I know this post is like a month old, but I just saw it.

I wasn't saying you were an ex-heroin addict, I do believe you really are using it for chronic pain.

And I've never been to Minnesota, I don't know what it's like there, night_shade. But EVERY clinic in NYC requires you to pass the naloxone challenge test for opiate dependence. A clinic who didn't require that would become a candy store for people who want to abuse methadone. The clinician will concurrently prescribe benzodiazepines for you.

At this clinic, not everyone starts at 30 mg- he started at 70.

I know this because an ex-friend of mine is a recovering heroin addict and I went with him to pick out a clinic, and we settled on the one in the west 30's-40's. This information is accurate as of 2001. I know he lasted long enough to get weekend take-home priveleges, which he promptly sold to buy you know what- but I don't know the limit to how much take-home supply you can get.

I wasn't disputing anything you said, wasn't even trying to disagree with you- I had no idea it was run differently in different parts of the country. I do understand it can be a sore subject for you because of the undeserved stigma when you say "methadone," and I think it's a shame people have to resort to clinics to get pain relief.

-yawkaw