Methadone Substitute: New And Cheaper Way To Treat Heroin Addiction

A cheaper and safer alternative to methadone. How does it compare to buprenorphine?

In contrast to methadone --which comes in liquid not tablet form -- dihydrocodeine is much easier to store and comes under less stringent regulations because it is not as toxic and less likely to cause a fatal overdose. It is estimated that whereas methadone treatment can cost almost £1,500 annually per patient, the cost of dihydrocodeine is £713.