Methadone is a handmade drug that was invented in Germany during the Second World War. Although invented during the War, methadone wasn’t brought into commercial production until some time after. When it was first invented, it was given the name Polamidon.
So, methadone is not a new drug, and neither is it newly used in addressing opiate dependency. Therefore, it is a drug that has a good track record for the treatment of opiate withdrawal. Opiates like heroin and morphine act chiefly on receptors in the brain. They cause the release of a large amount of dopamine there. The effects of this excessive release are what addicts find desirable. Methadone is an opioid, which means that it acts similarly to opiates. As a safer alternative, it occupies those same receptors in the brain and helps the management of opiate addiction and dependency.
Methadone works for addiction to opiates and not for addiction to other drugs. It is given orally and once a day to counteract the effect of opiate withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms of Methadone are the most important manifestations of addiction. They set in after a few hours following the dosing of heroin or other opiates. Methadone, however, occupies the receptors in the brain where the opiates are meant to act and produce similar but better-controlled effects. Instead of the drug high seen with opiates, methadone produces a more level release of dopamine. This is possible because methadone has a long half-life. The immediate benefit of this is that patients do not experience abnormal highs and attendant depressing lows, which characterize the flooding and waning of heroin levels in the blood.
While methadone patients are still dependent on the drug, they can control their actions better and not become compulsive or unnecessarily violent. Statistics show that heroin addict account for at least 5% of patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs. The criminal justice system, on the other hand, puts the figures of heroin addicts as a quarter of the criminals processed through. The societal impact of heroin addiction can, therefore, not be overlooked.
Drug abuse and addiction are strongly linked to criminal activities, and often, addicts need to use untoward means to gain access to drugs. By bringing drug addicts into recognized programs and making it safer for them to obtain safer drugs, it is possible to reduce the incidence of crime and improve the quality of life of everyone, including addicts. This is where methadone comes in.
Methadone withdrawal is an easier path than heroin withdrawal. Therefore, it is achievable and desirable. Methadone withdrawal produces lesser adverse effects while still letting the patient live normally. The maintenance treatment of methadone is the program through which heroin addicts can be weaned off opiates. The aims of the program include providing quality healthcare for addicts, administering prescribed methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reducing opiate dependency, and restoring patients’ biochemical balance. However, methadone is not the whole secret to MMT programs. Lifestyle changes and comprehensive rehabilitation, including counseling, help a lot.
