Methadone Street Names & The Dangers of Getting Methadone Outside of a Clinic

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Methadone has helped individuals with opiate addiction overcome their condition for more than five decades. When used as prescribed, this medication gives people coming off long-term opiate addictions a fighting chance at recovery.

As a synthetically made opiate drug, methadone carries its own risk for abuse and addiction. Not surprisingly, methadone can be purchased on the street for a fairly reasonable price; however, the dangers of getting methadone outside a clinic place prospective users at considerable risk.

With methadone being a highly controlled substance, the rates for illicit methadone use run amazingly high considering the laws and regulations surrounding dispensing and prescription practices. Likewise, the widespread use of street methadone has brought about a long list of methadone street names.

Methadone Street Names

Methadone street names are used to disguise the illegal sale and use of the drug.

Unlike the commonly used tablet and capsule forms that most opiate drugs come in, treatment clinics dispense methadone as:

• A syrup (usually cherry-flavored)
• Orange-flavored wafers
• Pure liquid methadone
• Instant-release tablets

This wide assortment of packaging types has inevitably contributed to the large number of methadone street names in existence.

The more popular methadone street names include:

• Pastora
• Fizzies
• Dollies
• Meth
• Phy
• Amidone
• Jungle juice
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Done
• Junk
• Maria
• Methadose
• Wafer
• Salvia
• Juice

Most methadone street names highlight one or more characteristics of the way the drug is packaged.

Methadone’s Effects

Compared to abusive opiate drugs, methadone produces a long-term effect that helps relieve drug cravings and withdrawal effects for those in recovery. Since methadone clinics determine drug dosages based on a person’s individual treatment needs, these long-lasting effects can have grave consequences when the drug is abused. As with any opiate drug, the potential for addiction rises exponentially when methadone is used without proper medical supervision.

Illicit Usage Rates for Methadone

Methadone should only be dispensed through detox programs, maintenance programs, and licensed pharmacies. As people receiving treatment from maintenance programs can gain access to the drug, illicit dispensing practices do occur.

Common Prescription Narcotic Drugs Street Names

Prescription narcotics are being increasingly abused in the world. Preventing and treating this abuse is very important, as these drugs are very addictive.

In 2011, over 2.10 million people reported using methadone for recreational purposes on at least one occasion, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This number increased to 2.46 million users by 2012. As methadone abuse rates rise, methadone street names will likely increase in number accordingly.

Street Methadone

People selling methadone on the streets often dilute the drug to increase its quantity and make more money. In a diluted state, there’s no way to know how strong a dose a person is getting. While methadone street names may depict the drug’s effects in colorful ways, people open themselves up to overdose risk with each successive dose.

Illicit Uses and Associated Dangers

Methadone abuse typically happens in one of three ways. These include:

• Taking a full dose all at once
• Taking some now and saving some for later
• Taking methadone with other drugs

With methadone’s time-release effects, any one of these scenarios can lead to overdose and death depending on how strong any one dose is. Understanding the street names for methadone can help you discern if someone you know or love might be abusing this medication. While it can be life-saving for someone in active recovery using it under medical supervision, it can have devastating effects if misused.

If you suspect that someone may have a methadone addiction, seek help immediately. Our website includes free addiction treatment resources and information, as well as connections to local Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings near you.

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