synthetic narcotic drug similar to morphine but less habit-forming; used in narcotic detoxification and maintenance of heroin addiction
"The clinic prescribed methadone to help her stabilize during her recovery from heroin addiction."
A powerful synthetic analgesic drug which is similar to morphine in its effects but less sedative and is used as a substitute drug in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction.
"After months of struggling with withdrawal, Mark finally found stability by swapping his daily heroin injection for oral methadone under medical supervision."