Question: Does tricare cover methadone?

(Posted by: on 2010-09-01 11:55:21)

Posted by: Rah Rah on 2010-09-01, 11:57:17

Gnarly. Methadone is just government approved heroin.

Posted by: Laredo on 2010-09-01, 11:59:59

I hope it doesn't. The taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for you to stay high for the rest of your life.

Posted by: Mary on 2010-09-01, 12:16:47

Substance Abuse Treatment NOT Covered by TRICARE • Methadone maintenance • Halfway houses • Group homes • Therapy related Outpatient detoxification smoking cessation • Aversion therapy programs (except Antabuse) Consult Reports Required within 10 Working Days

Posted by: emmeline on 2010-09-01, 20:45:05

Sigh. I am sorry you are getting such biased and prejudicial answers. Methadone DOES NOT cause a high or euphoria in stable patients. This is a common misconception. Due to often permanent changes that occur in the brain chemistry of opioid addicts, long term therapy with either methadone or Suboxone is often necessary to restore a normal balance to the brain chemistry. Methadone works to replace the natural opiates, called endorphins, that are in many cases no longer being manufactured by the brain. Without this replacement therapy, those with permanent chemical changes (a large percentage of heavy users) will experience severe, crippling depression, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure in anything), extreme irritability, anxiety and physical exhaustion. These symptoms do not go away with time, nor do they respond to counseling or therapy--medication is required to manage and control them. Standard antidepressant meds are not effective for this type of problem,.as they target other chemicals in the brain, not endorphins. Methadone is not intended or given, in most cases, as a quick detox aid, contrary to popular belief. Most patients will require long term, if not life long therapy, just as with any other chronic and incurable illness of the mind or body. The idea that people are getting high on the taxpayer's dime is a popular one but has no validity. In fact, the vast majority of MMT patients in the USA are private pay patients, meaning that they pay in full for their treatment by themselves. In the past most insurers would not cover methadone or Suboxone treatment. However, since the passing of the parity act, that is changing. Tricare was recently taken to task over their refusal to cover Suboxone treatment for a young Iraq vet who was injured and became dependent on pain meds, and after quite a bit of argument they complied and did pay for the treatment. It's definitely worth fighting for. Methadone treatment is the most effective treatment for opioid addiction available today, by far. The relapse rate for those opioid addicts in abstinence based treatment is enormous--only about 10% succeed--whereas with methadone treatment, about 65% or more are able to remain free of illicit drugs and living a productive life.

Posted by: ruthiepoo on 2010-09-02, 05:50:53

THANK YOU emmeline! I couldn't have said it better myself. Remember when ppl use to look down their noses at people who suffered from depression? You would NEVER admit to suffering from depression and you certainly would't admit to taking medication for it. It was thought that ppl who suffered from depression could just "snap out of it if they really wanted to and/ or really loved me " or "they just had a bad attituted and outlook on life " or LORD FORBID "they are just seeking attention ". We now know that it is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression and it is not a behavior problem. It is not a matter for will power or positive thinking it is an actual medical condition that needs treatment. Some sufferers can go to therapy and that alone helps manage their condition, most need medication along with therapy. Of those that take medication, some can take it for a while and their brains heal and start producing their own chemicals again, but others have receptors that have been so damaged they will never heal and must take medication for the rest of their lives to manage their condition. You would never hear someone tell them that it's their own fault they are ill or that they can only have 6 months worth of treatment with medication and then you have to get off no matter if you are better or not. Take type 2 diabetes which is caused from excessive weight gain. The excess fat causes the body to stop regulating blood sugar properly. Some ppl can lose weight and this manages the condition, however if they gain weight again, they will have T2 diabetes again. Some have to take meds along with watching what they eat. After a while their body heals and can produce insulin on their own and they can get off the meds. BUT there are some that for whatever reason will stay on insulin for type 2 diabetes all their lives. We would never tell them it's your own fault because you can't control what you put in your mouth that you have diabetes, would you? You also wouldn't tell them they have 6 months of treatment with meds and then they have to get off even if they aren't better......... Same with opiate addicts. The brain has gotten use to high levels of opiates triggering the receptors in the brain. When they stop taking the opiates they can suffer from the symptoms emmeline mention LONG after the actual w/ drawals are over. They have damaged the opiate receptors. Some can go to therapy and get through it. Others need medication and this is where ORT comes in. ORT meds trigger those opiate receptors so they function properly without making the person high. Some ppl take ORT meds along with therapy for a while and their receptors heal and they can function without meds but there are others who have damaged their receptors and they will never heal and they, like the person with depression or the T2 diabedic will have to take meds for the rest of their lives. Ppl need to open their eyes and quit acting so self rightous about opiate addicts and their treatment. Get accurate info about something and then make up your mind about how you feel about it and then hope and pray to God that you never have to go through it yourself because with the rise of pain pill abuse, the opiate addict is no longer a stranger. It is your neighbor, your friend, your child, your teacher YOURSELF! It can happen to anyone who is prescribed pain meds for any illness or injury.