Using medications like methadone and buprenorphine simply means replacement of one drug addiction with another?

No, this is not true. Methadone and buprenorphine are not the substitute for opioid/heroin and used in maintenance treatment. Physician prescribes them under conditions which are controlled and are said to be effective as well as safe to treat opioid addiction. They are directed to be used under the tongue or orally in a specific amount of dose. Also, the effects of pharmacological are different from that of heroin and other opioids. For instance, when heroin is snorted, smoked or injected, an individual experiences a rush immediately or euphoria for brief period. These conditions wears off quickly is said to have a ‘crash’ ending. In order to stop this ‘crash’, individual feels strong temptation to intake heroin again.

The trademark of addiction is to feel repeated cravings, euphoria and crash during several times a day. This can then lead to severe disruption in the behavior. Such conditions are said to be a result of using heroin’s rapid intake and the brain having short action duration. In comparison to this, Methadone and buprenorphine provides for gradual start in action and results in production of stable drug level in the brain. Thus, an addict of opioids doesn’t feel the ‘rush’ and the desire for intake of heroin is reduced greatly. Even if the addict still tries to take heroin, its effects are suppressed by the medications.

The patients who are undergoing this type of treatment doesn’t go through the abnormalities in the behavior or physiological abnormalities which arises due to fluctuations in the level of drug associated with the intake of heroin. These types of treatments i.e. maintenance tends to saves a number of lives and provide stability and treats the physiological, medical and other problems. This will turn an individual into an effective and contributing member of the society as well as the family.