Methadone abuse on the rise

The recent spotlight on Anna Nicole Smith has shed light on this growing problem:

A synthetic opiate, methadone is similar to heroin in chemistry, curbing a user’s craving for the illegal opiate by blocking the sensors that heroin stimulates without producing a heroin high.

In recent years, methadone has proved lethal to a growing number of patients or addicts who use it in conjunction with prescription drugs including Valium, Xanax or, in the case of addicts, illegal narcotics such as cocaine.