All that for the Methadone...time to quit the stuff...you all don't need it, get real help

Mickey, where does it say the driver was on methadone or one her way to the clinic? Are you reading a seperate article?

kasdyln, any article about pretty much any town in "the county" or any town "downeast" involving a crime, accident, or court case, brings comments from those who live in those communities who love to gossip about one another.

MICKEY: My thoughts exactally. I can bet that bunch was not on their way back from the Big Stop after getting a paper to check the job ads. If they can drive on that crap I can drive while high or drunk! I think there is a similar story a while back going opposite direction on RT 1 when that girl hit good ole Mrs Raye.

Kevin77:It is not gossiping we are tired of freeloaders getting a free high and littering our roadways. You better hope you do not encounter one in your travels. With a good eye and some common sense they are easy to spot.

you need to slow down in bad weather.

First....these methadone heads were coming from the clinic. I watch them every morning rushing to get that fix. They also not will be getting pain meds from there injuries (since they were life flighted out) and not will become a product of selling there drugs that get legally causing a whole new problems from IT and Princeton. It is too bad tha they were hurt....and hope they recover and continue with there recovery.

So mesavalley is saying that the plow truck driver does not have common sense, or a good eye, because he obviously did not spot them coming :)

Why do people automatically assume that Methadone was part of the problem or make light of it when the apparant cause of the accident was the state snowplow driver? Can anybody confirm whether the state snowplow driver was under the influence? Enough already!!

inmainend1, let me get this straight - you sit and watch people going to and from the clinic everyday. Maybe you should get a goddamn job instead of stalking people ya creep!!

And for the record, I know no one involved, but when reading articles like this it truly does astound me how many come running in to spout off while hiding behind their computer screen. Inmained1 you ONLY post when its to talk dirt about the persons in the article. Funny how you know sooooo many addicts and criminals. hmmmm

I say noting here (as most regular posters do) that I wouldnt state in real life, hence why "I" use such and identifiable username.

Yep Kevin77, thats pretty much what I gathered...poor bastid:)

Thats okay the state pays them to take the methadone it is called incentives from the clinics....kasdyln how self rightous!

they are meth heads...here we go down down down the icy road ooops! Sorry gotta dose!

Incentives...bwahaha. The more you write the dumber you sound.

The more you breathe Kasdyln the less purpose you seem to have...

Cookiecrumbles, as someone who works in substance abuse I'm appalled by your comments. No one is paid to take methadone. That is a blantant lie and you know it. The state of Maine has programs in place that help pay for travel for ANY medical appointment to those that qualify. The few cents a per mile the patients are given to help cover the cost of transportation is NOT limited to substance abuse treatment facilties. If you have a problem with this program you need to take it up with your state officials. Your misplaced anger has no place here. Furthermore, only a small percentage abuse the program and its unfair that you paint those who've worked hard to regain their lives and become productive citizens with the same brush. Its unfortunate that misinformed people like you continue to feed the stigma.

If you only knew how many functioning recovering addicts there are working professionally in business, healthcare, and public service you'd think twice about your foul comments.

And that sir, is how the cookiecrumbles.............

So I am taking it that some of you know the people involved? Is that why you are making such assumptions? I for one didn't see any thing in the article about leaving a methadone clinic. hm-mm

That sure is the way it appers whitneme.

And Right on whoahmygod!!

Please excuse the typos...cant quite get the hang of typing on a blackberry.

People in glass houses should not throw stones......... I would bet that there is not one person who posted here that is not affected by the disease of addiction in their familes or friends - if not consider yourself blessed (or take of your rose colored glasses). Yes there may be issues w/ the methadone program but what program does not have it faults? Do any of you have a better alternative for what has hit Washington County w/ a vengenance? Getting a job as many of you have posted does not cure an addiction - I am sure no one decided one day when they woke up they wanted to be an addict..........

whoamygod your not my god you aint big enough!

The only issues you cover are your a=s because drug counseling is your business putting you in dominant position where you may diefy yourself...and feed yourself..

where I from which is reality addicts find a program of recovery that includes absintance.

They find the Lord not a replacement drug.

Check out the financial stats of methadone and do a comparative study methadone clinics and funding for research VS womens shelters for domestic violence and food...If you dont barf after reading the facts...you are a hardened B--tard!

Methadone clinics are the one "medical" entity within Maine not suffering economic loss...they are prospering...they do that off of the addiction process that is prevalent because of pharmacutical kickbacks and illegal behavior surrounding the addictive process.

Go visit one of the economically diminished publics in Maine that produce addicts....The reason Washington county has been hit with addiction to oxys is the cog in the wheel of collusive bargining within state systems that allow laws enabling doctors to over prescribe in order to keep supply and demand going.

Would this not be a reality addicts would be as prevelant as they are.

Ask the drug enforcement Agency what they see with Methadone the horrors...

Your right Mainer63 no one wants to be an addict but one thing that has proven to work again and again and is free throughout the world is recovery through tweleve steps.

Dont use get a sponsor find the lord from which ones ultimate healing comes...

God helps those who help themselves. Methadone does not work alone, people pair it with counseling AND God! Cookiecrumbles....have you ever had a constant thought, one you could NOT get rid of? No? Well, good for you. Have you ever had an addiction of any kind? NO? Not surprised to hear that...and that is what I hear in your message. People do not choose to become addicted to substances. There are a myriad number of reasons....prescribed by a physician for pain and the physician did not know that the person had an addictive personality....what else....oh, went out to have a good time and didn't realize that they were ending up setting themselves in recovery for the rest of their lives. Do you think people REALLY want that for themselves? Do you think that it would help someone in recovery to read what you wrote? Don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question. You just don't know. Don't judge people unless you walk in their shoes. Attitudinal barriers. Understand what that means, if you don't know, have someone explain it to you. People with addictions are people. They are NOT losers, they are survivors. There are people who are really, really trying to stay sober and these people do not need negative criticism. It doesn't help. You waste your time setting that out into the public. It won't do what you want it to do. Are you trying to inspire people to "find the lord" because you think that will help? Again, walk in their shoes.....just maybe you should...thanks for posting, though, so I get a chance to stand up for those who are really trying (and don't need crap like "get a twelve step program and God will change your life cause you obviously can't do it without God")......OMG.....I "love" how the far right Christians feel how it is OK to judge people cause they don't follow the same beliefs.....Ya, well, there is a God for all of us....how many religions are there in the world???? How many?

Was this country based of religious freedoms? Was it?

.........."was this country based ON religious freedoms".........my apologies for my typo..........

Well said Jayneinmaine! But its pointless to argue with someone who doesnt understand the dynamics and physiological affects of opiate addiction.

Research has proven time and time again that MMT has a much higher success rate than abstinence based models of treatment. Afterall, the 12 steps were written nearly a century ago by white middle class men for alcohol addiction. However, with that said, I would always recommend someone "early" in recovery attend NA. There are useful tools that can be learned through this program, but its not nearly enough for addict who've had severe atrophy take place within the brain.

I have been clean and sober off Herion for twenty years but for the grace of god and twelve step programs.

I have served on the world concept boards and the speakers circut in three countries.

I am not a christian. Nor have I ever been.

Twelve step programs are not affiliated with any religion sect or denomination as the traditions set forth state.

I have worked in service to my fellow addict for twenty years in some the nicest neighbor hoods and the worst slums one could imagine.

Jayneinmaine who knows about cocaine...

I know all about addiction but too, I have lived a life of recovery.

One free from mental turmoil as a result of following twelve steps which enabled me to have a spiritual awaking as a result of those steps and creating a fellowship I craved.

That is what led me to the lord god.

Not led to whoamygod. or a clinic that i would have to place myself before each day because the dependency that methadone creates.

NO HUMAN POWER can relieve me from the mental insanity of addiction. To replace it with another dependency is schrizophrenic reasoning at best.

the only people who win in the methadone industry are those who use it to feed their pocketbooks.

Jaynefrommaine...some people like being in recovery one day at a time and not picking up because true recovery means abstenance...and faith in a power greater than ones self, and working with the other addict and spiritually THAT is recovery working with others and not using ANY substance...to alter but rather leaning on the lord for an UNMERITED gift named sobriety...

another thing those white middle class men you talked about who addressed addiction to alcohol are visionaries Bill Wilson had what today is known as PTSD as a result of serving he drank and the medicine became the disease.

Alcoholism as defined by the AMA is a disease a physical allergy combined with a mental obsession. Or if you will read Dr Silkworths writings in regard to the THOUSANDS of alcoholics he counseled.

He stated that unless one has a spiritual awaking and stays abstenant the chances for recovery from a hopeless state of mind and body aint so hot....

Those middle class men who created AA and that led to other twelve step groups have a FAR greater success rate then methadone becuase people are NOT using substances! And they have been restored to sanity.

The CDC has an amazing amount of information as does the AMA and the addiction research foundation from Ontario Canada stating statistics shall anyone wish true information.

I saw Jesus once when I was drunk. Get a fakin job and don't do drugs. I think that is pretty simple.

Person first language....."People with addictions" not "Drug Addicts" or "Addicts" It's a disability. Brain chemistry is altered. It's NOT a choice any longer if one is addicted. It's a struggle. Good, you are sober for 20 years. More power to you with whatever keeps you sober. Your way is not necesarily the "right way" for everyone. Addiction is a personal thing and certainly not the same thing for everyone who is addicted.

Congratulations on being sober. I admire those who can because Recovery is NOT easy. Good idea, Mesavalley. Don't do drugs. How can you help people never start to do drugs???

Lobby for more control on pharmacutical narcotics and their access. Ceilings on doctors to prescribe and profit off of the narcotic trade.

Harsher sentencing for drug crimes. Both street and professional.

Close the Methadone clinics.

What message are we giving our children when we make synthetic narcotics available?

Education to our children in schools.

Educate about choice about right and wrong build self esteem in our children. Teach them what addiction is and make access available for kids to speak to people who work hand and hand with them without fear of confidentialty being broken unless there is an immediate threat to their safety.

I firmly believe that had I had someone to talk to when I was a kid about my struggles and my fears i would never have picked up. I picked up over fear.

Behind all anger is fear, and I was fear based kid.

Drugs and altering helped me cope until that medicine became the disease. Then my choice was takne because the addiction took on a life of it's own.

Education is a powerful tool.

Many recovering addicts are willing to follow the guidelines set out by educational boards and speak to all levels of grades in the public school system as are al-anons and naranons ( families and spouses of alcoholics and addicts) and its free.

The program works when one works it and spreading the message of recovery is the cost of membership...

yawn......

Your ego cant handle it can it Kasldyn....

they didn't c the big a*s truck,more crack heads on the road.when will the state stop the legal crack.........how does it help?they don't have to steal 4 it.FREE FREE,FREE,MORE TAX MONEY GONE TO THERE HABITS

too bad the meth heads didnt die,although then wed have to pretend they were good honest people,not the scum suckers of society that they are.And dont tell me about addiction they did it to themselves,they are weak and stupid,no one put a gun to their heads,although someone should now and save us taxpayers a few cents!!!!

Richard37.... Addiction can take a "good honest person" and make them do things they never thought they would in a million years. It is addiction that you should be angry at, not the people who are addicted. Addiction and people are two different things. Society needs to HELP not hinder by putting negativity out there (which is what your post is, simply negative...and it does not help). They did it to themselves? I see it differently. They may have gone out to have a good time, but didn't intend or even realize that their lives would be impacted *forever*. This is forever. Recovery never ends. You fall off the wagon, you get back on. Take it day by day...and stay away from negative people. I hope that if people who are addicted do read this understand that there are people in their society that wish them well and support them in their efforts. Success is possible, help is out there. Weak and stupid? Your comment reflects the "blame the victim" mentality (so unproductive). Please get some education about addiction and don't judge people who struggle with addiction. Methadone maintenance does not "get people high" if it is used therapeutically. It's a maintenance program....

jayneinmaine they need to get off the dope! why should the state pay for their dependency and it is a dependency...

Bwahaha, you need to check your own ego cookie. How rich, lol.

Do you actual think I bothered to read all that dribble when it was obvious from the first post you have little to no understanding of physiology?

No thanks...you FAIL

As I stated in the Clinic zoning article..The NA program doesn't open the door, say come on in, heres your free narcotic....AA doesn't open the door, say come on in and here, have a free beer!

The clinics are disabling the addict from FULL RECOVERY. The governments programs that help to fund this mess are taking money from education, elderly, healthcare...It's not right.

The governments MaineCare program canot afford to provide dental care for the children of this State but it can afford to pay for Methadone for Drug addicts?

I do personally know someone who is in the clinic. This person had a great career, was a wonderful person, great personality..When this person told me they were a prescription drug addict and had entered the Methadone Clinic, she also told me she was 3 months pregnant.

This person is now on welfare, has no job, no car, looks like she walked from the shelter..Her daughter..Born addicted to Methadone, spent a great amount of time in the NICU on Phenabarbitol and other meds to prevent seizures and withdrawals...WHO PAID FOR ALL OF THIS????????

THE GOVERNMENT...MAINECARE....

So ok, it has now been 4 1/2 years...I saw this person at the grocery store...Still almost 5 years later..No job, On welfare, 80 lbs overweight from the methadone..Still in the clinic..And the child...Developmental disabilities!!!!!

This person then tells me she loves being in the clinic because they HELPED HER get low income housing, get food stamps, TANF, and she gets paid gas mileage to go and get her MAINTENANCE dose! She was soooo PROUD herself for being CLEAN!!!

Clean? No no not clean...replacing one narcotic for another is not clean, is not recovered.....

I asked this person if she had gone to detox? NOPE...If she was seeing a therapist? NOPE....If she was attending meetings or NA? NOPE!!

Her responses were...I DRIVE TO THE CLINIC< I PICK UP MY METHADONE AND I LEAVE THEY ONLY DRUG TEST ME ONCE IN A WHILE AND IF I SLIP THEY JUST TAKE MY MEDS AWAY FOR A WEEK!!!

So WHOAHMYGOD......What do you say/ You call this recovery process?

You call cookiecrumbles comments offesive????? I find them to be factual! You want recovery..You work for it and driving to a clinic to get your free drugs without any form of counseling or therapy or anything...Well that;s just a waste of my damn tax dollars thank you very much!

Put the government funding into SCHOOLS for education to abstain from drugs...Do drug raids at the schools....

And you find others comments offensive..I find it offensive that the money for education and healthcare is being ripped from the children to provide free drugs to addicts and pay there damn gas mileage too!

Yet another one with little knowlegde of physiology. Dont be angry with other commenters because you do not understand the dymanics of addiction.

Ya know what, I recoverd through MMT. After years of hardcore using, losing everything I'd ever held dear and going through 26 detoxs, MMT was my only option left. Every single time I kicked, I gave it everything I had, but even after 4 months into it, my skin crawled, I didnt sleep for more than an hour each night and I was mentally losing it. Most ppl cant even begin to imagine what its like to go through months and months of constant anxiety and panic attacks that do not let up for a second. I also attended NA, but that one hour a night (yes I went 7 nights a week) was not enough. Even months later I had to sit on my effin hands to keep from shaking out of the damn chair. There is only so much a human being can physically take.

I wanted my goddamn life back. I was sick of hurting and I was sick of hurting those that loved me.

I went into MMT and stopped using dope from my first dose of methadone. 12 yrs later, I am clean, free of any substance other than a multi vitamin. My detox from MMT was carefully monitored and I eased off the medication without any complications whatsoever. My detox from MMT was very different than my past experiences detoxing from H and Diluadids.

Without MMT my children would surely be in foster care, my spouse would be long gone and I'd surely be dead.

So while I will absolutely agree that the requirement to enter MMT need revamping as I strongly feel a it should be last resort and not a first, you cannot deny that it saves more lives than abstinence. I do NOT take what cookiecrumbles as fact and neither should you. I look to cold hard scientic research that has continued for more than fifity yrs.

Hell, I've probably spilled more in my lap then that fraud has ever seen. I've known thousands of addicts in my life and never once have I met one that talks like he does....not even within the walls of NA....unless they were someone with a very light habit that never would've qualified as a MMT candidate to beging with. He speaks as if heroin withdrawal only last a few days...NOT TRUE. If this were the case no one would need MMT. For long time addicts the withdrawal last months and months. The nuerological damage doesnt allow proper healing. MMT does.

I do not advocate for those who are light users to enter MMT and I dont advocate for those to stay on it a life time.

I'm sorry your friend is still in limbo, but not everyone is like this. I hide my past, not because I'm ashamed, but because I now work in public service and choose not to subject myself to the stigmas. And BTW, the state didnt pay a dime for my treatment. My spouse paid it faithfully every week because he could see with his own eyes that his wife was returning to the person she once was.

I am not that differnt than any other recovering addict who has successfully gone on with life. I know many nurses, teachers, CPA, white collar and blue collar alike, that choose to keep this part of their life private. This is why you ONLY ever hear of the bad. As an RN I will not have my abilities and skills come into question because of my past, or because others choose not to educate themselves.

If you were to ever come to the hospitol where I work for treatment of an injury you would never know that I was once and MMT patient.

If cookie were truly living by the AA and NA principles he would NOT be here taking other peoples inventory!!!!

Well cogratulations to you I f I could shake your hand I would, how great your life has turned around.

What you missed is the point behind the comments..Do you live here in Maine?

If you live here in maine have you checked out how the Methadone clinic here works?

The methadone clinic her in Bangor let's jsut say doesn't do a damn thing to help these people! The clinic here doesn't way any attention to the ones who walk out of the door with their methadone and sell it in the parking lot to the first person who has what they really need.

To be honest I am speaking of what I have been seeing on the news, reading in the papers and what people have told me as well as driving by the clinic and seeing people dosing off in their vehicle with one leg in the car and one out.

Who is responsible for the innocent families or person driving on the roads clean? I guess Drivers should always have to worry when driving past a clinic and keep in mind they should be on guard from a MMT patient whom just drank their dose and their body still has yet to adjust to the dosage!

You also say you detoxed from MMT...Since when do they do that here in bangor? What is the process? Why are people driving away from the building in an intoxicated state and legally allowed to drive? For if I took something and drove I would be charged with driving under influence of intoxicants correct??

You have a success story, that's great...Who can show a success story here in bangor Maine?

I'm not being cruel in saying this to you but why should we Maine Tax payers be responsible for paying for an addicts wrong choices??? Why should the children in Maine be prevented from recieving Dental care for Mainecare is broke but Mainecare can pay for Methadone and gas mileasge to get there?? Why should the elderly in Maine have breakfast cut from their assisted living facility because of cut backs yet methadone cliebts are recieving gas mileage and Mainecare paid for drugs?

It is not the responsibility of responsible tax paying individuals, nor should the people of this State go without because someone made stupid choices??

Why is that ok in your mind? Because an ADDICT made poor CHOICES, the children should have to go without??

The way I look at it, you make bad choices, you do stupid sh@#, you pay for it yourself! The government is cutting everything from Healthcare, Dental care, breakfast programs, sports programs...YET they are opening up ANOTHER clinic across the damn bridge!!

You can get p o'd at the comments on here all yu choose BUT the way most of us look at it is that we didn't tell you to "try" drugs..We didn't tell you to "continue" doing drugs...It's not our problem, it's yours...Sounds like your husband paid for your treatment..THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!

So when does the Maine Methadone clinics make a plan of care? A treatment contract of when it will end? Why is there only a contract that states you will not use other substances??

We have children in this state that need braces so bad their teeth are bulging from their gums..We have children in this State with teeth that are black from medications, poor nutrition and lack of Dental care...Who will pay for their teeth so they can smile and be proud? mainecare is broke because there are so many addicts in this state.

One last thing...Who the hell thinks the methadone clinic should be giving pregnant women a substance that could kill their baby? Who the hell thinks it's morally or legally right to do this and see so many babies born addicted to Methadone and treated with such dangerous drugs to keep them from dying from withdraws?????

You may have a great post...But you totally missed the ethical points on the matter!

And one last thing..I have a family member on Methadone, not for addiction but for pain managment and I witnessed the falling asleep all the time, I witnessed the dosing off and drooling on themselves for MONTHS until the dosage had gotten to the right level.

You don't want to go into Physiological aspects for your being a recovered addict closes your mind to all outside information for you only see what it did for you...You don't see the bad that happens as well...

Who's going to stop the next death in Maine from a young adult buying a clinic patients methadone and dying in his sleep? Who is going to prevent these clients from trading their methadone for the "real" stuff they crave???

When is anything going to be done about letting these people drive? Forcing them nto psychiatric care to get to the root of the problem?

Ohhh I forgot..Mainecare paying for the clinic to give them methadone and send them on their way is cheaper then the actual recovery house of detox and psychiatry appointments, meetings, and mental health services...

Shucks I was dumb to forget that fact....

Be on guard when you are driving alone or with children in the vehicle when you are driving near a clinic here in maine for you never know when the client will suddely dose off behind the wheel and kill you and your children while driving LEGALLY INTOXICATED!

>>So I am taking it that some of you know the people involved? Is that why you are making such assumptions? I for one didn't see any thing in the article about leaving a methadone clinic. hm-mm

It's not in the article. When you LIVE HERE and pass these people on your way to to work you know who they are and where they're going. It's a small community. We don't have to assume because we know our neighbors.

Solo, I have to be to work in a bit so I only have a minute to respond. I work as a travel nurse and still have to pack, ugh, so please excuse the typos and poor grammar as I won’t have time to proof read.

Moving forward;

While it can be unsettling to most to see a pregnant woman in MMT, you must remember that it is much more dangerous to the life of her baby if she were to quit cold turkey. The withdrawal alone usually causes the mother to miscarry. Emergency slots are held open at clinics for those pregnant or those infected with HIV. A pregnant mother on methadone is a 100 times safer than a mother out on the streets injecting Heroin several times a day. Of course it’s difficult to know a baby will have to detox from the methadone at birth, but I'll tell ya, it’s far more disturbing to see a baby born addicted to Heroin. Honestly the two don’t even remotely compare. Methadone clinics monitor the mothers very closely and try to keep their dose as low as possible. Several precautions are put in place before she even enters the delivery room as this is a team effort. This is not so when a mother stays out on the streets using. So while it is frowned upon, healthcare workers know it is the much safer option for the baby’s health. To date, there is no research to suggest that long term affects are imminent. Try and remember that these babies will now have a mother to properly care them. This is highly unlikely if the pregnant mother were refused treatment and forced to continue with their use out on the streets. For those that do not enter into MMT, I think we can safely say that neglect would surely follow and then perhaps a life within our flawed foster care system. It really is a double edged sword, but realistically MMT is the safer practical choice.

As a mother, I'm not sure I could have done it and I try not to judge those who do.

State of Maine MMT; Yes, I do believe that "for profit" clinics are run poorly. I won’t name the ones I've visited on a professional level, but I will say they should really hire LADCs instead of CADCs as I personally do not believe them to be qualified for the huge task of running a clinic or in control of patients who are in need of more intensive counseling than a CADC can provide.

However, the Bangor clinic, IMO, is one of the best in the state. Acadia has held MAGNA status for several years now...something that is not easily attained....meaning they are leading in their field and have a strong message of proper patient care. This isn’t limited to substance abuse but mental health as a whole. Acadia is professionally run by highly qualified health care workers. They have unlimited resources to help the patient regain a productive life. This doesn't seem to be so for the Discovery House clinics.

As far as being afraid of those in MMT and their driving abilities...methadone is not mind altering if used properly. The ones you need to look out for are the ones mixing their meds with sedatives and other benzodiazepines.

A big part of my check goes towards taxes too. Maybe I don’t think I should have to pay for smokers, or those that are diabetic, obese, have cancer, heart conditions, ect. because of poor life style choices....but I do and I do it without griping, because I believe every human being should receive fair treatment. You cannot blame the addict because you are displeased with how the state allocates our taxes. Take it up with Augusta!!

If the clinics could put a cap in place, or at least require those that seek MMT have several failed (documented) attempts, than I believe things would run more efficiently.

I don’t want to go into the physiological aspects because it’s too difficult to debate this with anyone who doesn’t have a firm understanding of advanced A&P. Not because I'm close-minded, but because I don’t have the time or the desire to teach a college level A&P class online to strangers (who have no bearing on my life) or who have less than a basic understanding of HS biology and I mean this with no offense. The long term affects of opiate use is a very very complex issue. I would welcome a debate from a fellow nurse or doctor, but that would never be necessary as they already understand what I'm trying to convey in laymen terms here.

I absolutely agree the system needs some revamping. It’s not perfect, but the options for long time addicts are very limited, so we must work with what we have. All one has to do is look at the angry judgmental self-righteous words from cookie to realize how “UNwelcoming” some NA and AA members can be. Even this many years later I myself still attend a meeting from time to time. Had I run into someone like cookie at a meeting early on in my recovery I would never have returned. He has lost the true message of AA and NA because he is so full of himself. The most important member of a meeting is the newcomer.

As I stated before, I do not believe a word he says. If he truly lived by the AA and NA principles he would NOT be here taking other peoples inventory.

Kassldyn physiology has nothing to do with recovery

Being returned and healed from a hopeless state of mind and body cannot come from a human power or thought.

Were that to be the case folks would think their way through recovery.

One cannot think their way into right thinking they must live their way into right thinking and a relationship with God.

I would think you don't read my posts because you are aware that you are not a mental match for me.

Maybe one day you will surrender...Get honest

without honesty one's chance for recovery is limited at best..Kassaldyn

Kassdadlydyn news flash YOU ARE STILL A HATEFUL B_T_H!

Get off the dope and the detox dependency!

you are not the poster child for recovery...You are a spiteful ego driven non recovered person.

If that is recovery No wonder I am anti-methadone

And those women who give birth to the methadone addicted babies...ever watch a baby go through with drawl their first two months of life??? Its heartbreaking the screams and shakes and painful colic.

Methadone is more difficult to wean a baby off of then the original non synthetic narcotic.And if A child is born drug addicted in other states the parent is usually arrested and charged with child endagerment or more...You are not the poster child fro clean time.

When one is recovered they exude the very senrenity and lack of mental anguish that brought them to the addiction in the first place!

The very same mental turmoil that you exhibit in your hateful posts...

Also I am a woman not a man and when i got clean honey it wasnt because i was at the detox trying to fugure it out.

I was on Woodward Avenue in Detroit Michigan in the second worst slum in America at that time.

I was in a warehouse of a burnt out section off Woodward and had pneumonia. i had been living there most of the fall and didnt notice winters harsh weather.

I had sores all over my body and weighed in at 93 pounds at the Detroit Receiving Hospital then to the and then Layfette clinic where I was transported by an ambulence.

I had a distended liver and my skin was deep yellow

My hair had fallen out in patches and I was ill from exposure.

I had tracks from my neck to my toes.

I was vomiting bile daily.

How much did you drop in your lap?

Cookiecrumbles, I'm afraid you are the one that is coming across as hateful. I too have been in recovery for over 30yrs. I became addicted to the white while serving in 68. I've been a member of AA since the early 70's and president of my local chapter for over a decade now. You are failing to see your own shortcomings while taking trying to point out others, and I'm going to have to agree with janyneinmaine, mainer63 and kassdyln. There post were anything but hateful. I found jaynes and especially kassdylns very direct and very informative. Matter of fact, I didnt detect a note of hate in anyones posts except yours. There is no need to call anyone vulgar names because you dont agree with how they've found recovery. We are suppose to be happy that our fellow brothers and sisters are no longer using and suffering out there. I'm not sure about mainer63 or janes, buy kassyln clealy stated she was no longer on methadone. Your war stories of drug use do not impress anyone and I'm going to have to agree that you have clearly lost the message of recovery. I just pray that anyone in need of AA doesnt read your messages here. You should be ashamed of yourself.

IT makes me so sad that some one could have died in this accident and all of you ignornate people can care about is methadone. How many of you even know about this medication and what it can do to help people with addicton. I was in that car accident and just think if it were you or one of your loved ones in that car and you came on to this site read the heartless comments that some of you people wrote. Most but not all of you have no clue to what happened that day we could have met our maker.the cause of this accident was not methadone it was not us in the car so you assume just like most of you do "TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED"

NoBull, you know what, you're right. I came here to respond to cookiescrumbles vulgar posts but I will refrain. It seems he has taken this thread and used it as his own personal soapbox so I will not contribute to it as most likely he would only respond with more hate and more vulgar name calling.

Johncinportand. I completely agree and thank you for not only your words of wisdom, but your service as well. My father served in Nam. He didnt become addicted to heroin, but alcohol. I wished he had found the peace he seem to always desperately be searching for. He passed on when I was 16 and is at peace now. Most who know me think my stepfather is my real father because he's been gone for so long. It saddens me that my children will never really know him although I do realize that sometimes things happen for a reason and I'm glad he is no longer suffering.

I've also been in recovery from opiates for nearly a decade now. I live in right here in downeast in the same town I grew up in. Reading some of the post above make me realize that no matter how long I've been clean others will always judge me and I will always live in the shadow of my past. I try not to let it bother me. No one has walked in my shoes but me. My family suffered a great deal as a result of my addiction and I'm very fortunate to still have them.

Thank you again for your post. It was right on the money!!!

NoBull, I'm also glad no one was hurt. I wont rant on any longer as this article really isnt about substance abuse and its too bad its taken this turn.

they are using John...I am not ashamed of myself I have but an unmeritied gift from God named recovery..To shame someone is certainly a need for control..and to tell me how to work my program is pathetic very much control issues.

I ask the lord to remove my defects of charactor day..T.he methadone industry is just that an industry...Congrats on your recovery..From a hopeless state of mind and body.

My illustration of experience was in view of kasslydn saying she drooped more in her lap then I ever used? Please the disease effects people at different levels mental physical and spiritual. Or were you absent at that meeting?

I never went to detox 26 times like her. Thats her war story. She chose to put that out there.

This is not a meeting forum it is a newspaper comment section where citizens share their views.

I like to share mine anti-methadone. I am allowed to under the First Amendment...

Its called old school recovery.

Get off the dope....

cookiecrumbles, I have no control issues becuase I choose to let go and let God. Anyone who dissagrees with you whether they are abstinent or in another form of treatment have been visciously attacked by you. I read the posts above with great interest, but then I came to yours and all I could do was shake my head. You are so ticked off at other posters, that you had to post 3 seperate posts to tell him/her off, cursed at them, called them nasty names and now you've directed you anger at me, which is fine. I'm a grown man and I can handle it. I'd rather have you spout off at me than verbally abuse the woman posting here. Anyone reading these posts can see who has insane control issues.

I've been around the rooms for nearly 40 years so dont tell me about old school recovery. I work my program to the best of my ability and sadly nothing in your words sugest that you do the same.

Good day.

JohnC

NoBull, I apologize for too. Thank God noone was hurt in this crash. I didnt read the entire article before posting as I found it through the comment section and then quickly scanned over it. I see now that this article did not pertain to methadone or substance abuse whatsoever. I will not post in this article again. If these were your friends I'm sorry so much hate has been publically said about them.

Paleshadows, congradulations on 10 years. and yes, I did serve 2 tours in Vietnam. I'm sorry about your dad. Truly, JohnC

Once more it is all about the drugs the headline said 4 hurt in car crash most of the comments on this story is of methadone does any one care that one had to flown to to bangor hospital if you need to gossip and put people down dont do it at some one else pain there most be some other site you can you can put people down or you can get off your high horse like I said I or all of us could have died please keep your cooled comments to your self. I wish this happins to no one and how would you like to be put down after the trauma that we went through THANK YOU FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DID UNDERSTAND AND DID NOT JUDGE

I had to post three differnt posts because I was at work and interrupted...Genius...I am also a woman and my beautiful breasts attest to that fact..also my charming femininity...thank you for serving..My anger is directed appropriatley at the methadone industry and the government that supports it.

Thank God you work you program, as do I...I live my life as a life of service but your anthology of what you believe is right behavior on a newspaper forum is a bit off...I am not here to spew my great recovery I am here to defend the voice of the voiceless those who are VICTIMS of the Methadone industry

cookiecrumbles your beautiful breasts have more braines then you this artical is about a car crash that hurt people that is all and not for you to wine

To cooKiecrumbles my friend used my username he is upset about the accident so please do not be up set about what he said all people have the right to there opinoin but that was uncalled for so like i said dont mind him. your imput does matter to some but not all but that is for the person to deside I hope that you keep on voiceing your opinoin thank you

I am sorry to hear about your trauma. Trauma is no laughing matter.

The emotional aspect of it is very isolating. As are the long term effects. Everyone is affected different by trauma.

This forum of posts began with some jokes, and then the reality of addiction was posted and I voiced and I will always voice my opinions.

That is what the newspaper is for. Freedom of speech and expression and ideas..ect...

Also ..in my position professionally I see the facts black and white every day about funding and how those who are in dire need are short changed because governments are allowed to use profiting off of the drug trade industry.

When I left Maine to work at a different position I was able for years to come "back home" and visit a few times a year. At that time things didn't seem to change much.

I had been away for four and a half years the longest ever and upon coming back this past holiday season I was disgusted to see the way the health care system almost over night collapsed yet the Methadone industry is thriving.

I was angry to see my neighbors daughter sick and without health care when her father was working like crazy to make ends meet.

I was alarmed that she knew five high school kids using opiates they obtained from the son of a wealthy family that the community turned their eyes to his drug dealing in view of their financial position in that town. And also I was alarmed that many of my friends were using oxycontin for "pain" they had experienced from everything from falls to accidents these are people who became dependent yet never had any drug dependecies before and some were in there forties.

The area I grew up in was saturated with opiates dealt by doctors and citizens alike.I was floored!

Used to be saturated with decent God fearing people. When my addiction took hold my neighbors were supportive and talked about my meetings and my fears and their lives as well. They didn't offer me a drug to placate the "noise in my head." They took me to meetings. We didn't have NA then but AA worked cuz I worked it and Gods grace was upon me.

How disheartening to know I watched the excitement of funding for these same clinics and the hoopla associated with how great the funding and how wonderful the crime rate will go down and all the lies and more lies.

The crime hasnt gone down.

More children are at risk for drug use and sexual trauma and violence now that there is an active industry in force,

The violence associtated creating an addict is astronomical in costs yet we place more importance in Maine on funding the study of opiates than we do our shelters and domestic violence shelters and programs for survivors of trauma.

Our state funds in Maine are missappropriated and so few come forward to lobby for change. Or because the industry when one does come forward those dependent upon it quash the voice of those attempting to steer towrds social change.

We need to change our relationship with depndencies and expecting the government to pay for synthetic opiates...I say the industry is a disgrace!

Nice breasts are a good thing. Pictures??????

LOL!

I dunno SteveyDee. I like nice ones as well as the next, but if you read back a bit you might feel differntly about seeing those ones. Some things we see cannot be unseen, lol

Come on, theres nothing wrong with a used up junkies breast. If there tracked up we can play connect the dots

Maybe she had breast implants who knows. Usually a 93 pound woman doesn't have much for boobs.

I have a vein that might need some attention. I see no needle tracks on it but it keeps swelling up.

no implants 130 pounds and at 5'10" sweet as candy...lol...something about Maine and "show me your tits! " Must be the cold weather...

One good thing about being clean for twenty years and healthy and working out..I am told I look twenty five years younger! Good clean living gotta love it!

Tell me about your "vein" stevieDee...

awww your no fun alleycat whats wrong you ain't getting none from the old lady?

.I guess some guys just don't like incredibly smart sexy fun lovin women...who earn a great deal of money and have proven their success at both the board room the bed room and can go from a Gucci to a Carhartt shoot from the hip AND shoot straight!

Yet still be every inch the lady she is ...That be me....

hey not a bad subject I was upset but it does some good to laugh thank you all that did care and made me laugh it helps the heeling I forget my pain for some time thank you?

I have this picture in my mind of my late husband saying "Dear, you forgot Queen of the world Ruler of the universe and pick you damn socks off the floor I ain't your Maid!" LOL!

whoahmygod -- cookiecrumbles absolutely has a right to voice his opinion or anger here, or anywhere else. That's what this forum is all about. Duh!

I have to disagree with you that it is a small percentage of people who abuse this/other state programs. Open you eyes and look around. It's not hard to see; hell a lot of them brag about it. How do you feed a stigma??!!??

mainer63 -- I have been affected by addiction in my family and the methadone clinic is absolutely the worst antidote ever. They increase doses, don't wean people and it's a "for profit" venture. Gawd, we are so easily mis-informed and mislead . . . The clinics are killing addicted people . . .and those who may happen to be "hit" by them . . .

kasdyln -- Bwahaha -- it's drivel, not dribble. I doubt you have any idea what physiology is. . . Oh yeah, it's dyNAMICS not dyMANICS

solothoughts -- right on!

cookiecrumbles -- you get it!

I dont believe anyone said they didnt have a right to post their opinions. Furthermore if you read back through my comments you will see that I do oppose how "for profit" clinics are run. Not sure how you missed that.

And oh how clever you are viper, lol, you found 2 typos in over 1000 words that I'd written...all the while YOU had to use "Word" to compose your little useless statement...as can be seen by the tell tale fonts characters in your post. IDIOT

HAHAHA...you FAIL

BTW, anytime you'd like to discuss physiology with me...bring it.

Bwahahaha. Good in deed.

O. M. G. what the heck happened in this thread. lol.

Good one Kassdyln ;)

Steveey and Alleycat. hahaha, you guys crack me up:))))

ok...I'ma slowly back out of the thread now............but before I go, can I get a flash too