Methadone-Involved Deaths in 8 Metropolitan Areas: 1997-2001

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 . . .