Methadoneis a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for thetreatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. For more than 30 years thissynthetic narcotic has been used to treat opioid addiction. Heroin releasesan excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need an opiatecontinuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupiesthis receptor and is the stabilizing factor that permits addicts on methadoneto change their behavior and to discontinue heroin use.