Methadone is a prescription only medicine that can be taken orally and is used mainly to treat opioid addiction. Is was initially developed as a painkiller but now it is much more widely used to treat people who have got stuck on heroin or other opioid drugs (such as prescription painkillers). Methadone is a powerful opioid drug, so it has similar effects to drugs like codeine, morphine, and heroin. It lasts much longer in the body than heroin, and therefore it is used to stabilise people currently using heroin (or other opioid drugs) and then help them get off opioid drugs completely.
Methadone should not be confused with mephedrone, they are completely different drugs. Anyone taking methadone when they are looking for mephedrone risks extreme danger.