methadone success?

drug substitution therapy (dst) is praised for weaning addicts off of highly addictive drugs such as heroin. methadone targets the same receptors as heroin does, satiating the heroin itch as well as preventing heroin use from inducing euphoria for a protracted period of time. it provides some, but not all, of heroin's euphoric effects itself. euphoria is not the only commonality between heroin and methadone. in fact, methadone is even more addictive than its illicit counterpart, and therefore makes cravings and withdraw worse when its use is halted.

methadone and heroin are so similar that it seems the main benefit methadone has is its legality. in truth, dst has been successful; it is linked to a decrease in overdose rates and involvement in illegal activity. however, most of these problems and others, including HIV contraction from needle recycling, stem not from the drug, but from its scarcity and illegality.

overdose often occurs with heroin because potency is not assured - there is no industry standard, no way of knowing what concentration the substance is. with methadone, its dosage is well labeled and there is legal recourse if the labeling is inaccurate. the price of illegal drugs is inflated by as much as 17,000 percent according to stanford's hoover institution, providing an obstacle to purchasing drugs without stealing, and creating big incentives for the illegal drug trade. the inability to enforce business contracts via legal mechanisms leads to gang wars and crime. although some may still claim the drug war is worth it, these reasons and more have persuaded me.