Methadone is a prescription medication which similar to morphine or heroin is a full opioid agonist, meaning the same neural receptors in the brain are activated when someone ingests methadone. But unlike heroin, methadone is used in programs to treat opiate dependent people so that they don't feel the need to get involved in illicit drug use activities, won't experience intense cravings, and won't undergo the effects of withdrawal. So alternatively to quitting cold turkey, programs which treat methadone clients only are authorized to dispense methadone to these individuals on a daily basis. This method of treatment is known as methadone maintenance therapy.
Clinics which treat methadone clients only are not typically designed to provide a broad spectrum of comprehensive treatment services beyond daily dosing, although some clinics may offer individual and group therapy and counseling. Methadone use does have side effects, potentials for overdose and serious drug interactions due to the fact that it is a full opioid agonist. For this reason, it is also a drug which is abused and misused by opioid dependent individuals. Seeking further treatment services in Wise is highly recommended, such as counseling, therapy and cognitive behavioral therapies that are successful at long term recovery and preventing relapses.