Synthetic narcotic similar in effect to morphine. Synthesized in Germany, it came into clinical use after World War II. Given to addicts, it blocks the euphoric action of heroin without itself causing euphoria, dulling of the senses, or other narcotic effects; i.e., if an addict maintained on methadone takes heroin, he will not experience the heroin euphoria. In the 1960s the doctors Marie Nyswander and Vincent Dole promoted methadone as a therapeutic tool to rehabilitate narcotics addicts. The drug is currently in use in maintenance programs throughout the United States. It is used to wean the patient from heroin and to help him break out of the addictive life style. Critics of methadone point out that methadone patients are still addicts and that methadone therapy does not help addicts with their personality problems. In most maintenance programs methadone is dispensed under supervision, but some addicts manage to resell the methadone they receive in order to buy heroin, and methadone has joined the group of addictive drugs sold on the street. Methadone is slightly more potent than morphine and as pain killer, has a more lasting effect. Withdrawal symptoms are less severe than with morphine. When methadone is given to a heroin addict and the addict is later withdrawn from methadone, he will undergo methadone withdrawal instead of the more severe heroin withdrawal.
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