Recently, however, methadone has been used in younger and younger addicts. This is especially tragic, if not unethical, from both a neurobiological and a social perspective. Because methadone is such a long-lasting opiate, when prescribed with the clinical goal of keeping the brain soaked in the stuff to stave off withdrawal, it produces an immense addiction. This drug is even harder to kick than heroin; the latter is hell, but for a relatively short time. Therefore, to prescribe a drug like this to people barely out of their teens is to condone “maintenance” that is in some ways a life
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