began circulating around the high school. Dennehy was identified with the help of other staff members at the school. By her genitals?

Dennehy taught sophomore English at Londonderry High School for three years. She resigned three weeks after she was charged in March 2010.

On Monday, July 26, 2010, Melinda Dennehy entered a guilty plea and will not be serving jail time. She plead guilty to indecent exposure for sending nude pictures of herself to a 15-year-old male student through text messaging. The plea was part of a negotiated plea deal in which she would be convicted of the misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure rather than a felony count.

In a statement to the court she said:

I am truly sorry for my actions and poor judgment. I wish the student and his family well.

I am hopeful that all of my students will go forward to live enriched lives. I plan to continue with counseling and treatment and will endeavor to lead a productive life.

Dennehy was facing the possibility of up to seven years in prison had she gone to trial on the felony charges.

As part of her plea agreement she surrendered her teaching certificate. She was sentenced to one-year in jail, which was suspended for two years on the condition that she maintain ‘good behavior’, does not have contact with the boy or his family and does not go to the school.

See a video report of the Melinda Dennehy guilty plea is below.



http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=2019

Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting, Impregnating 11-Year-Old Girl

Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting, Impregnating 11-Year-Old Girl
An 11-year-old is nine weeks pregnant and now Deputies are charging a St. Albans is being charged with sexual assault.
Reporter: Carrie Jones
Email Address: carrie.jones@wsaz.com



ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department has filed sexual assault charges against a St. Albans man after an 11-year-old girl became pregnant.

Michael Lacy, 36, is charged with first degree sexual assault.

According to the criminal complaint, Lacy allegedly had intercourse with the 11-year-old victim at his apartment.

The girl is now nine weeks pregnant. The victim told deputies that Lacy is the only person she has had sex with.

Lacy is out of jail on a $5,000 bond.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/99318084.html

High-dose methadone in pregnant women and its effect on duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome

Volume 200, Issue 1, Pages 70.e1-70.e5 (January 2009)


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High-dose methadone in pregnant women and its effect on duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome

This research was presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine, Dallas, TX, Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2008.
Susie Lim, MDd, Mona R. Prasad, DO, MPHa, Philip Samuels, MDa, Debra K. Gardner, PharmDb, Leandro Cordero, MDc
Received 29 February 2008; received in revised form 1 August 2008; accepted 21 August 2008. published online 03 November 2008.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine high-dose methadone in pregnant women and its effect on the duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Study Design

This was a retrospective chart review of 68 neonates and their mothers who received methadone therapy during pregnancy. The last dosage of maternal methadone just before delivery and the length of treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome were examined with an analysis of variance model.

Results

When the data were analyzed for methadone dosages as a continuous variable, each 1-mg increase in the last maternal methadone dosage before delivery was associated with an additional 0.18 days of infant treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (P < .001; 95% CI, 0.112-0.255). In other words, every increase of 5.5 mg of methadone in the mother was associated statistically with 1 additional day of neonatal abstinence syndrome treatment for the infant. Gestational age at delivery and birthweight were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Higher doses of maternal methadone were associated with an increase in diagnosis and longer duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(08)00977-0/abstract

The Effects of Methadone on Fetal Distress During Labour

The Effects of Methadone on Fetal Distress During Labour

Contributor
By Melissa Warner, eHow Contributing Writer



Fetal distress is when a baby's oxygen supply through the placenta and umbilical cord become restrained and causes heart deceleration or inactivity. If the condition is not taken care of, the baby can die. There are many causes of fetal distress, including heroin addiction. Many mothers who become pregnant try to kick the habit so the baby is not born with defects or drugs in his system. Methadone is the main drug given to addicts to help with withdrawal. Some mothers are on the medication before becoming pregnant. Regardless, there are many concerns related to the effect of methadone on fetal distress syndrome.

Methadone is Safe
Addicts who choose not to continue methadone treatment will find that they are putting their fetus at incredible risk. The symptoms of withdrawal create a harmful and stressful environment for the fetus to grow in. Studies have found that methadone is a safe alternative.
The Other Option May Kill the Fetus
Studies have been conducted over the years and in various countries, and every one has found that methadone prevents miscarriages in comparison to the experiences of those addicts who chose to go cold turkey. The incidence of fetuses born with fetal distress was not related to the methadone.
Dosages Must Stay Consistent
To avoid fetal distress, it is important to continue the same amount of methadone as pre-pregnancy. Lowering the dosage in the first trimester puts mother at a high risk of miscarriage.
Metabolism Changes
Since methadone use should be continued to avoid fetal distress, it is also important to keep in mind a woman's metabolism changes throughout the pregnancy. This means that dosage should stay consistent with the mother's body. Too little can put stress on the fetus.
Abnormalities
Fetuses will not experience any abnormalities, including being born with fetal distress syndrome. Methadone use does not cause any abnormalities, according to extensive research.


Read more: The Effects of Methadone on Fetal Distress During Labour | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5031794_effects-fetal-distress-during-labour.html#ixzz0uz64GSyN

Using Narcotics for Pain Relief During Childbirth-Opiates also cross the placenta during labor

Using Narcotics for Pain Relief During Childbirth

Many women use some type of method to deal with pain during childbirth. As you prepare for your labor experience, it is important to become educated on different pain medications, how they work, and the risks and benefits. Which method you decide to use (if any at all) depends on your preference, your health care provider’s recommendations, and the availability at your birthing facility.

What are Opiates?
Opiates are a type of analgesic given to relieve pain. When used during childbirth, Opiates are considered the next step from the less invasive or natural methods of pain relief such as laboring in water, deep breathing, and massage. Opiates are given in small doses and usually during the early stages of labor in an attempt to avoid potential side effects for the mother and baby.

What are the advantages of using opiates during childbirth?
Opiates offer pain relief and do not interfere with a woman’s ability to push during labor. Unlike an epidural, an opiate does not numb the pain but instead it helps to take the “edge” off. Opiates may help to reduce anxiety and improve the ability to cope with painful contractions.

What are the potential side effects of opiates?
Opiates may have the following side effects on the mother:

Nausea
Vomiting
Itching
Dizziness
Sedation
Decreased gastric motility
Loss of protective airway reflexes
Hypoxia due to respiratory depression
How will the opiates affect my baby?
Throughout pregnancy, you were probably aware that medications you consumed could potentially affect your baby. Opiates also cross the placenta during labor and can cause the following side effects to your baby:

Central nervous system depression
Respiratory depression
Impaired early breastfeeding
Altered neurological behavior
Decreased ability to regulate body temperature
For these reasons, your baby may need medication to counteract the opiate effects. Naloxone is a medication that when given in small doses can reverse the respiratory depression that opiates may cause in the baby. This drug is usually given intravenously to your baby. The effects of naloxone can be seen within a few minutes and can last up to 2 hours.

What types of opiates are used during childbirth?
The most frequently used narcotic medications are:

Morphine
Stadol
Fentanyl
Nubain
Demerol
Demerol:
Demerol is a popular choice for pain relief during labor. Demerol alters how you recognize the pain you are experiencing by binding to the receptors found in your central nervous system. The advantages of Demerol include:

Can be given by injection into the muscle, the vein or by a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump
Demerol starts working in less than 5 minutes
How can Demerol affect me and my baby?
Demerol can cause drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, and maternal hypertension (low blood pressure). If injected within 2-4 hours of delivery, Demerol has been found to cause breathing difficulties in babies.

Morphine:
In recent years, morphine has not been routinely used as a method of pain relief during labor because it has been found to depress the baby’s ability to breathe.

Stadol:
Stadol has been found to relieve pain when given in the first stage of labor. This narcotic is considered more potent then Demerol. It is usually given intravenously in small doses, usually 1 to 2 mg. The advantages of using Stadol include:

Starts working in less then five minutes
Is a sedative
Has minimal fetal effects
Cause minimal nausea
How can Stadol affect me and my baby?
Stadol can cause the mother to have respiratory depression, dizziness and dysphoria (a state of feeling unwell and unhappy). Stadol can cause respiratory depression in the baby.

Fentanyl:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that provides mild to moderate sedation. The advantages of using Fentanyl include:

Begins working quickly (although, usually only lasts 45 minutes)
Minimal sedation
Minimal fetal effects
How can Fentanyl affect me and my baby?
You and your baby may experience some sedation and/or nausea. According to Danforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, baby’s born to mothers who used Fentanyl to relieve pain during labor were less likely to need naloxone (medication to help with breathing) than babies born to mothers who used Demerol during childbirth.

Nubain:
Nubain is a opiate agonist-antagonist that is comparable to morphine. The advantages of using Nubain include:

Begins working within 5 minutes of administration
Minimal nausea
Minimal fetal effects
How can Nubain affect me and my baby?
Nubain can cause the mother to have sedation and dysphoria (a state of feeling unwell and unhappy).

How will my pain medication be given?
Medication can be given in any of the following ways:

A one time injection into the spinal column
IV or Intravenous placement into a vein on the back of the hand or arm. A needle is inserted into a vein with a plastic tube connected to a bag holding fluid that slowly drips into your body. In a hospital setting, an IV is typically placed to help you stay hydrated throughout labor and assure access to administer medications if they are needed.
Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump is a way a mother can control when she receives pain mediation during labor by pushing a button. The advantage of having a PCA is that it provides a sense of control and the mother does not have to wait for the nurse to bring pain medication. Fentanyl and Demerol are common narcotics that can be given through a PCA pump. The pump is pre-programmed based on the drug dosage into amounts small enough to relieve pain without releasing too much medication.
LAST UPDATED: 12/2006
Compiled using information from the following sources:

Williams Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 19.

Danforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Ninth Ed. Scott, James R., et al, Ch. 3.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/narcotics.html