Medication assisted recovery: questionnaire

As you may be aware the issue of methadone prescribing is gaining significant media and political attention. Sadly, however, few, if any of the commentators are service users in opiate substitution therapy which creates a very skewed view.

In attempting to correct that balance, the following questionnaire is for CURRENT service users only. The results will be leveraged in a number of ways, which we will keep you updated on. It’s important to note this is not an official piece of research and therefore has not been through the usual ethics panel etc. However, I have tried to make it as balanced as possible.

I acknowledge that many service users may not have access to computers. May I make the rather bold suggestion that key-workers assist clients as part of a regular key-working session.

Clients should be assured that once the “SEND!” key is pressed, no record is left on your work computer. If you decide to go down this route, it’s important to note that clients may need some privacy to complete the questions without pressure.

Here is a copy of the privacy commitment specific to this project:

All information submitted via this form is stored on our own server. No other organisation, group or individual has access to it. You do not have to fill in any field at all- not one! However, if we do not have an email address we cannot update you on the project and keep in touch with you! AVOID USING A WORK EMAIL and consider opening a free web-based mail service such as gmail (www.gmail.com), or yahoo (www.yahoo.com). Again, do not use these accounts at work only from your own personal computer or mobile device. The responses you give are generous enough. However, for added impact it would be useful to quote from answers you have given. Your name/ pseudonym will not be associated with the quote, and you can opt-out of this towards the end of the questionnaire. We do hope you will agree to this.

If you’d like to stay in touch with the project (with no access to raw data I’m afraid) please email me on stephen@theartoflifeitself.org.

The questionnaire is quite lengthy – but remember there is no obligation to answer any of the questions. For those submit even one or two questions – I shall be most grateful (it might help to read the questions first and then decide which, if not all, are most appropriate to your circumstances),

Warm regards, and thanks!

Stephen

Name
Age
Email address
Pseudonym/ preferred name in any correspondance
Gender
What medications are you currently prescribed that directly relate to problematic drug use?
For each medication, indicate how long you have been prescribed it in months/ years.
Write down the medication/ treatment which has had the most impact on your life. For more than one, you can talk about that in the "Any more information" fields.
Select a statement that closely matches how effective you feel your treatment is
If you chose mostly negative or completely negative, could you please describe in as much detail as possible the reasons for your treatment making you feel like this? This is a really important question and could help improve services.
If you chose completely positive or mostly positive, it would be really helpful to know exactly what aspects of your treatment made you feel this way. Please describe in as much detail as you can. Again, this is a really important question.
Write down the top three negative effects for the medication/ treatment you have chosen
Write down the top three positive effects for the medication/ treatment you have chosen
Any other information you'd like to share about any of the medications/ treatments you have mentioned? Feel free to go into as much detail as possible.
The following questions just relate to methadone. Are you currently prescribed methadone?
What's your current dosage (mg/ml per day?
Has methadone helped improve the quality of your lilfe?
If yes, please list and describe the ways methadone has improved the quality of your life
What challenges do you find trying to lead an regular, everyday life whilst being in methadone treatment?
Have you experienced stigma or prejudice whilst in methadone treatment. IF yes, please give examples - examples are always useful!
Do you think of yourself as:
Describe what recovery means to you
And finally! Some admin questions. Make sure you've read the privacy policy above the questionnaire. Have you read the privacy policy?
Can we contact you if we need any further information?
Would you like to receive updates on the project as it develops? We'd LOVE to have part of the team! (You are already by completing this!) Remember, we need an email to keep in contact :)
Can we quote from anything you have written in your answers. Your anonymity will be fiercely protected.
Is there any feedback you'd like to give us? How did you find the questionnaire? Was it useful? Boring? Interesting? What could we do to improve it? Thank you again for taking the time to complete this. It will be a useful contribution to ongoing debates.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Steven September 16, 2010 at 11:48 am

Please update me on your findings and any alternative treatment that would get meoff or at least help to withdraw from Methadone

Reply to this comment

Stephen September 16, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Hi Steven.

I have your email and will keep you updated on this project. However, I should stress that it is not an attempt to find alternatives to methadone treatment. I am not a clinician, and although have worked in the field, cannot offer professional advice with regards to withdrawal.

Are you prescribed meth? If yes – talk to your keyworker and service provider and let them know your concerns. Be explicit about what you want to achieve. If no – (you get your meth illicitly), then perhaps you could consider approaching a doctor or self-refer to a drugs team (not sure what country you’re in) and consider formal treatment. I do understand this isn’t easy or a realistic option – but would encourage you to consider it.

The important thing is that you get support. Two online communities that might help: “The Alliance” – formally Methadone Alliance – have a superbly knowledgeable team of staff and contributors at their forum, found here:

http://www.m-alliance.org.uk/forum/index.php

There’s also “Wired In” – although this tends to be an abstinence-orientated community, so bear that in mind: http://wiredin.org.uk/

You could also try the Substance Use Management in General Practice forum – but this is aimed at GP’S and other primary care workers. They *may* be able to offer guidance though: http://www.smmgp.org.uk/. t has some great resources, including clinical guidelines which might be useful. The Alliance would be your best bet for first port of call.

Always be cautious about any advice you receive online. Only a consultation with a professional can identify your specific needs. The above are sources of non-professional support: which is valuable, but not a substitution for it.

General advice: be realistic, have a plan, set goals, set targets. Thousands upon thousands of people succesfully withdraw from methadone and go on to (if they are not already) lead full, happy, integrated lives. Be positive. You CAN DO IT!

Stay in touch!

- Stephen

Reply to this comment

Darren October 3, 2010 at 1:51 am

Hi stephen.

Could you please keep me informed about the findings please. I thought, i’d do it this way. Thanks for listening, much appreciated.

Reply to this comment

Stephen October 3, 2010 at 3:32 am

Will do Darren!

Take care,

Stephen

Reply to this comment

Stephen October 3, 2010 at 3:40 am

Darren,

Could you supply me with an email that I can keep in touch with you re. this project, as per your request?

stephen@theartoflifeitself.org

Thanks,

S.

Reply to this comment

Alan Joyce December 12, 2010 at 3:56 pm

Is that the Darren?

If so good luck with this timely project and if I can help in any way you have my details.

Best: Alan J

Reply to this comment

Leave a Comment

{ 1 trackback }