Methodone-related deaths increase in the U.S.

When the abuse of a drug abuse drug begins to happen, is all hope lost? Those that are being for substance abuse with methodone are dying in record numbers. What's happening? They're abusing it.

A report from the U.S. Justice Department this week concluded that record numbers are dying from methodone, with deaths jumping from 786 eight years ago to over 3,800 in 2004.

And, deaths from cocaine use increased also (one of the opiates methodone is used to treat), from 3,822 in 1999 to over 5,400 in 2004. And then, this statement comes out: methodone is safe and effective when prescribed and used correctly, but is deadly when misused --"particularly in combination with other prescription drugs, alcohol, or illicit drugs."

Wait a minute -- isn't methodone used to treat addiction of illicit drugs? The war on drugs (which existed mostly on paper and on the tongues of politicians) was never won, yes?