Maintenance dosages of 80 - 120 mg produce pharmacological cross tolerance, so if the methadone patient uses heroin, the euphoric effects are not experienced. Methadone is relatively safe and non-toxic and it has minimal side effects. Methadone s usefulness in the treatment of heroin dependence began in the 1960s. The initial experimental trials were very encouraging, and by 1969 the demand for methadone by recovering addicts had skyrocketed. The FDA and DEA set minimum standards having to do with record keeping, treatment planning admission requirements and other variables.
Some states flatly prohibit methadone maintenance.
Absorption, metabolism and excretion can vary significantly from person to person, so methadone doses should be individualized so that appropriate amounts are administered. Research has shown a strong negative correlation between methadone dosage and the amount of concurrent illicit drug use. Methadone treatment has been fraught with controversy since its initiation. The longer patients stay on Methadone, the better they look on a number of variables. Research has suggested that patients show a marked decrease in criminal behavior and an increase in employment during their time in treatment.