The report, "Methadone-Associated Mortality, Report of a National Assessment," found that, "although the data remain incomplete, methadone tablets and/or diskettes distributed through channels other than opioid-treatment programs most likely are the central factor in methadone-associated mortality."

SAMHSA convened the panel of experts to address a rise in hospital emergency visits involving methadone, as well as an increase in methadone-related deaths.

The objective was to identify whether SAMHSA's methadone regulations were allowing diversion of methadone from clinics or whether the methadone was coming from other sources.

"The participants in the meeting reviewed data on methadone formulation, distribution, patterns of prescribing and dispensing, as well as relevant data on drug toxicology and drug-associated morbidity and mortality, before concluding that the cases of overdosing individuals were not generally linked to methadone derived from opioid-treatment programs," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. "SAMHSA will continue to monitor the situation to insure that SAMHSA's supervision of opioid-treatment programs is always in the public interest."

The panel found that the highest growth in methadone distribution in recent years is a result of its use as a prescription painkiller.

The panel found that methadone-related deaths fell into one of three categories: illegally obtained methadone used in excessive or repetitive doses to achieve euphoric effects; methadone, either legally or illegally obtained, used in combination with other prescription medications, such as anti-anxiety medications, alcohol or other opioids; or an accumulation of methadone to harmful serum levels in the first few days of treatment for addiction or pain, before tolerance is built.

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