Methadone Clinic at AADK

Hello world!!

Long weekend! Long weekend! It's gonna be Hari Raya next week! Monday and Tuesday is gonna be public holidays! Ohyay! But that also means I'll have to work on Sunday, since Johor has declared that Friday and Saturday would be our weekend holiday. Nonetheless, we have planned for a holiday trip on next week for one whole week! Geezzz =D *I'm a happy girl*

For the past one week, life has been super busy. I've been allocated at Accident and Emergency Department Pharmacy for 3 days and another 2 days at Outpatient Pharmacy Department. Working at A&E also means there is only one pharmacist and one pharmacist assistant, so when several patients come to pharmacy together, it would be quite jam up at the counter. Thank God, it was overall manageable.

Last Thursday, I had a chance to visit Methadone Clinic at AADK (Agensi Antidadah Kebangsaan) near to our hospital. This was the first time I visited a Methadone Clinic. It is a small clinic located in one of the AADK in the town. The clinic opens at 9am to 11am everyday. Methadone Replacement Therapy (MRT) is one of the harm reduction programs established for opioid abusers to prevent blood-born viral infections (HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B) by reducing chances of needle sharing. It also provides a smoother quitting process by reducing the withdrawal symptoms as methadone can replace other opioids such as heroin and morphine and thus reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms experienced by patients. The ultimate goal is to assist opioid abusers to quit drugs entirely.

More information:
Guideline for Methadone Replacement Therapy Counselling: Click here
Guideline for Dispensing of Methadone Replacement Therapy: Click here

The guidelines include everything you need to know about the replacement therapy program including withdrawal effects, signs and symptoms, doses, legal documentations etc.

There were quite a number of patients ranging from different age groups and races. I spent the entire 2 hours syringing out methadone for patients with different doses ranging from 1ml to 25ml. It really makes me think how does these few mLs of liquid can make such huge impact in human's life. All the consequences, effects, problems etc. etc. that are affecting many people around a single person. I really hope to see everyone to be ultimately quitting drugs and live a drug-free life.

Next week I'll be going to Inpatient Pharmacy. Getting excited!

Till then!

Much love,
Ching Yee

学会忍耐与宽容

从前除了阅读课本的时间我总觉得很少有时间看其他的书籍。中学时期我总是忙着课外活动，忙着补习，忙着些有的没的，很少阅读课外刊物。潜意识中，我还是会不断告诉自己一定要培养阅读的好习惯，增加自己的知识。就算是不喜欢也好，习惯总是需要时间慢慢去培养。

渐渐长大之后，我似乎发现越来越多从前不曾存在的烦恼。也在这时候，每当我不开心时，我都会任意拿起一本书来看，它总能让我的心情平复下来。有的时候还可以给我解决方案。或许是当你心浮气躁时，又怎么能冷静思考出下一步该怎么走呢。原本不太喜欢阅读的我，现在总会抽出点时间看书。现在才明白何谓书中自有黄金屋，书中自有颜如玉。书里总会教会你很多你不知道的事，或者让你重新从另外一个角度去看待你已经知道的事情。

最近刚好遇上烦心的事，今天看了篇很有趣的文章：

女孩到了二十几岁之后，就要慢慢学会宽容与忍耐。忍耐并不是懦弱，也不伤自尊，而是一种宽容美。宽容是一种大度，是高尚情操的表现。宽容之中蕴含着一份做人的谦虚与真诚，蕴含着一种对他人的容纳与尊重。生活中总不是每一件事都能称心如意，人生也不会总是平步青云。生活中总会有很多不公平的事，也会遇到很多你无法理解与接受的人。我们不能改变其他人，与其歇斯底里的指责别人，不如怀着理解的心态微笑面对一切。争论并不能赢得所谓的自尊，反而让你成为没有修养的人。

如果你也在生活中遇上难题，献给你这篇文章，共勉之。

“彩虹很快就会出现，等大雨过去之后，阳光总会照亮我们前方的路”。