The first thing Betty wants you to know about addiction recovery is that it doesn’t happen overnight.
“A lot of treatment goes along with methadone,” she says. “It’s your mind, body, and soul — all those have to be addressed, and that takes time.”
Betty has lived that truth for over four decades. She became a patient at THS’s Summit/Seneca Branch in 1981, when she was 30 years old and pregnant with her daughter. She had been addicted to heroin for several years and, in her own words, was totally lost.
Before coming to THS, Betty had tried a 21-day detox program that used methadone. It didn’t work — not because methadone failed her, but because three weeks wasn’t enough time to address everything addiction touches. “It was very hard to get the benefit of methadone in such a short time,” she recalled. “There was no time for counseling and other issues in your life.”
At THS, that changed. Betty began a methadone maintenance program that gave her the stability she needed to start rebuilding. The relief, she says, was immediate.
“The relief was just — even the first day, the relief was just amazing. Just knowing I didn’t have to do things I didn’t want to do. I probably would not go to prison for the rest of my life. I could start rebuilding a life. Methadone was a real miracle for me.”
— Betty, THS patient
What methadone actually does — and doesn’t do
Betty is passionate about correcting the misconceptions that surround medication-assisted treatment. Methadone, she wants people to know, is not a way to get high. It’s a way to get well.
“I’d love for methadone treatment to be destigmatized. It’s really important to me because it’s affected my life so much. The perception is so opposite what’s really happening at these clinics. If people realized what we really do here, they would have a whole different view of methadone clinics. We have real treatment. We have groups, we have counseling, we have doctors, we have all kinds of outreach programs available through the clinic that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
— Betty, THS patient
Through a low-level daily maintenance dose, Betty’s treatment gives her peace of mind as she goes about her day. She doesn’t think about her next fix. She doesn’t have to.
Her life today
Betty is now in her 70s and living the life she always wanted. She exercises regularly, lives in a comfortable apartment, and is deeply involved in her church community — including helping at a regular homeless feed. Knowing she can show up for others, study her faith, and be present in her own life means everything to her.
In 2020, even through the challenges of the pandemic, Betty was doing well — staying healthy and looking ahead.
Having been in recovery for over 40 years, Betty’s story is proof that opioid use disorder is a chronic condition that can be managed with the right support. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not a life sentence. With compassionate, evidence-based care — and time — recovery is possible.
If you’re ready to take the first step
THS has been helping people like Betty recover from opioid addiction for over 50 years, across locations in Seattle, Everett, and throughout King and Snohomish Counties. Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or someone you love, we’re here.
Call 1-833-278-HELP or fill out our Get Help form — a Patient Care Representative will follow up within one business day. Walk-ins are also welcome at many of our locations.
Stories like Betty’s are made possible by the compassion of our community. If you’d like to help others find their path to recovery, consider making a donation to THS.
