What is Methadone?

Methadone belongs to the opioid family of drugs. It is used most commonly to treat addiction to other opioid drugs such as heroin, oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin) and hydromorphone (e.g., Dilaudid).

Methadone is a “synthetic” opioid, which means that it is made from chemicals in a lab. Methadone was developed in Germany during the Second World War and was first used to provide pain relief.

Methadone maintenance treatment, which prevents opioid withdrawal and reduces or eliminates drug cravings, was first developed in the 1960s. For many years, Canadian regulations around the prescription of Methadone were so restrictive that few doctors offered the treatment. People who wanted Methadone treatment often had to wait months or years. In the 1990s, the need to reduce the harm of drug use was more clearly recognized, and changes were made to make it easier for doctors to provide Methadone treatment.

Methadone maintenance is not a “cure”, it is a treatment. Through treatment, people who are addicted to opioids receive the medical and social support they need to stabilize and improve their lives. They are encouraged to stay in treatment for as long as it helps them.

Click here to read the rest of the The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) “Do You Know” pamphlet on Methadone.