What are the downsides to using methadone for addiction treatment?

Question by cinthia cb: What are the downsides to using methadone for addiction treatment?
I have a friend who has finally decided to get herself treated for her heroin addiction. I’ve heard a lot of good things about buprenorphine as a detox option, but I know that a lot of people are still banking on methadone as a good way of detoxing. I just want to know the disadvantages of using methadone so that I can warn my friend as well as help her in making a decision.

Best answer:

Answer by aisling tu
Methadone does help opiate dependent persons to stop abusing drugs by decreasing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, using methadone does have its own disadvantages. Due to the fact that methadone can only be administered in licensed methadone treatment clinics, the patients must deal with making daily trips to a methadone clinic. These clinics are mostly located in or near urban centers, so driving long distances happens to be part of the daily routine of patients in rural areas. Another disadvantage to using methadone is the fact that it can also lead to addiction. Methadone abuse is increasing in the Northeast region, and can result to overdose deaths.

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