The introduction of methadone as part of treatment for heroin use was an attempt to reduce the harm associated with heroin addiction. The major harm to be prevented was HIV infection related to sharing needles to inject the drug. However, there has been no convincing evidence to demonstrate that methadone has had any impact on HIV rates. Some observational research has shown that methadone tends to reduce heroin use, improve health outcomes, reduce overdose deaths and reduce drug-related crime…
