
Guest dosing is a term we use to describe when those of us that are on a methadone treatment plan need to dose at a facility that is NOT our regular facility due to traveling outside where we live. Those of us that need to guest dose need to make sure that we are well aware of a few important issues that, if not fully understood, can find us in a terrible position. Going into full opiate withdrawal, while on a business trip or vacation, can have extreme negative consequences.
MAKE SURE THE GUEST DOSING FACILITY IS OPEN ON THE WEEKEND– I have learned this the HARD WAY when it comes to guest dosing on the weekend. During my methadone treatment time period I had to go help my Mom with some upkeep around her house. She is 83 years old and lives 4 hours north of me. Well, to make a long story short, I was approved for a guest pass at a methadone treatment facility three miles from my Mom’s house but the problem was that they didn’t allow guest dosing on the weekend! OH MY GOD! I was four hours north of my home methadone clinic and was just told that I couldn’t dose until Monday morning, and it was Saturday morning…OUCH! Needless to say, I limped back into Miami 48 hours later in HORRIBLE shape. That will NEVER happen to me again! KNOW THE GUEST DOSING RULES AND DOSING HOURS BEFORE YOU LEAVE TOWN.
ALTITUDE CAN GREATLY AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF YOUR DOSE– here is another horror story during my methadone treatment. I owned property in Denver, Colorado and traveled out there regularly. The first time I guest dosed in Denver, I woke up feeling kinda rough and went to the methadone clinic in Denver. I dosed at 6am, like normal, and drove back home desperately counting the minutes until my relief took over my aching bones. Well, the relief never came. I was extremely confused as to why I still felt like shit. I took myself back to the clinic ranting and raving, accusing the clinic of serving me “bunk” methadone. They informed me that the federal government made sure every clinic in America had the exact same methadone. The nurse checked me over and made the assessment that the altitude had a big impact on the weakness of my methadone dose. Being born and raised at sea level in Florida and then coming to the mile high city to dose wasn’t agreeing with my body. So my normal 40mg Florida dose quickly needed to be adjusted to a 60mg Colorado dose. Keep this in mind when traveling!
PRICES AND PROCESSES VARY FROM CLINIC TO CLINIC– If you are on a strict budget, please make sure you ask the prices of your guest dosing facility and be prepared for a different process in different clinics. My doses in Miami were $24 while Denver charged me $36. However, Denver clinics are much more strict and thorough in their programs. Denver required blood tests and a liver test even when guest dosing. So if you are counting your pennies be prepared to ask the prices while you are guest dosing.
–Tim Estes, recovering Heroin addict
So as you can see, there are quite a few ways that you can find yourself in “hot water” while guest dosing if you don’t do your homework before you leave. And it can quickly become a nightmare if you find yourself going into full withdrawal while guest dosing away from home because you didn’t ask the questions you needed to ask before you left home. At The Addictions Coach and The Addictions Academy, we are here to inform you about these types of issues and keep you on top of your game while you are in recovery from addiction. Head over to our company website at www.theaddictionscoach.com or call us at 1-800-706-0318 to get all the recovery-based information you need! We are here for you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!