methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈme-thə-ˌdōn 

variants or less commonly methadon

ˈme-thə-ˌdän 

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug C₂₁H₂₇NO used especially in the form of its hydrochloride for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

Examples of methadone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Using anything else is something like substituting methadone for heroin. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025

Currently, 80% of U.S. counties do not have access to methadone treatment, according to Sue. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025

San Francisco public health experts attributed the decline to the widespread availability of naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, as well as more emphasis on prescribing buprenorphine and methadone, medications that treat opioid addiction long-term. —Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Context: The program, founded in 2017, initially focused on educating primary care physicians — who may not have learned about addiction medicine during their training — on treatments for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine and methadone. —Meira Gebel, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

methyl + amino + diphenyl + -one

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn 

variants also methadon

-ˌdän 

: a narcotic drug C₂₁H₂₇NO that is used to replace heroin in the treatment of heroin addiction

Medical Definition

methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn 

variants also methadon

-ˌdän 

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug used especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₁H₂₇NO·HCl for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

called also amidone