A Brief History of Methadone in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence

A Personal Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID13914262
AuthorsJ Thomas Payte (Medical Center Ophthalmology Associates, corresponding author)
Year1991
Volume23
Issue2
Pages103-107
Publication date1991-04-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychoactive Drugs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0279-1072 • E-ISSN: 2159-9777
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02791072.1991.10472226
PMID1765883
OpenAlexW2133301882
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited7

Starting at the latter part of the nineteenth century and through the early twentieth century, events are reviewed to provide a sense of the climate and setting in which early methadone research was conducted. The discovery of methadone by the Germans in the later stages of World War II is described. At that time, methadone was not recognized to be a narcotic analgesic. The first report of the properties of methadone published in the United States in 1947 is summarized, and its early use in the treatment of the opioid abstinence syndrome is noted. However, the utility of methadone as a maintenance drug was not recognized until 14 years later. Despite strong resistance from the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics, research progressed from the recognition of the unique properties of methadone to substantial clinical application. Finally, methadone is placed in a current context describing a second wave of acceptance based not solely on the reduction of crime but on the prevention of the spread of AIDS

Abstinence · Context (archaeology · Methadone · Methadone maintenance · Narcotic · Opioid · Perspective (graphical · Psychiatry · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · History · Medicine · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment · Psychology · Internal Medicine

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