About Methadone and Buprenorphine - Drug Policy Alliance

Methadone & PainSevere pain has long been under treated in theUnited States. This is partly because of ignoranceand prejudice, but also because of the laws thatmade drugs like heroin illegal. The government hasactively pursued and prosecuted physicians forprescribing opioids.If you are on methadone maintenance, yourregular maintenance dose of methadone willprovide little or no pain relief. You will still feelpain, just like everyone else. In fact, you may needmore pain-relief medication than people who arenot taking methadone.Greater public awareness of how many people haveneedlessly suffered because of this undertreatmentof pain is beginning to force changes. To managepain, doctors are beginning to more freely prescribeopioids – including methadone, which has beenrecognized as an effective pain medication.About Methadone and Buprenorphine