beth@methadonetoday.org,
or to subscribe: Click Here
If you wish to submit an article or your story for publication, you may send to the E-mail address following, or it may be sent by snail mail to P.O. Box 90196, Burton, MI 48509.
Thank you to everyone who has sent comments and/or a donation to the newsletter. Everyone receives a personal reply to their letters, so even if I do not comment here, all letters are acknowledged. Thanks to all of you. - Beth Francisco, Editor
Send comments: beth@methadonetoday.org,
or to subscribe: Click Here
6-30-97
Dear Beth,
Please find enclosed a check for $100 to cover the cost of 1)
subscription
of $10 2) back issues 3) balance a donation to support the work you are
doing. I
have just completed a short story on L.A.'s "Best Methadone Clinic" and
have been assigned a cover story on methadone maintenance. Also,
methadone saved
my life in the past. It is a long and complex history, but I have
written about
drug addiction before in book form (Wonderland Avenue
published by
Little Brown & Co.) and will be doing so again. One of my goals is
to transform
the image of the methadone [patient]--indeed, make understandable and
sympathetic
the methadone patient as one who is endeavoring to better his life,
capable of doing
so only by the availability of methadone as a medication used to treat
heroin addiction.
Hope
we communicate again soon.
Good luck. And if you ever need a voice on the
West Coast/L.A. area, feel free to call. - Danny Sugerman
Danny was
manager of the Doors and Iggy Pop. The back cover of the book tells us
that "he
also plunged gleefully into the glamorous underworld of the rock 'n'
roll scene,
diving headfirst into booze, sex and drugs: every conceivable kind of
drug, every
day, in every possible permutation. By the age of twenty-one he had an
idyllic home,
a beautiful girlfriend, the best car in the world, two types of
hepatitis, a diseased
heart, a $500 a-day heroin habit and only a week to live. He lived."
I
have not finished the book yet, but it is one of those that is hard to
put down,
that you can't quit reading, but you don't want it to end. A must read!
- Beth
Francisco, Editor Methadone Today
6-06-97 Thank you so much for your newsletter;
enclosed check is
for subscription. I really thank you for your <quick response> to
my E-mail.
You were so much help. Dennis.
Dennis, I am just glad I was there
when you needed me. - Beth
6-21-97 Enclosed is $10.00 for 1 year of Methadone
Today.
My fiance, Jerry, is in a clinic; sometimes he is able to get a copy,
and now I can
be sure we do. Thank you for all the hours that you put in to getting
the newsletters
out. I ask for a favor please--when you are all together folding the
newsletters,
say a prayer for Jerry. He is in a down time. Thank you again.
I am sorry
that your fiance is having a difficult time at present. If there is
anything we can
do, please do not hesitate to call us--that is what we are here for.
Sometimes, it
is something as simple as needing a dose increase or other remedy. We
have tons of
literature that might help you, and I've acquired a lot of knowledge
over the last
two years as a result of becoming involved in advocacy and having
access to the internet.
The clinics are woefully misinformed about the pharmacology of
methadone, and they
still believe that we, as methadone patients, have a behavioral
problem--many of
us have, in fact, a deranged opiate ligund receptor system or, more
simply, our brain
chemistry has been damaged. I am enclosing my card with phone number in
case you
need me, and we will remember Jerry in prayer. - Beth
6-15-97 Dear Beth, My husband and I have been
methadone <patients>
for six years now. We subscribe to the Methadone Awareness newsletter,
and we have
learned a great deal from it. We want to learn all that is available.
So, please
send us a copy of Methadone Today and let us know how to become
subscribers. Thank
you, Lynn
We sent back issues and subscription
instructions.
Thanks for the interest in Methadone Today.
6-2-97 Hello, My name is Richard. I am a
recovering addict in Rochester,
N.Y. I would very much like to send a donation and possibly get put on
your mailing
list for the Methadone Today newsletter. I have been
living happily
on methadone maintenance for five years now. I lost my wife to
addiction five years
ago. Methadone and recovery gave myself and my two children a life I
didn't think
possible some time ago. Today, I do a lot of recovery-oriented speaking
in schools
and institutions. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks. Richard
We are
always glad to hear that someone has gotten their life together due to
methadone
maintenance. We are always saddened, too, when, as in the case of your
wife, it didn't
happen. Keep up the good work speaking in the schools. - Editor
5-31-97 I was so glad to see your publication at
the center. I,
myself, am approaching one year of treatment and have only had two
fallbacks. I live
in a small town in the Bible Belt that doesn't understand methadone. I
drive 250
miles each way to treatment 3 times a week. I could go on crying, but
I'll spare
you. I would like a subscription but can't afford the $10 at this time,
so I'm sending
you my promise of payment. Can't honestly say when, but I'm a man of my
word, so
I'm sending you my address in hopes you'll take it and send me some
issues. Thank
you for your time and literary enlightenment. - Dexter, Tennessee
We
are enclosing several back issues of Methadone Today, including themost
recent, June
1997 issue. No one is refused for inability to pay. Thank you for your
interest in
Methadone Today. Hopefully, you can use some of the other information I
sent. - Editor
5-5-95 Dear Beth, Could you please send me a copy
of your newsletter.
Right now I'm barely making the $70 per week payments
at my clinic.
I would appreciate it if you could send me just one of your papers. I
feel bad asking
with no money; I'll understand if you turn me down. Thanks for reading
my letter.
Thanks a lot, and God Bless! Sincerely, David - Maryland
I am sending
you several back issues of our newsletter, Methadone Today. No one is
refused for
inability to pay the $10 suggested subscription fee; however, we can
use any donation,
no matter how small. If you can only afford to send postage stamps to
offset the
cost of mailing, that would be greatly appreciated. - Editor.
3-3-97 Dear Editor:
Please put me on your subscription list.
I am 38 years old and have been on methadone for almost two years. My
life has changed
for the positive in so many different ways. I am so grateful to see the
work you
are doing. I became a father for the first time four months ago, and my
son needs
his dad to continue his normal life. Our family needs this program.
Here is a check
for $25. Thank you so much. Mark, Toledo
Thank you for
your donation to Methadone Today. We congratulate you on your new baby
boy and are
truly happy your life has changed for the better. - Beth Francisco,
Editor
3-3-97 - I am 23 years
old; I've been off
and on heroin for about four years. I first started taking methadone
about two years
ago. I was in and out of clinics for the first year, but now I have
stabilized on
methadone for a little over one year without using heroin!
Yesterday was
the first time I had ever seen an issue of Methadone Today;
I am thrilled
about this discovery. I am always looking for information or literature
regarding
methadone.
This past year, since I've been "clean" from illegal
street drugs, I have been very open about the fact that I am a
recovering heroin
addict on methadone to family, friends, and co-workers! At first, it
was frustrating
as I realized how ignorant and misinformed people are. But gradually I
have earned
respect because of my actions as well as my enthusiastic attempts at
informing by
sharing knowledge. Even other [patients] at my clinic seem to be
embarrassed about
being on methadone. Some don't even tell their family! I am a "group
leader"
of one of our clinic's group sessions, and I am always trying to
convince other [patients]
that there is no reason to let society's ignorance make them feel less
of a person.
Addiction is an incurable disease that can be treated with methadone,
combined
with counseling. Personally, I am proud of my achievements. I have a
newfound respect
and love for myself and others, and I never could have done it without
methadone.
I've tried kicking my habit cold turkey, and I felt terrible and
eventually relapsed.
Who can concentrate on recovery when you are in excruciating pain? I
honestly don't
think I ever could have made the lifestyle change without methadone. It
is such a
shame that there are people out there who are misinformed and ignorant
about methadone.
I believe that one of the most valuable things in life is knowledge.
Information
is power. I want to do everything I can to teach people the truth about
methadone.
One article that really got to me was "It's Only In Your Head"
by Peter T. Seal. I would greatly appreciate any information concerning
methadone,
especially facts and material for my group, as well as a subscription
to your wonderful
newsletter. - Sincerely, Casey - Royal Oak, MI
2-20-97 - Dear Methadone Today:
Once again, you've
done a great job with your February issue. Your article on Medical
Maintenance was
of special interest to me since I've been on methadone for the last 3
1/2 years.
Any information concerning methadone is of great value to me,
especially since there
are so many people who know so little! After reading, "Why Should I
Contribute",
I realized as part of my continuing recovery, I should help out and
subscribe to
your wonderful newsletter. I had to leave my clinic of 2 years because
my insurance
(Medicaid) would no longer pay--a few times when I had to return to the
clinic for
records, I was lucky enough to grab a few issues. My clinic now isn't
lucky enough
to get any issues. I hope my contribution helps a little. 3 1/2 years
ago, I wouldn't
have parted with $10 unless there was something in it for me, and the
"something"
was a substance. Keep up the good work and know that what you're doing
is a wonderful
service for all of us who are serious about our recovery. Thanks again.
M.K.
Detroit
Dear M.K. - Your clinic should be receiving the newsletter now so
that other patients can pick up copies, but since you are having one
sent to you,
you won't have to worry about receiving a copy each month. Thanks for
your subscription
donation and your comments about Methadone Today. - Editor
1-23-97 - I am 23 years old; I've been off and on
heroin for about
four years. I first started taking methadone about two years ago. I was
in and out
of clinics for the first year, but now I have stabilized on methadone
for a little
over one year without using heroin!
Yesterday was the first time I had ever
seen an issue of Methadone Today; I am thrilled about
this discovery.
I am always looking for information or literature regarding methadone.
This
past year, since I've been "clean" from illegal street drugs, I have
been
very open about the fact that I am a recovering heroin addict on
methadone to family,
friends, and co-workers! At first, it was frustrating as I realized how
ignorant
and misinformed people are. But gradually I have earned respect because
of my actions
as well as my enthusiastic attempts at informing by sharing knowledge.
Even other
[patients] at my clinic seem to be embarrassed about being on
methadone. Some don't
even tell their family! I am a "group leader" of one of our clinic's
group
sessions, and I am always trying to convince other [patients] that
there is no reason
to let society's ignorance make them feel less of a person.
Addiction is
an incurable disease that can be treated with methadone, combined with
counseling.
Personally, I am proud of my achievements. I have a newfound respect
and love for
myself and others, and I never could have done it without methadone.
I've tried kicking
my habit cold turkey, and I felt terrible and eventually relapsed. Who
can concentrate
on recovery when you are in excruciating pain? I honestly don't think I
ever could
have made the lifestyle change without methadone. It is such a shame
that there are
people out there who are misinformed and ignorant about methadone.
I believe
that one of the most valuable things in life is knowledge. Information
is power.
I want to do everything I can to teach people the truth about
methadone. One article
that really got to me was "It's Only In Your Head" by Peter T. Seal. I
would greatly appreciate any information concerning methadone
especially facts and
material for my group, as well as a subscription to your wonderful
newsletter. -
Sincerely, Casey - Royal Oak, MI
2-3-97 - Please
put me on your subscription
list. I am 38 years old and have been on methadone for almost two
years. My life
has changed for the positive in so many different ways. I am so
grateful to see the
work you are doing. I became a father for the first time four months
ago, and my
son needs his dad to continue his normal life. Our family needs this
program. Here
is a check for $25. Thank you so much. Mark, Toledo
Thank you for your
interest in Methadone Today. We congratulate you on your new baby boy
and are truly
happy your life has become so positive. - Beth Francisco, Editor
1-29-97 - I am a person receiving
methadone maintenance
treatment. During a counseling session at my clinic last week, I saw a
copy of your
newsletter laying on the desk. Well, I took it home and read it and was
pleasantly
surprized. It was the first time ever that I had seen something
positive written
about the treatment I am receiving. Not only was it informative to me,
but exciting
as well. To see a publication dispel myths and misinformation about
methadone treatment
is very refreshing. Thank you, and keep up the good work. - Lenny
Thank you,
Lenny. Letters like yours make it worth the work we put into the
newsletter &
DONT. - Editor
I don't know how you do it. Every time it comes out, the newsletter is so good that I think it can't get better--then, when the next issue comes out, it DOES (get better that is). Thank you for a great read. - Bob W.
Many thanks for Methadone Today. We'll use it extensively at our
Sept. 14 meeting.
Suggestion (respectfully). . . the insulin spoof [The Use of Insultin
in the Treatment
of Diabetes: An Analogy to Methadone Maintenance, V.I, No. VIII,
September 1996]
may well be misread by many who need to get the message straight.
Satire seems to
work only among the most knowledgeable and to be counter-productive
otherwise. Yours
is a wonderful newsletter and a big help in our campaign to take
profits out of drug
traffic!!!
- Marie
Please send me a subscription of your newsletter. I find it very
interesting and
educational. I just recently got into a methadone clinic, and I have no
money to
speak of. I stay with my mother, and I have people helping me, but as
soon as I can,
I will send you a donation to help you with your paper and things.
Thank you. - Barbara
I spent my first work hour devouring your publications and
making copies of various
informative articles. I was sorry to hear about Ira Sobel, not only
because of his
valued input but because I too suffer from Hepatitis C. It seems I've
heard too many
similar stories this past year--it's very scary. - Doris
Great!!! Your newsletter looks fantastic. so professional and
tight. No air. Every
article is done so well--Michelle--I'm the biggest compulsive person
around--I have
to be!!! Beth your article was scary because "it" is coming in one form
or another from "them." I'm faxing "METHAPHOBIA: US AND THEM."
Really, it is a fine product--in such a short time--because I
think that
this new issue is about #4 or #5, right? It reads like a
mini-magazine!!! I can't
wait to see the final final. - Ira, Ira Sobel Productions
I am a member of NAMA but was not aware of your newsletter until
I received a
copy of your message from Trisha. I would very much like to be added to
your mailing
list. I am involved with Trisha and some current legislators to gather
support for
decriminalization of syringes and methadone accessibility in NH. - Dan
I hope this [donation] helps--it's not much, but it's all I
could afford. Well,
I put in for my once a week take homes; wish me luck. P.S. If you ever
need anything,
my phone and address is at the top of the paper. You must keep this
wonderful newsletter
going. Thanks! Jimmie
Anyway, I do have one piece of criticism on the newsletter, not
the website. Don't
use staples!! Do what I do with mine - Use little round stickers, or
even a piece
of tape - it looks much better, but most importantly, it doesn't
destroy the newsletter
- the staples tear the newsletter all to hell!! Try opening one you've
stapled -
its terrible! It tears it up, you lose parts of the text, etc.. I hope
you're not
angry - but I really felt I should tell you this - believe me, I did
the same thing
at the start - I used staples too!! Let me know what you think. Katharine
Bolton,
Editor/Publisher Methadone Awareness
No, Katharine, I'm not at all angry.
I appreciate any comments that help make the newsletter better. The
December issue
is going to be mailed November 25 without staples. Thank you for the
suggestion,
- Beth
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