Methadone - The Law

The Law

Methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning that the U.S. government finds it to have some medical uses but also a high potential for abuse and addiction. Penalties for possession and sale of illegal methadone vary from state to state and can be quite harsh, since the drug carries so many potential dangers. Even a first conviction for possession or sale of illicit methadone can carry jail time. Second and third offenses can result in a lifetime in prison.

In 2000 the FDA relaxed some of the restrictions on the legal prescription of methadone. Still, doctors who prescribe the drug must attend training sessions to learn about methadone's profile, how to prescribe the drug safely, and how to monitor patients for life-threatening side effects. Doctors who finish the training are issued a special license to prescribe methadone. Needless to say, any doctor or pharmacist who issues methadone without the proper documentation can face prosecution as a criminal.

Methadone's dangerous side effects, its history as a substance used to help addicts, and its long-lasting effects on the body have all combined to bring its uses—both legal and illegal—under greater scrutiny.