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Methadone -- What is it?
Methadone is a synthetic (man-made) narcotic. It is used legally to treat addiction to narcotics and to relieve severe pain, often in individuals who have cancer or terminal illness. It is also used to treat individuals living with other debilitating diseases. Methadone has been legally available in the United States since 1947 and only recently has emerged as a drug of abuse.
Methadone is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs which include Cocaine and methamphetamine have a high potential for abuse. Abuse of these drugs may lead to severe psychological and/or physical dependence.
What does it look like and how is it used?
Methadone comes in tablet form, oral solution or injectable liquid. Some methadone tablets are designed to be swallowed intact (not broken), while others are intended to be dissolved first in liquid. It is also available either as a ready-to-drink solution or as a concentrate that must be mixed with water or fruit juice first. Methadone also is available as a liquid that is administered through injections.
When used to treat narcotic addiction, methadone suppresses withdrawal symptoms for 24 to 36 hours.Individuals who are prescribed methadone for the treatment of heroin addiction do not experience the cravings or the euphoric rush that are typically associated with the use of this drug.
Are there risks?
Yes, individuals who abuse methadone risk becoming tolerant of and physically dependent on the drug. When they stop using the drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms including muscle tremors, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Overdosing on methadone poses an additional risk. In some cases individuals who abuse other narcotics such as heroin or OxyContin turn to methadone because of its increasing availability. However, methadone does not produce the euphoric rush associated with these other drugs and the individual often takes dangerously large quantities of methadone in an attempt to attain the desired effect.
The Drug Abuse Warning Network reports that methadone was involved in 10,725 emergency room visits in 2001--a 37% increase from the previous year. Methadone overdoses may present as severe respiratory depression, decreases in heart rate and blood pressure, coma, and death.
Street Terms:
Chocolate Chip Cookies (methadone or heroin combined with MDMA), Fizzies, Street Methadone, Wafer.
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