> Well is that not the point of nicotine gum and patches? Methadone really isn't analogous to the patch, though. It really is, at its core, replacing a social

> Well is that not the point of nicotine gum and patches? Methadone really isn't analogous to the patch, though. It really is, at its core, replacing a socially unacceptable drug (heroin) for a socially acceptable variant (methadone). The patch is used to help taper off the craving for nicotine by administering the same drug, but in a regulated dose which gradually decreases, and using time-release (skin absorption is much slower)[0]. Methadone doesn't use this model. Interestingly, when heroin is administered in the same controlled setting that methadone is, it has better success rates and less recidivism than methadone does. These are known as "diacetylmorphine maintenance" programs. [0] In other words, think of the patch or gum as "extended release" versions of cigarettes.