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April 2004
 Methadone-Involved
Deaths in 8 Metropolitan
Areas: 1997-2001
Methadone
is a synthetic opiate used to treat chronic pain
and opiate addiction. Recent accounts of a surge in
deaths involving methadone have renewed discussion about
the safety of methadone, its potential for abuse, and
whether it was obtained from an opiate addiction treatment
program or by a doctor
prescription.
Methadone suppresses withdrawal symptoms in
individuals who are physically dependent on
opiates. Although most commonly used to treat heroin addiction,
it is also used to treat addiction to other opiates,
such as codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and
morphine.
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