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