In what ways is the treatment helpful or harmful?

Assignment 2: Methadone Maintenance Treatment—Helpful or Harmful?

By the due date assigned, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through the end of the module, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. In your response, ask a question, provide a statement of clarification, provide a point of view with rationale, challenge a point of discussion, or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.

Methadone Maintenance Treatment—Helpful or Harmful?

Replacement therapies tend to be the most controversial of all treatments for substance abuse and dependence. In particular, methadone maintenance has been the focus of much controversy and debate.

Mary was a chronic heroin user, but eventually she hit “rock bottom” and decided to get help. Mary goes to a methadone clinic every day to get her methadone dose for the day. She is happy to be sober from heroin. However, her family does not understand. They see that Mary is still taking a drug every day and view her as still being dependent.

Using your textbook and the Argosy University online library resources, research the controversy of methadone maintenance treatment for heroin users.
Answer the following:

• In what ways is the treatment helpful or harmful?
• Is this a successful treatment for heroin dependence? Why or why not?

Write your initial response in 150–200 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.