Methadone maintenance is a type of addiction therapy that lasts a long time. The patient must take his or her medication on a daily basis. Negative feelings connected with addiction often fade away once a patient is stable on medication. The patient’s life begins to normalize, and their functioning improves, allowing them to care for their families, work, achieve educational goals, manage both mental and physical health co-occurring diseases, and live an active, healthy lifestyle.

Patients in methadone maintenance treatment have a longer life expectancy, better health, and higher vocational and educational accomplishment, whereas substance misuse and criminal behavior are significantly reduced, according to research. The structure and counseling required and offered provide an opportunity for patients to address problems and issues related to their addiction. Proper medication use eliminates withdrawal symptoms and the craving for heroin or other opioids, and the structure and counseling required and offered provide an opportunity for patients to address problems and issues related to their addiction.