Methadone is a prescription medication which similar to morphine or heroin is a full opioid agonist, which means that the same neurotransmitter receptors are triggered when someone ingests methadone. But unlike heroin, methadone is regulated and used in programs to treat opiate addicted clients so that they don't feel they need to get involved in illicit drug use activities, won't experience intense cravings, and won't feel the symptoms of withdrawal. So instead of quitting cold turkey, clinics that treat methadone clients only are licensed to dispense methadone to these clients on a daily basis. This type of treatment is known as methadone maintenance therapy.
Clinics which treat methadone clients only are not normally set up to offer a broad array of extensive rehabilitation services other than daily dosing, although some clinics may provide individual and group counseling. Methadone use is associated with side effects, potentials for overdose and serious drug interactions due to the fact that it is a full opioid agonist. Consequently, it is also a drug that is abused and misused by opiate addicts. Seeking additional rehabilitation services in Bena is suggested, such as counseling, therapy and cognitive behavioral therapies that are effective in long term recovery and relapse prevention.