Methadone

• Methadone is a synthetic opiate that replaces heroin, allowing addicts to function normally; it avoids withdrawal symptoms, is taken orally, and lasts 24 hours, avoiding issues like dirty needles and embolisms
• Mitigates the risk of street heroin being cut with other harmful substances and partially blocks the 'rush' associated with heroin use, making it less desirable
• Initial assessment determines prescription dosage, which is taken under supervision, once trustworthy, addicts are given advance notice to self-administer, continuing with methadone for as long as desired, rather than detoxing
• Medical checks are recommended every 3 months, methadone intake is reduced gradually to avoid withdrawal and reduce the risk of relapse, and monitoring includes urine tests to ensure drug use
• Medical checks are recommended every 3 months, methadone intake is reduced gradually to avoid withdrawal and reduce the risk of relapse, and monitoring includes urine tests to ensure drug use
• Addicts don’t have to associate with drug dealers, so avoid pressure to take heroin or other drugs, but heroin may have some glamour attached to it; drinking methadone, a green liquid supplied by a chemist, may not
• It is safer and harder to overdose on, but if taken with other drugs, it is still possible, and withdrawal takes about a month longer compared to heroin
• Compliance is high when administered by a pharmacist, but low when self-administered and large prescriptions lead to methadone entering the illegal drugs market
• Compliance is high when administered by a pharmacist, but low when self-administered and large prescriptions lead to methadone entering the illegal drugs market
• Some argue that drug therapy (like methadone) doesn't address the underlying causes of addiction, instead focusing on symptom relief and replacing one drug with another (although less harmful)
• Some argue for drug abstinence over maintenance, citing psychological and social issues that therapy can address, rather than solely relying on drug treatments
• Also it prolongs addiction which costs society more in the long-term in economic costs supporting the programme and social costs as they may still display addictive behaviours