methadone

noun

meth·a·done | \ ˈme-thə-ˌdōn

variants: or less commonly methadon \ -ˌdän

Definition of methadone

: 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

The goal is to get more people treated with medications for opioid addiction such as buprenorphine and methadone. — Carla K. Johnson, The Seattle Times, "Q&A: Feds tackle opioid epidemic, but is it helping?," 28 Jan. 2019 The Bucks County District Attorney’s office said the autopsy showed the baby died after being fed breast milk containing methadone, amphetamine and methamphetamine, Fox 29 Philadelphia reported. — Robert Gearty, Fox News, "Philadelphia-area mom accused of killing her infant through drugs in breast milk," 15 July 2018 Under the plan, the six facilities would provide buprenorphine or methadone to inmates who were already taking the medication immediately before incarceration. — Felice J. Freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "House backs plan to try addiction medications in some Mass. prisons," 12 July 2018 An autopsy found the baby died from a combination of methadone, amphetamine and methamphetamine, the Bucks County District Attorney's office said in a statement. — Fox News, "Mother accused of killing baby with drug-laced breast milk," 16 July 2018 At the same time, deaths due to methadone have fallen since 2007, after it was removed from the preferred drug list by state Medicaid programs. — Betsy Mckay, WSJ, "Cocaine, Meth, Opioids All Fuel Rise in Drug-Overdose Deaths," 20 Sep. 2018 Most jails and prisons in Massachusetts and elsewhere deny inmates access to methadone and buprenorphine, the primary drugs used to treat opioid addiction. — Felice J. Freyer And Joshua Miller, BostonGlobe.com, "Bill to combat opioid crisis rejects 72-hour hold, adds mandate for hospital care," 10 July 2018 One mom adds that doctors are putting her son on all kinds of addictive medicines — from fentanyl to methadone — that left him with an opioid dependency. — Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Ricki Lake-Produced Film Weed the People Argues for Marijuana Use as a Cancer Treatment," 10 Mar. 2018 And the rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes fentanyl and similar potent opioids, increased 45 percent just between 2016 and 2017 (from 6.2 per 100,000 overdose deaths to 9). — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "Fentanyl Now Officially Causes the Most Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S.," 20 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'methadone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

26 Mar 2019

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Time Traveler for methadone

The first known use of methadone was in 1947

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More Definitions for methadone

methadone

noun

English Language Learners Definition of methadone

: a drug that people take to help them stop taking heroin

See the full definition for methadone in the English Language Learners Dictionary

methadone

noun

meth·a·done | \ ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn

variants: also methadon \ -ˌdän

Medical Definition of methadone

: 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