Associated names
Meth, Linctus, Green, Juice, Physeptone, Amps.

 

Appearance
Liquid mixture - usually green but can also be orange, yellow, brown, blue or clear. Tablets, Ampoules for injection (Physeptone).

 

Legal status
Class A if possessed without a prescription in your name.

 

Cost
Cheap. Ampoules are the most sought after and can cost £10. Mixture usually sells for £1 per 10 ml, tablets for around £1 each.

 

Quality
Methadone mixture is usually 1mg (Methadone Hydrochloride) to 1ml of liquid.

Tablets are 5mg each Ampoules come in different sizes - 10mg(1ml), 20mg(2ml), 35mg(3.5ml) and 50mg(5ml)

 

Methods of use
Mixture is designed to be taken orally - it contains an irritant to deter injecting. Ampoules are designed for injection. Tablets are taken orally though they have been know to be crushed and injected - an extremely dangerous practice.

 

Effects
Longer acting but less intense, Methadone has similar effects to heroin. Some users experience an intense allergy-like itchiness.

 

Health implications
Methadone is physically addictive and withdrawal is said to be longer and more unpleasant than that of heroin, though tolerance takes longer to develop. Suppressed breathing and cough reflex carry the same risks as with heroin and overdose is also common in users who are not used to the drug or have lost their tolerance.

The injection of undiluted 50ml ampoules can lead to vein damage and injecting crushed tablets carries serious risk of vein blocking and abscesses.

Mixing methadone with alcohol carries increased risk of passing out and as with heroin the cough reflex is suppressed leaving the user prone to infection and choking on their own vomit. Methadone is extremely toxic to children.