My understanding is methadone has limited euphoric abilities, but its still good for dealing with pain as well as good for dealing with opiate addiction.
So why is it in the same schedule as something like fentanyl?
Because it is so highly addictive.
fair enough.
The following findings are required for drugs to be placed in this schedule:
[ol]
[li]The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.[/li][li]The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.[/li][li]Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.[/li][/ol]
It hits all 3. Not that the list is perfect, some stuff on Schedule I should probably be II or lower.
It’s also a real easy drug to misjudge the dosing of and end up with an overdose. It’s so damn long-acting with a slow onset that folks can get impatient, keep popping pills because they don’t get the effect they want right away, nod off and never awaken.
I lived with a heroin addict at one point who went to the Methadone clinic. I would regularly find him passed out at all hours of the day on the kitchen floor, in his breakfast cereal. I once had to bum a ride from him and he fell asleep no less than three times while driving and almost killed us.