DrSatish Rasaily

29/05/2026

Methadone is a long-acting medicine used to treat opioid addiction such as he**in, o***m, smack, brown sugar, or strong painkiller dependence.

In simple language, methadone helps a person stop chasing drugs all day by preventing:

withdrawal symptoms

severe craving

repeated relapse

It works on the same opioid receptors in the brain, but in a controlled and medically supervised way.

Unlike he**in, methadone:

acts slowly

lasts much longer (usually 24 hours or more)

does not usually produce a sudden “rush” or intense high when taken correctly

This helps the person feel:

stable

normal

able to work and function

mentally calmer

Many patients on methadone can return to:

family life

jobs or studies

normal sleep and eating habits

Methadone treatment is part of:

Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST)

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

It is usually taken once daily under medical supervision.

Benefits of methadone treatment include:

reduced he**in use

reduced overdose risk

reduced crime and unsafe drug-seeking behavior

lower HIV and hepatitis transmission from needle sharing

better long-term recovery outcomes

However, methadone must be used carefully because:

taking too much can slow breathing

mixing it with alcohol or sleeping tablets can be dangerous

sudden stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms

That is why treatment should always be supervised by trained doctors.

Like Buprenorphine, methadone is not simply “changing one addiction for another.”
It is an evidence-based medical treatment that helps many people survive and recover from opioid addiction.

27/05/2026

Harm minimisation is a different concept from total abstinence.

It is sad to observe that many people still find it difficult to accept the benefits of harm minimisation, perhaps because they do not fully understand the definition of addiction.

Almost everyone agrees with the statement that addiction is a medical disease, as recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even rehabilitation centres teach the disease model of addiction.

If we truly accept addiction as a chronic and relapsing medical disease, then why is there resistance towards medical and psychological interventions used for its treatment?

Every disease has medical intervention.

Addiction too requires evidence-based medical care. Post-2020, several newer scientific and evidence-based treatments have become available. Medicines, psychotherapy, and psychological interventions are all important components of treatment.

Psychotherapy is not merely “counseling” in layman’s language; it is a structured and scientifically guided intervention provided by trained mental health professionals.

The biggest myths and false propaganda surrounding mental health and addiction treatment are:

Medicines used in psychiatry and addiction treatment are always dangerous

• Willpower alone should be enough to overcome addiction, anxiety , depression and mental disorders.

Science does not deny the importance of motivation, discipline, or personal effort. But expecting willpower alone to treat a chronic relapsing disease is neither scientific nor compassionate.

People are free to follow their own belief systems. At the same time, evidence-based medical science and research should also be respected rather than opposed.

Addiction and psychiatric treatment is not about replacing morality with medicines.

It is about reducing harm, saving lives, improving functioning, and helping individuals regain dignity and stability through scientifically proven interventions.

Dr Satish Rasaily
MBBS ( SSMC Rewa) , MD Psychiatry ( RIMS, Imphal)
Postdoctoral fellowship in Addiction Medicine ( NIMHANS , Bangalore)

President : Sikkim State Branch of Indian Psychiatric Society

27/05/2026

25/05/2026

We can provide treatment, counseling, and support to people already suffering from mental health problems, but prevention and long-term recovery also depend greatly on healthy lifestyle changes. Positive engagement in physical activity helps build resilience, improves coping skills, reduces stress, and promotes emotional wellbeing.

Once a patient achieves significant improvement and more than 70% remission of symptoms, gradually engaging in activities such as gym workouts, walking, yoga, sports, music, art, reading, social interaction, and personal hobbies can play an important role in complete healing and relapse prevention.

Consistent participation in activities that promote physical, emotional, and social wellbeing often improves confidence, motivation, sleep, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.

Along with proper treatment, family support, counseling, healthy routines, and meaningful engagement, many people experiencing common mental health problems can recover well and lead stable, productive lives.

21/05/2026

When you stand at the verge of retirement, the identity and inflated ego that come with post and position can disappear in a moment. What truly remains is how fairly, honestly, and compassionately you treated people. That is why one should always serve with a pure conscience guided by righteousness, equality, and justice.

18/05/2026

Fraternity—whether in a workplace, profession, institution, or society—only works when it is anchored to something stronger than belonging: moral conscience, shared standards, and accountability.

Without that, it can easily become a closed circle where decisions are influenced by preference, familiarity, or power rather than merit.

That’s when it starts feeling like what you described: equal opportunity is spoken about, but not actually experienced. And yes, being ignored because “someone thinks so” is one of the most frustrating and discouraging forms of unfairness because it’s often informal and hard to challenge directly.

17/05/2026

“Thank you for your appreciation. Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of treating hundreds and thousands of patients. However, only a few have the courage to openly speak about their struggles with addiction and express sincere gratitude. Stigma likely prevents many from doing so.

I am especially grateful to your mother for her kind blessings. Such gestures, though small, are deeply meaningful to me. They encourage me to continue working with greater energy and commitment to help families affected by addiction and to reduce the suffering they go through.”