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Methadone is a medication used to treat severe pain and opioid addiction.

When used to treat severe pain, methadone is available as a tablet or oral solution.

When used to treat opioid addiction, methadone usually comes in the form of a fruit-flavoured drink. The powder is dissolved and taken orally once a day.

What does Methadone do?

Methadone is a long-acting drug used to replace the shorter-acting opioids that someone may be addicted to, such as heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl or hydromorphone. Long-acting means that the drug acts more slowly in the body, for a longer period of time. The effects of methadone last for 24 to 36 hours. In contrast, a person who uses short-acting opioids to avoid withdrawal must use three to four times a day.

When taken at the correct dose, methadone prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces drug cravings without causing the person to feel high (euphoric) or sleepy. This lowers the harms associated with opioid misuse and gives people who are addicted to opioids a chance to stabilize their lives. This treatment is known as methadone maintenance, which is a type of opioid agonist therapy. Methadone therapy for opioid addiction works similar to buprenorphine, another opioid agonist therapy.

When combined with medical and supportive care, methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective treatments for opioid addiction, although one may work better than the other for some people.

Methadone maintenance is a long-term treatment. The length of treatment varies from one or two years to 20 years or more. However, if the person taking methadone and their doctor agree to end treatment, the methadone dose is tapered down gradually over many weeks or months, easing the process of withdrawal.

Our Methadone Clinic and Addiction Treatment Center

Our Methadone Clinic and Addiction Treatment Center was founded in 2019 by Dr. Randall Mintz who was an officer in the Canadian forces for over 30 years. As a senior medical officer, he was involved with many clients with addiction issues and followed them throughout their treatments. Throughout this period he developed an interest in addiction medicine. He has worked closely with both in-patient and out-patient clinics over the years and, having seen the success of these programs and the amazing impact that it can have on the lives of both our clients as well as their families, Dr. Mintz pursued more training and education in Addiction Medicine after retiring from the military.

Treatment Plans

• Opioid Agonist Therapy
• OAT Therapy
• Methadone Maintenance
• Suboxone Maintenance

Meet Dr. Randall Mintz

In 2018, Dr. Randall Mintz successfully completed the Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) Certificate Program offered jointly through the University of Toronto and CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). Afterwards Dr. Mintz applied for, and was granted, a GP Focused Practice Designation in Addiction Medicine through the OMA (Ontario Medical Association) and has worked exclusively in Addiction Medicine ever since.

• Addiction Medicine Physician
• 15+ yrs practicing in primary care (in-patient and out-patient), occupational and addiction medicine
• advanced training in aviation and dive medicine
• Focused Practice designation in Addiction Medicine
• 10 yrs as a military medical officer – extensive leadership experience in preventive and occupational medicine, healthcare information privacy, policy guidance and implementation
• 20 yrs as a military rotary wing pilot (1985-2004) with deployments worldwide