A medication that fully activates opioid receptors in the brain, producing opioid effects.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Methadone is a full opioid agonist used in controlled doses to prevent withdrawal and cravings without the chaotic highs and lows of illicit opioid use.
What to know:
-
When prescribed and monitored correctly, agonist medications can be stabilizing and life-saving, not “substituting one addiction for another.”
-
Doses are individualized to prevent withdrawal while minimizing sedation.
-
Often dispensed through specialized opioid treatment programs.
Example:
A person with long-term heroin use starts methadone maintenance and finds they can function normally without constant craving or withdrawal.