Methadone Takeaway Doses

Last updated: 01 January 2005

Who can get takeaways?

Takeaways are not an automatic right. The decision to provide takeaways is made by your service provider based on the circumstances of your individual case. You must be on the methadone program at least three months before you can be considered for takeaways.

When making a decision about takeaways, your doctor, in consultation with your treatment team, will be looking at your stability and reliability.

Takeaway dose privileges are not automatically transferred when you change service providers, unless your program includes special arrangements for takeaways.

Any sign of instability or unreliability, even once you have been granted
takeaways, may be grounds for reviewing your takeaway arrangements.
Using heroin, cocaine, amphetamines or benzodiazepines will probably stop your takeaways. You may think your doctor is overly strict about giving you takeaways. This is because takeaways involve risks to you and others.

The risks to you

Overdose may occur if you:

• inject your methadone
• have a takeaway dose soon after your previous dose
• swallow or inject your dose after taking other drugs, including alcohol.

Selling or giving all or part of your dose to anyone is illegal and may interfere with your own treatment.

The risks to others

Very small amounts of methadone can kill someone who is not used to taking methadone, especially children. Selling or giving all or part of your dose to someone else may cause them to overdose and this may result in criminal charges.

For help and support

The Methadone Advice and Complaints Service (MACS) is a confidential telephone service which provides information, advice and referral. It is a forum for methadone service or treatment complaints. The service is available Monday to Friday 9.30-5pm. Freecall: 1800 642 428.

More information

For further information, please read your Methadone Maintenance Treatment - Essential Information booklet. Your prescriber or clinic can provide you with one of these booklets.