methadone

American  

[meth-uh-dohn] / ˈmɛθ əˌdoʊn /

Also methadon

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a synthetic narcotic, C 2 1 H 2 8 ClNO, similar to morphine but effective orally, used in the relief of pain and as a heroin substitute in the treatment of heroin addiction.

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methadone British  

/ ˈmɛθəˌdɒn, ˈmɛθəˌdəʊn /

noun

1. a narcotic analgesic drug similar to morphine, used to treat opiate addiction. Formula: C 21 H 27 NO

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methadone Cultural  

1. An analgesic that is sometimes used in the treatment of drug addiction.

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Etymology

Origin of methadone

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; meth(yl) + a(mino) + d(iphenyl) + (heptan)one

Compare meaning

How does methadone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• methadone vs. methamphetamine

Example Sentences

No other branch of healthcare uses the types of surveillance present with methadone, and there just isn't evidence to support them.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2023

Onerous regulations also make it needlessly difficult for us to treat the many patients for whom methadone is the best medication.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2023

Next, the Rockefeller doctors expanded the study of methadone to six more patients, a varied group with different backgrounds, and different levels of education.

From Scientific American • Apr. 13, 2023

A recent Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment study found that nearly three-quarters of all treatment courts now offer all Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder, and 90 percent offer buprenorphine and/or methadone.

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

Oberman argued rather than prosecutions former addicts need meaningful employment, employers need more trained workers to care for people in recovery, and society needs to reconsider its “prejudice” against methadone and treatments like it.

From The Guardian • Aug. 22, 2017