Who Can Prescribe Methadone?

Methadone is a leading treatment for opioid use disorder. Restrictions on who can prescribe this medication for addiction, however, are strict and tightly regulated.

By law, only opioid treatment programs (OTP) certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can dispense methadone for addiction treatment.

Learn more about using methadone in opioid addiction treatment

Methadone Can Be Found At Methadone Clinics (Opioid Treatment Programs)

Opioid treatment programs, sometimes referred to as “methadone clinics,” are programs that provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for people with opioid use disorder.

Characteristics of an opioid treatment program:

• accredited and certified by SAMHSA
• provides counseling for HIV prevention
• registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• licensed by the state in which it operates

Within opioid treatment programs, a methadone doctor can then offer initial evaluation services, dispense daily doses, and offer specialized counseling.

Can My Doctor Prescribe Methadone?

Methadone cannot be prescribed by just any general physician for opioid addiction, although licensed physicians can prescribe it for chronic pain relief.

Methadone for medication-assisted treatment can only be prescribed and dispensed in a methadone clinic under the direct supervision of a MAT practitioner.

How Can You Get Prescribed Methadone?

Methadone is a medication that can be prescribed by a licensed physician for chronic pain, or by an opioid treatment program (OTP) for opiate addiction.

To receive methadone for opioid addiction, individuals must meet diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD), also known as opioid addiction.

Signs of opioid use disorder include:

• inability to reduce or stop taking opioids
• constantly thinking about using or getting more opioid drugs
• having problems with work or at home due to an inability to control opioid use
• continuing to use opioids despite physical or psychological consequences
• visiting multiple doctors to get opioid prescriptions
• feeling physically sick upon any attempt to quit opioids (i.e. withdrawal)

If someone is showing signs of an opioid use disorder, they may be referred to a methadone clinic or an addiction rehab center for treatment.

Methadone can be prescribed and dispensed on an outpatient level through a methadone clinic, or within a drug rehab program that is SAMHSA-certified.

Find Methadone Treatment Near You Today

If you’re looking for methadone treatment for yourself or a loved one who is addicted to opioids, we can help you get started.

By calling our helpline, we can:

• identify addiction treatment options near you
• explain your treatment options
• help you find a treatment program that’s right for you

It’s never too early or too late to seek help. Call us today to learn more about methadone and to find treatment options for opioid addiction at a rehab center near you.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff