Methadone is a man-made opioid created by German pharmaceutical corporations throughout the World War II.
It was initially named "Dolophine" and used as a painkiller for treatment of severe pain.
Although it is still used sometimes for pain relief, it has commonly been implemented as a handling for opiate dependence.
Methadone's effects are last a long time, requiring just one dosage per day to keep away the symptoms of withdrawals.
The catch-22 is that it is an opiate and thus it produces a physical addiction of its own that turns out to be much stronger than being addicted to heroin as well as most other opiates.
Methadone users are not immune to the health risks of the other opiates such as overdose, breathing problems, the possibility for hypotension or bronchospasms, constipation, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness and edema.
A huge disadvantage to methadone is the horrendous withdrawal.
The usual opiate withdrawal takes about a week to endure.
Methadone withdrawal can take several weeks and sometimes months.
The thought of quitting methadone is much more frightening than the thought of quitting heroin.
Methadone maintenance definitely has a downside.
It keeps the addict hooked on a drug, albeit a different drug, and doesn't offer any sort of recovery program with it.
Opiate addicts just have to demonstrate that they are hooked and they are accepted into the methadone program.
Many addicts use methadone along side illicit drugs never intending on getting clean.
The only way to successfully beat an addiction is to stop using all mind-altering chemicals and check into a good treatment program that offers the training and the tools needed to stay clean.
There are numerous drug rehab programs that have helped many people effectively withdrawals from opiates and go on to live happy, drug-free lives.
Drug rehabs offer a lasting resolution for drug addiction without becoming addicted to other drugs.
With inpatient drug rehab you can stop using drugs for good.
You can be happy and live a drug-free life!