Methadone is a narcotic that is orally administered and is used in the treatment of opiate addiction.

• A. Synthetic
• B. Natural
• C. Hallucinogenic
• D. Benign

Answer: (A)

Methadone is a synthetic opioid, meaning it is produced through chemical synthesis in a laboratory rather than being derived from the opium poppy. Natural opioids, like morphine and codeine, come from opium, while methadone is created entirely by man-made processes. It’s not a hallucinogen—its effects are chiefly pain relief and relief from withdrawal symptoms, not perceptual disturbances. It’s also not benign; as a powerful narcotic with dependence and overdose risks, it requires careful medical supervision. In practice, methadone is used in treatment programs as a substitution therapy to help people taper off or manage opiate addiction.