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Huron Undercover Narcotics Team |
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METHADONE |
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Commonly called "wafers" (larger dosage tablet) |
Typical methadone tablets |
| Methadone is a synthetic opiate.
It is prescribed for pain management, and is also an effective treatment for
heroin addiction (and other opiates). It is known to reduce the
cravings associated with heroin addiction and also blocks the high from
heroin, without providing the euphoric rush. Street methadone is normally found in pill or "wafer" form. It is sought out in the narcotics community as a lesser expensive replacement for addicts to heroin or opiates as well as for the stimulant drug user, who uses methadone to settle down in order to sleep. Adversely, the use of stimulant narcotics are sometimes used by methadone addicts to combat the lethargy. A typical dose of methadone for someone with a tolerance or addiction to opiates, would quickly cause an overdose in someone without a tolerance. Another reason for overdose, is that methadone is a slower acting drug than heroin and most opiates, causing the user to believe that they haven't taken enough, and therefore take more. Methadone is blamed for an increasing number of drug overdose deaths in the United States, more than any other prescription narcotic. In a recent study of overdose deaths in Northeastern Michigan, Methadone was by far the most cited drug, more than heroin, oxycodone, and cocaine combined. |
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| Street Names: | Dolophine, Methadose, Juice |
| Classification: | Synthetic Opioid, Schedule II |
| Physical Dependence: | High |
| Psychological Dependence: | High |
| Duration: | Variable |
| Usual Method: | Oral; smoked, injected |
| Possible Effects: | Relaxation, immediate "rush," euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory depression, |
| Effects of Overdose: | Slow, shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, possible death |
| Withdrawal Syndrome: | Watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, cramps,
Loss of appetite, irritability, nausea Tremors, panic, chills, sweating |
| Paraphernalia, Packaging: | Pill bottles, film canisters, zip-lock baggies |
| Signs and Symptoms: | Scars (tracks) caused by injections,
constricted (pin-point) pupils, loss of appetite, sniffles, watery eyes,
cough, nausea, lethargy, drowsiness, nodding, syringes, bent spoons, needles, etc. |
