Medical and Methadone maintenance services is the use of methadone, administered over a prolonged period of time, as treatment for someone who is addicted to opioids such as heroin, where detoxification has been unsuccessful and/or admittance to a substance abuse treatment facility requires complete abstinence.
Methadone maintenance makes possible a first step toward social rehabilitation because it allows those impacted to avoid the traumatic withdrawal symptoms that result from complete abstinence. Methadone maintenance can also be used for patients who suffer with severe pain problems that are resistant to other drugs.