HOPE FOR HEROINE ADDICTS

Grant Swank* | February 28, 2008

Filed Under Conservative Musings, General Politics

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

“Are you on heroine?” I asked Dane, a Lakes Region teen friend of mine.

“Yes.”

“And your girl friend?”

“Yes.”

“What about her parents?”

“They are, too.”

The four each morning drive to a methadone clinic for dosing. That is, they get a prescribed amount of liquid methadone to drink that transfers cravings for heroine to a legal drug lifestyle. How long they will be on methadone is anyone’s guess–maybe life, maybe not. On weekends, they get dosings for those two days to prevent relapse. A clinician oversees their swallowing the doses. Clients pay a set amount weekly to the clinic.

There are hundreds who see through this ritual.

When a substance abuse counselor, I prayed for wisdom to help heroine addicts-turned-to-methadone. Some had just completed intake; others had been on methadone for varying lengths of time.

Getting off heroine onto methadone is extremely uncomfortable–cramping, sweating, nausea, confusion. However, gradually a new lifestyle develops–dependency on methadone but no more heroine use. With that, instead of stealing for the heroine habit, a person can hold a job, raise a family and find some peace of soul.

Sadly there are some who misuse methadone by selling weekend doses on the street. Some mix methadone with heroine. That is why periodic urine tests are necessary. Further, some relapse.

“I prayed for a Christian counselor,” Lisa said. “And here you are! My prayers have been answered. You can broadcast this to the world. I give you permission!”

That was our first session together–counselor with counselee.

“You are a believer?” I inquired.

“Yes. I pray all the time. ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ I read the Bible. I carry it with me everywhere.”

“How is this?”

“Because of my praying mother,” Lisa explained. “She would not let go of me. When I was at my worst, she kept praying. She read me the Bible. She has seen me through a lot of rough times. I would be dead if it had not been for her,” Lisa explained.

I was impressed with her intelligence. So it was not a surprise to me when some time later I saw an interview with her published in our city newspaper.

“My mother and I want to move to California. We can start over there. We have friends there,” she hoped aloud.

“Had you ever thought of speaking to groups about what you have been through–your addiction, your methadone connection and your faith in Christ?” I asked.

“Not really.”

“I think you would be quite good at it. Your honesty and sincerity come through powerfully. You articulate well your experiences and feelings. You have a real-life faith story to tell. It would encourage others to kick the habit,” I offered.

So it went–day in, day out. How many precious humans did I talk matters out with, trying to decipher the next move? A lot. And of that number, there were believers.

The debate regarding methadone will continue. It should. That is healthy.

For one, I know that not all is perfect at the clinics. I am aware that some clients are getting short-changed at some clinics. These matters need to be faced and rectified immediately.

Nevertheless, realizing that we live in an imperfect world, I believe the lesser of the two evils is methadone–a legal alternative to heroine. Further, the less heroine use, the safer are our communities from thieves. Heroine habits are outlandishly expensive; often addicts have to rob or sell their bodies in order to get a fix.

In the meantime, I continue to pray for my friends who are seeking a heroine-free life. Would you join me?

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