[20after4]

It's possible my friend wasn't telling me the whole story or just misunderstood the program. I don't think he was actually trying to stay addicted though because after a few weeks on methadone (with increasing doses and doctors telling him that he would always be an addict for life) he decided to take the more extreme route of getting clean by quitting cold turkey. He moved to a different state and cut ties with every possible source he had to acquire the drugs.

[idiotsecant]

And yet, you're comfortable accusing the people trying to cure addicts of some diabolical plot to ensnare them into permeant addiction in order to make money off them forever. Maybe next time you'll think before you propagate nonsense.

[20after4]

I still think that this was a shady clinic. Why would they have people on the program for many years and give them ridiculous doses instead of weaning them off of the program?

[antonvs]

This is certainly possible, but it sounds more like what AA tells its clients. Doctors are less likely to say things like this, because it can have consequences for them.

Going cold turkey like you're saying he did is fine if (1) it doesn't kill you and (2) you're able to do it. For many people, it's just not very practical.

I don't think it's a good idea to demonize medical professionals for doing their jobs to the best of their abilities in the face of enormous challenges. That's the kind of thing that the conspiracy theorist and anti-science Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does, and it's not helping the US in any way at all.

[XorNot]

Did it work? Is he clean?

[20after4]

Yes it worked.