One woman’s battle to obtain life-saving methadone

Every morning, Rebecca Smith, nursing a surgically repaired knee, carefully walks down the hallway of her brutalist brick apartment building, takes the elevator one floor to the lobby, and negotiates the sharply angled driveway outside. There, she waits for an Uber to take her to the last place she wants to go: her methadone clinic.

It is her most despised ritual. Smith, 65, is a former medical assistant, a grandmother, and a widow. She has not used illegal drugs in over five years, thanks in large part to methadone, a common medication that is highly effective at treating opioid addiction. But methadone, which once promised Smith freedom from drugs, has made her a prisoner to the drug-treatment system. Like hundreds of thousands of other Americans, she spends each morning journeying to and from her clinic, all so she can wait in line to swallow a small cup’s worth of medication.

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[ThxGdTHC]

I have witnessed this same culture of cruelty at every clinic Ive been to. My husband hasnt used anything but methadone for 8 years and his take homes get yanked every so often. Its because the clinics get paid more for patients who come every day. The doctors who work in these clinics are told to sort through the patient records and find patients who they can punish every few months. You will notice the fluctuating lines every few months get longer when this happens. We have been told that we can not discuss loosing take homes in groups now and my doctor told us that she doesnt believe in giving anyone take homes. She has also been heard saying that its not her job to babysit addicts all day. If we get upset, talk back, speak up when someone cuts in line we loose our take homes. If the receptionist gets mad she will tell the patients counselor to punish us. We have paperwork that gets lost between nursing and counselors after we turn it in (ekg's, prescriptions etc) and we get blamed for it, loose take homes. It gives me severe anxiety whenever I enter the clinic.

[Camerasdontlie]

I’m on methadone for 25 years I get a weekly takeaway all good I live my life extremely well and I’m healthy. I don’t drink or smoke. My life is mine.

[LittleGhost]

All clinics are NOT the same.. I have been at my clinic for 10 years. I know that if I don't have methadone and the structure of the clinic and its rules, I will die well before I should. Something that is clear to me is alot of addicts don't take responsibility for their own fck ups. They break a rule and then blame the clinic...I see it all the time. Being compliant with the program isn't hard if thats really what you want. They lay it all out for you when you start the program. If you can't follow the rules, don't waste your time or their their time.

[seppmartti]

The way this problem is operated around in the states is fucking ridiculous. Have some empathy for fuck sake. It's like you want people to be addicted and have hard lives. Change needs to happen. Getting results is so punishment centric and not person-centric. It's not "how can we help the person efficiently and give them a sense of agency" but it's supposed to be. Insane.

[pyhunter]

That’s ridiculous, here in the uk drug tests don’t include alcohol. Go to chemist once a week and to treatment centre once every 6 weeks.

[timheavyable]

we in ireland we get our methadone from our GP and then pick it up at the nearest pharmacy of your choice so its about a 2 minutes walk from me. Once you give clean samples for a month you should get takehomes. The punitive american system, very money driven and thay need people as customers.

[confessorsedai]

I felt this in my soul. I will have 7yrs clean this June and have had monthly take homes for the past 4 years. They do the mouth swab for drug test which doesn’t show cannabis as it’s legal in our state, and since I’m prescribed Xanax the benzodiazepines are allowed to be positive. I wish more clinics were like mine in Illinois 😔. I hope since this video she has gotten her bi weekly’s or even her monthly take homes! ♥️

[PBRStreetgang]

It's insane that in 2025 MMT has NOT changed one bit. These clinics are run by private companies that have an incentive to only allow on-premises dosing. Buprenorphine is a better alternative in terms of not having to show up someplace and wait in line every day.

[Sammy-sg]

im from AZ I never get treated like this I earned my privileges up to come in twice a week where allowed to use mmj but nothing else I get a ride twice a week thru my insurance I feel sorry for this lady

[rosejr]

I just want to hug her. I’m so sorry. I live in Detroit and come Thursday I will be starting methadone to get clean. Watching this though makes me scared. I have five kids that depend on me, and take a benzodiazepine and adderall, are they going to punish me for those meds?

[michaelax]

This question is to the lady that this video is about could you please give me an update on how you're doing I'm so sorry what happened to you

[heathergray]

I went through the same thing I just lost 27 take home's when I moved from Jacksonville Florida to Owosso Michigan. I wanted to give up. I lost my federal exemption and had to go to An Arbor every day a hour and a half there and back. It's been about four months and I go every two weeks now. ❤God bless you 🙏😇 my name is Heather and I pray you don't let this hold you back ❤

[danaposton]

It took me a year to be able to get monthly take homes. I get take home doses for a month, I have to take one there at the clinic, then I take 27 take home doses. Since it is a class 2 narcotic, they make you earn the take home doses, so you do not overdose on methadone. There was a guy that went to a clinic I used to go to, he died in the parking lot, in his car from a methadone overdose. It can be abused like anything else.

[solraczevehc]

I take it for my back pain. Drs don’t prescribe anything anymore. I can’t walk with out it my back stiffness is insane

[DemsW]

How would she not know there is a zero tolerance policy for drinking ?

It would make sense why they would have a 0 alcohol policy because mixing opioids and alcohol together is a really bad idea.
I hope she can recover and if she didn't know then that's the medical system's fault.

[lotofbitsabout]

Had my first dose this morning, feeling pretty nauseous but everyone was amazing at the clinic. I have cronic pain ayndrome and have had over 15 surgeries. Looking forward to take home services.

[mattginacarr]

I don't care what anyone says these clinics work if you work it.

[TimothyHuffGuitar]

It is very difficult for people starting in treatment, but the strict rules enforce compliance and once you are stable and follow the guidelines it gets easier. I can say honestly getting treatment was the best choice I ever made. I tried to cold turkey and with someone who took opiates for a decade for pain management issues deriving from herniated disks/back surgeries...ya, cold turkey is nearly impossible.
Those who say otherwise....TRY IT!
Well no, I wouldn't wish that on anyone...even someone ignorant of what it actually feels like to endure.

[nachmanedes]

Lady, I am truly happy for you, its a thorn in our side but it's... we live?

[STJEPANŠIMUNIĆ]

I'm from Croatia and in Croatia we don't have methadone clinic, but my familly doctor give me methadone for 1 months that's 1200 5mg pills or 1240 if months have 31 days. I'm 50 years old man. And in beginning i have to go every week.😅