Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
Helen Redmond, "Liquid Handcuffs: Policing and Punishment in Methadone Clinics and the Future of Opioid Addiction Treatment" (North Atlantic Books, 2026)
Helen Redmond, "Liquid Handcuffs: Policing and Punishment in Methadone Clinics and the Future of Opioid Addiction Treatment" (North Atlantic Books, 2026)
Helen Redmond, "Liquid Handcuffs: Policing and Punishment in Methadone Clinics and the Future of Opioid Addiction Treatment" (North Atlantic Books, 2026)
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Explore Helen Redmond's critique of methadone clinics and her vision for a fairer opioid addiction treatment system.
56 minutes
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Marshall Poe
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Get the buttons here!Helen Redmond: Challenging the Methadone System
Episode Overview
- Methadone clinics are criticised for being punitive and unjust.
- Privatisation has led to profit motives overshadowing patient care.
- COVID-19 highlighted flaws in the current methadone system.
- Advocacy for making methadone as accessible as other medications.
- The role of private equity in healthcare raises concerns.
"If you have to be somewhere six or seven days a week, you're not free."
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? Helen Redmond's return to the podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the complexities of methadone clinics and the future of opioid addiction treatment. Her book, "Liquid Handcuffs," is a no-holds-barred critique of the current methadone system, which she argues is punitive and unjust.
Redmond, a licensed clinical social worker and journalist, takes us on a journey through the history of methadone clinics, highlighting their origins during the Nixon administration and their evolution through privatisation. Redmond paints a vivid picture of the 'culture of cruelty' that patients face daily, from degrading urine tests to the invasive surveillance technologies now creeping into the system. She questions the role of private equity in healthcare, pointing out how profit motives can compromise patient care.
Yet, amidst these challenges, Redmond remains hopeful for change. She advocates for a healthcare system where methadone is as accessible as any other medication, free from the shackles of outdated regulations. Redmond's passion for advocacy shines through as she discusses her desire to document the stories of methadone users, offering a voice to those often marginalised by society. Her insights are both challenging and enlightening, providing listeners with a fresh perspective on a system that affects so many lives.
So, what does the future hold for methadone treatment? And how can we push for meaningful reform? Tune in to find out!