Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication that is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs. It can also be used as a pain reliever.  When methadone is used for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), it reduces withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings but does not cause the “high” associated with the drug addiction. Methadone is a highly regulated medication and when used for OUD is only available through approved opioid treatment programs (OTP). This involves regular monitoring, counseling, and drug testing to ensure that patients are making progress in their recovery.