Reply #5: It's a synthetic agonist/antagonist

[Warpy]

which means it also acts to block the high from other opiates. It's long lasting and binds to opiate receptors in the nerves that carry pain impulses, so it's useful to block both the symptoms of opiate withdrawal and moderate to severe pain.

Any junkie going to a methadone clinic will not be doing heroin that day. It would be a total waste.

Personally, I think addicts should be able to get their scrips from Walgreen's like the rest of us, three days at a time to prevent them from selling the pills on the street to dumb kids like the ones in this story.