Methadone is a prescription medication used in the reduction of harm associated with opiate addiction and dependency. An Individual who wants to stop using prescription pain killers or heroin can get enrolled into a methadone clinic in or near Atka where they take it daily to stop withdrawal symptoms, avoid cravings and basically substitute their addiction with a legal medication. Many individuals who start methadone maintenance treatment remain on the drug for many years, because coming off it can bring about withdrawal symptoms much worse than even heroin withdrawal. Methadone is a full opioid agonist, just like heroin. However, it's effects last much longer which is why detoxing from it can be so harsh and last such a long time. Additionally, because methadone can stay in the body for so long, users usually will not even start experiencing withdrawal for a day or two when they quit taking it. Methadone withdrawal resembles that of other opiates, and feels similar to a really bad flu which may include fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, profuse sweating muscle and bone aches and pain, stomach cramping, acute insomnia, etc.
Methadone detoxification can be made much more comfortable in a detox facility which allow methadone clients. Some programs offer a medication assisted detox while others help the person withdrawal off the drug cold turkey without any medications.