My son was arrested for drug possession. He is on Methadone treatment with his doctor.
It is working good for him. He has been on treatment for about a month. When he goes to court there is a probation officer that tells him he needs to stop treatment or he will be put in the West Detention Center to Detox. Can the probation officer do this? My son's doctor said that he can't stop the methadone right away without having a heart attack. Please help with some legal advice.

Methadone treatment for withdrawal from narcotics is a prescription treatment and is supervised by a physician. It is in no way illegal, and in fact, is one of the most highly-guarded treatments in the United States, even being covered under federal protection and guidelines.

I would have to seriously question WHY the po wants your son to stop this treatment.

I cannot imagine him wanting your son to use again----so WHY does he insist on the cessation of treatment? Seems to me he would be supportive if your son isn't using other drugs too.

However, if your son is on probation and there is a good chance he may have to go back in, that would prove to be an even rougher detox, so the po may be thinking he should be completely clean before returning.

In short, no---he cannot be arrested for being on methadone treatment, if it is all supervised by a physician. It's a prescription drug treatment and in no way illegal.

--Cake Lady--

Post thought: The PO may not understand your son is in TREATMENT---he may think he's taking it illegally.

Make sure you get that point across clearly to him and bring all the documentation from the Methadone clinic to the po asap!

Cake Lady