Part A: Questions and Answers Regarding the History and Evolution of Methadone Treatment of Opioid Addiction in the United States

Question 7: How has the U.S. Government been involved in research on methadone maintenance treatment?

Answer:Through the extensive research grant programs administered by the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Government funds most major medical research conducted in the United States, including research on methadone maintenance treatment. In addition, some of the research on methadone maintenance treatment has been conducted by the Federal Government itself at research facilities like the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where methadone was first shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of heroin withdrawal.

Research on methadone maintenance treatment is the responsibility of the following Federal agencies:

• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Food and Drug Administration

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