Critics of methadone treatment programs say opiate addicts are just trading one drug addiction for

Critics of methadone treatment programs say opiate addicts are just trading one drug addiction for another. Not so, counters Discovery House, a program with clinics in Hermitage, Cranberry Township, and soon, the New Castle area. The differences between the two drugs.

Onset of effect: Heroin, immediate; methadone, 30 minutes.

Duration of effect: Heroin, 4-6 hours; methadone, 24-36 hours.

Overall safety: Heroin, potentially lethal; methadone, medically safe.

Overdose: Death can occur fast; methadone, death would occur more slowly, more time to get treatment.

With other opiates: Heroin, the user feels effects of other opiates; with methadone, the effects of other opiates aren’t felt.

Withdrawal: Heroin, can be severe, but controlled with methadone; methadone, is less severe but more extended and can be controlled by slow reduction in use.

Mood alteration: Heroin, constant swings; methadone, none, if the patient isn’t using other drugs.

Euphoric effects: With heroin, they last for two hours after taking the drug; methadone, none.

Sexual functioning: Heroin, impaired; methadone, normalizes during treatment.

Pain and emotion: Heroin, blunted; methadone, patient feels normal pain and has a normal emotional range if not using other drugs.

Intellectual functioning: Heroin, impaired; methadone, normal.

Physical reaction: Heroin, impaired; methadone, normalizes with treatment.

Employment: Heroin, difficult to hold a job; methadone, can function in every type of profession.

Effect on community: Heroin, high crime and death rates, transmission of disease; methadone, contributes to public safety, improved quality of life.

Source: The Chemical Dependency Research Working Group, New York