Methadone Clinics

Medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs that use methadone to help people with an opioid use disorder abstain from or reduce their use of opioids. Methadone works by changing how the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It lessens the painful symptoms of opiate withdrawal and blocks the euphoric effects of opiate drugs such as heroin, morphine, and codeine, as well as semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. Methadone is offered in pill, liquid, and wafer forms and is taken once a day. Pain relief from a dose of methadone lasts about four to eight hours. Patients taking methadone to treat opioid addiction must receive the medication under the supervision of a physician. After a period of stability (based on progress and proven, consistent compliance with the medication dosage), patients may be allowed to take methadone at home between program visits. The length of time in methadone treatment varies from person to person but should be at least 12 months; and treatment must be stopped gradually to prevent withdrawal. The decision to stop treatment needs to be supervised by a physician.