The United States government has released a public health alert because the country is experiencing an opioid overdose epidemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted “that between 2000 and 2013, the rate of heroin overdose deaths quadrupled, and over 8,200 people died in 2013 alone due to heroin overdose.”

What is Methadone?

Finding an effective treatment for an often deadly heroin addiction is a priority, and methadone has proven a successful replacement. Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that was initially developed in the 1930s to minimize pain without the addictive qualities of other painkillers. The long half-life of this analgesic (pain-relieving drug) has made it particularly useful in weaning patients off of heroin. In the 1960s, the long half-life of methadone helped it to gain popularity in the United States, and over the last decade, it has been recommended for treatment and classified as an inexpensive generic prescription analgesic. Methadone has been made accessible for heroin users who have a small income or are on Medicaid or Medicare.

Risks of Methadone Use

This seems like a positive solution, but methadone can be addictive and can lead to overdose and death. Physicians prescribe methadone to assist with opioid withdrawal, but it can be misused and abused if the user’s drug of choice is not available and methadone is obtained in some other way. It is important to note that methadone is a Schedule II drug, “like other prescription painkillers including hydrocodone and oxycodone, and like these other opioid narcotics, it is also a drug of abuse.”

Unfortunately, data has demonstrated that methadone is related to many overdose deaths and is frequently misused. The CDC’s statistical reports from 2009 determined that one out of every three deaths due to prescription painkiller overdoses was associated with methadone use. The CDC also captured data that indicated that approximately 5,000 methadone users die every year from overdoses associated with the particular drug. The misuse of methadone is evident as “the number of overdose deaths is well out of proportion with how much methadone is prescribed; only about 2 percent of narcotic painkiller prescriptions are for methadone.”

Methadone for Heroin Addiction

Although methadone is misused, it is prescribed for heroin addiction for a reason. Heroin has an extremely short half-life, making its effects temporary. Methadone has a long half-life, making it an effective collaborative drug for treating heroin addiction. Methadone maintenance works because of its long-lasting impact on receptors in the brain that have become accustomed to heroin use and are dependent on the activity that heroin causes. The heroin user can use a maintenance dosage of methadone to have an opioid drug binding the opioid receptors that are craving heroin, dampening any withdrawal symptoms that arise when their typical heroin dose is decreased or terminated. Reducing the cravings and minimizing withdrawal symptoms make heroin addicts more likely to stop using heroin and feel confident in the early stages of their sobriety. Methadone maintenance also works by reducing a user’s addictive behavior patterns, such as the use of heroin to sustain a high. Due to methadone’s prolonged half-life, it remains bound to brain receptors for a long time; depending on the dosage it can remain bound for days, reducing the addictive tendency to seek out more drugs.

Since methadone’s effects linger in the body, it is well-tolerated by people wanting to recover from heroin addiction. Methadone maintenance aims to prolong the euphoric effects heroin addicts chase and eases the withdrawal as heroin starts to exit the body. While the effects of methadone can last up to a day, the medication can remain in the body for up to three days.

Using Heroin While On Methadone

Methadone is used as a tool to come off of heroin, but some people continue to use heroin while taking methadone. People on methadone maintenance may use heroin in hopes of experiencing the euphoria they felt when they first used it. Unfortunately, combining these drugs is becoming more and more common, and can result in immediate or long-term adverse health issues. People who consume heroin and methadone together should not experience the effects of heroin because methadone binds to all of the opioid receptors in the brain that heroin is targeting, and blocks them. It becomes dangerous, however, when a methadone patient is upset that they are not feeling the effects of heroin use and decides to take more heroin. Having multiple drugs in the human system can result in an overdose. The combination of methadone with depressant drugs like alcohol and benzodiazepines is particularly dangerous because the depressant drugs enhance the activity of methadone and heroin.

Effects of Mixing Methadone and Heroin

According to an article published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the immediate symptoms of an opioid overdose (overdoses which could be caused by the combined use of heroin and methadone) include:

Notable confusion or delirium
Sleepiness or lethargy
Slow thinking
Decreased alertness
Unconsciousness
Difficulty breathing; depressed, reduced, shallow, or irregular breathing, leading to oxygen deprivation
Nausea
Vomiting
Dilated pupils

There might be short-term side effects from using heroin and methadone together like:

Fatigue
Drowsiness
Flushed skin
Cold sweats
Dry mouth
Heavy-feeling extremities
Going “on the nod” (cycling through wakefulness and passing out rapidly)
Constipation
Itchiness
Nausea
Vomiting
Long-term harm

Long-term consequences will result from the misused combination of heroin and methadone. Addiction can escalate over time and drastically increase the threat of an overdose. Lung problems and respiratory difficulties are possible, and “the brain could lose white matter as the reward system changes due to addiction and cells begin to die from oxygen deprivation.” There is also the potential of a surfacing kidney or liver disease.

Holistic Approach to Recovery

To stop using any addictive drug, a holistic approach is the most effective way to not just achieve sobriety but to maintain a sober life long-term. This is especially true for a narcotic as addictive as heroin. According to research published in the Archives Of General Psychiatry,

“Methadone maintenance, particularly when given in conjunction with counseling and other psychosocial services, is an effective treatment of heroin dependence; it reduces illicit drug use, crime, human immunodeficiency virus infection risk, and death, and improves employment and social adjustment.” In conclusion, research has shown that “methadone treatment plus intensive counseling and other services is more effective than methadone alone.”

At Boardwalk Recovery Center, our goal is to provide comprehensive treatment, with psychiatrists and counselors who are knowledgeable about methadone maintenance and know how to complete drug maintenance for optimal recoveries.

Our heroin addiction treatment programs are designed with a holistic approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of recovery. We recognize the complexities of opioid addiction and the risks associated with methadone use, especially when misused in combination with other substances. Through individualized treatment plans, including methadone maintenance coupled with intensive counseling and support services, we provide a pathway to recovery that aims to reduce dependency and foster long-term sobriety. Our dedicated team of professionals, including experienced psychiatrists and counselors, are here to guide and support you or your loved ones toward a healthier future. If you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction, we encourage you to reach out to us today and take the first step toward recovery.