Dr. Newman said countries like Germany, Ireland, Canada and the Netherlands already allow doctors to prescribe methadone.

The third moved further afield, along the coast to Southport where the Drug Dependency Clinic also prescribes methadone on a maintenance basis.

The advisory urged that physicians use caution when prescribing methadone to patients who are not used to the drug, and that patients take the drug exactly as directed.

In some countries, there are restrictions on the ability of physicians to prescribe methadone that do not apply to other opioids.

I have been attending the clinic regularly, and am undergoing maintenance therapy having been prescribed methadone and temazepan.

This is a response to the conviction of two forensic medical examiners of the manslaughter of a prisoner for whom they had prescribed methadone.

Some forensic medical examiners, however, are reluctant to prescribe methadone.

She finally found a doctor who prescribed methadone, with directions to take one pill four times a day.

Even with other rehabilitation programs that do not prescribe methadone, there is a shortage of treatment slots, he said.

What they can't do is prescribe methadone.