Methadone is a highly addictive drug originally produced to replace heroin procurement under the guise of “helping” addicts. The original “harm-reduction” of the 20th century, our government has sanctioned the addiction of countless citizens. Lawmakers applaud it because “at least they’re not stealing for their fix” and big pharmacy loves it because of its “maintenance” nature. Once on it, most heroin addicts stay on it because the fear of getting off methadone is as severe as getting off heroin itself. But, as any recovering methadone user will tell you, they were not free of the bondage of addiction when using it. Now our government sanctions methadone for pain relief and the years of marketing it as a “harmless” method to get off heroin have led many to believe it’s harmless as a pain medication. The fact is methadone is a serious, addictive narcotic and the last thing our nation needs is another addictive pain medicine.

Every published study concludes that the problem of adverse methadone events is related to pain management. Why is it that all of the sudden the educational campaign must include opioid agonist addiction treatment?

Every good addict know when they are in a new city the methadone clinic is the best place to score any drug they want. Methadone is not drug treatment it is only a substitution and you are not in recovery until you get off metadone.

I am really saddened to see that the posts left here are so anti-methadone! I know that Methadone treatment saved my life! I have seen it work for countless others as well. Addiction is a disease, just as cancer is! Would you tell a cancer patient not to take the medication that is helping them function on a daily basis? I wouldn't! I know I am in recovery and proud to admit I am on methadone! I am an educated functioning member of society. I am a mother of 2 and in the field of substance abuse as well. I would NEVER tell anyone that they were not sober or not in recovery if they are on methadone! That is ignorant!

Jessica, all we are saying is give total abstinence a chance. You must know that the key to true recovery is applying spiritual principals to a physical and emotional illness (addiction). One is hardpressed to make a true spiritual connection while under the influence of opiate-like substances. You think your life is great now, wait until your free from methadone a year- then write back, you'll be grateful. Of course don't this by yourself, use your support group- even the folks that supply the methadone should be happy that you want yourself back whole. No, I don't have statistics on this-who would fund such a study when so much money is involved with keeping people on the drug. But I have spoken to many who were right where you are and have taken the leap of faith onto the road of happy destiny. Peace.

Where can you find information about getting off methadone? It's supposed to be harder to get off methadone than heroin.

I choose the methadone route when I couldn't stay clean from heroin and it was a life saver for me, but I have to agree with "been there", methadone is highly addictive, your body needs it daily to feel "normal". I suggest every methadone user to take advantage of its benefits and then have a goal to detox from it. It's very mind-altering and deteriorates bone tissues, especially teeth.

Research has shown that Methadone does not effect organs, bones or teeth and it surely does not cause weight gain. Google it and find out for yourself. I work with patients everyday on their tapering off of methadone, some work some don't. But the needle is out of their arms. They have jobs. They live productive lives and yes go to church. Let them take what paths that work for them. You did

I too am sad, but mostly angry about all the negative, un-researched comments about methadone! If only everyone would research the truth about the drug, even down to the neurobiology componet, these hear say comments would decrease and the stigma and discrimination Methadone patients indur would be lessened.Most if not all persons on MMT have attempted recovery without any medication. But some of them need the help of an opiate agonist. Just like the diabetic who cannot control their sugar level without insulin or the hypertensive patient who's blood pressure doesn't decrease with exercise and needs a B/P medication. It is proven, with 35 + yrs of evidence, there is a need for Methadone in Addiction Medicine. I have seen methadone save people and I have seen those who achieve recovery without methadone. The point is please do not judge a person by their chosen path of recovery. Applaud them for the fact they are!!!

We don't tell obese people they have one year on cholestrol-lowering medication and then we are stopping it. We don't tell depressed patients they have limited time to take anti-depressants so get your act together. So why are methadone patients continually told they need to detox? Methadone TREATMENT has saved many lives..including those lives of people who have successful discontinued methadone! It gave them the time to get their lives together so they could go back to "normal". The majority of methadone patients have gone to drug-free treatment but were unsuccessful. Then they are successful in methadone treatment but that isn't good enough. Why can't people see how difficult it is to battle your own body?

Methadone is harder to detox from than most other drugs and can take weeks instead of just days with Heroin. We don't say to an over-eater, try sausages instead of hotdogs. Methadone is a substitute for heroin - you are just cross addicting on to another harmful drug. That is not 'recovery'. you are still using addictive substances. If however you don't mind its harmful effects and the fact you are cross addicting, then go for it - but you are not in recovery if you are cross addicting - all you are is no longer using heroin.

METHADONE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A KILLER!! I'm just a teenager but I already know how bad it is for you. So many people have either died off of it or O.D. My mom's ex boyfriend O.D. off of it, my good friend died from taking it, three teenage boys all bought it from some stupid lady and they all died that night, my friend Sam's cousin died off of it, my ex boyfriend O.D. off it too. And thats only the people that I know. Think how many have died all around the world. So please, if you are perscribed definetly dont mix it with anything, cause you will go to sleep and never wake up again, and dont sell it!! You wouldnt be able to live with yourself if someone died from something you gave them. I'm just warning people cause its ridiculous of how many people that I just know who have died. If you trying to get off of heroin then i understand why you would take it but otherwise, dont fool around with it. cause chances are you will probaly die. so be afraid, be very afraid of methadone. Thats all I have to say.

Please stop likening Agonist treatment to a diabetic receiving insulin. Maintenence treatment is treating a diabetic with a snicker bar.