The New York Times reports today that a new use for the drug dependency medication, methadone, brought about new dosage recommendations as a result of its popularity as a pain medication.
According to the newspaper, "A synthetic form of opium, it is cheap and long lasting, a powerful pain reliever that has helped millions. But because it is also abused by thrill seekers and badly prescribed by doctors unfamiliar with its risks, methadone is now the fastest growing cause of narcotic deaths. It is implicated in more than twice as many deaths as heroin, and is rivaling or surpassing the tolls of painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin."
Read the New York Times article.
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