What is methadone ?

Methadone is used to prevent the withdrawal symptoms experienced with heroin, morphine or opium addiction. The effects of methadone last for approximately 24 to 36 hours. For more information on methadone, go to our narcotics or methadone information pages.

What is methadone treatment program?

In a methadone treatment program, trained staff administer methadone. Each persons treatment plan is variable and can be changed to suit individual need. Individuals may have to attend methadone programs on a daily basis to receive their dose of methadone. Programs are structured and follow specific guidelines in administering methadone. Dispensing and availabiltiy of methadone varies by geographical location; discuss this with your physician.

Methadone is a highly regulated form of treatment. Methadone can be more difficult to stop using than heroin. Methadone is not a cure for heroin dependance, the user remains physically dependant to opiates. Methadone maintenance programs however, can improve the overall health of the user in various ways:

• Programs usually provide support services that include assessments, counselling, life skills, and health care.
• Referrals to programs that assist with housing and employment services.
• By offering these various services to their clients methadone programs can play a vital role in assessing and implementing strategies with their cleints.
• Since Methadone may be dispensed on its own or mixed with fruit juice and taken orally, it may alleviate the need to use needles. This can reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
• Cleints participating in a methadone program may be able to reduce their use of opiates or stop their use completely.
• Methadone is available legally. Clients may be able to reduce their participation in criminal activities and end their connection with street drugs and dealers.

There are two types of methadone programs available:

	Methadone Maintenance Program
	For some individual users of opiates, abstinence is achievable. For others this may not be an achievable goal. Methadone maintenance programs may assist the user to reduce the recurrence of heroin use. An individual receives methadone daily for as long as the they feel it is necessary to continue. Individuals who are in the methadone maintenance program can join the methadone detoxification program at any time.
	Methadone Detoxification Program
	An individual gradually reduces their dosage of methadone. The objective is to reduce the dosage of methadone until there is no need to continue use.

For further information on methadone treatment we have included these links:

Discussion boards, chat rooms and forums:

	Methadone Talk
	A discussion list for physicans and methadone users. http://sano.camh.net/methadone/talk/index.htm

Full text - Articles, booklets and fact sheets:

	About Methadone : Second Edition
	This is a comprehensive overview of the uses and effects of methadone from the Drug Policy Alliance. http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/aboutmethadone.pdf
	Methadone : Worldwide Travel Guide
	Lists methadone treatment programs by country and how to obtain methadone while abroad. http://www.indro-online.de/travel.htm
	Methadone Treatment
	Describes how a methadone treatment program works, who may benefit from joining, and explains potential health effects. Provides contact information for Australian residents who want to join a program. http://www.ysas.org.au/treatment/methadone.html
	Methadone Maintenance Treatment : A Community Planning Guide
	Written by Mark Erdelyan, Senior Program Consultant at the CAMH in Windsor, Ontario, this document explains how methadone is used to treat addictions and how a community may benefit from a methadone maintenance program in their community. http://sano.camh.net/methadone/
	Substitution Therapy: Overcoming Ignorance
	This is the Summer 2003 issue of Harm Reduction News (Summer 2003: Volume 4, Issue 2), a newsletter of OSI's International Harm Reduction Development program. The essays in this issue focus on the status and availability of Methadone Maintenance Treatment in several of the countries with the world's fastest-growing HIV infection rates—most of which also have rising rates of injecting drug use. http://www.soros.org/initiatives/ihrd/articles_publications/ publications/hrnsubstitution_20030601

National and International Organizations:

	Advocates for Recovery Through Medicine (ARM)
	Advocates for the right to obtain methadone treatment support through your physican or pharmacist. http://www.arm-advocates.org/
	The Methadone Alliance
	http://www.m-alliance.org.uk/
	The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
	http://www.methadone.org/

If you know of a good resource, feel free to recommend it by sending us a link and we will do our best to add it.

To find resources that provide a methadone treatment approach in your area, check out our Youth Resources pages.