A preliminary cost analysis conducted in 2016 by the US Department of Defense determined that methadone treatment, which includes psychosocial and support services, may cost an average of $126.00 per week or $6,552.00 per year. The average cost for one full year of methadone maintenance treatment is approximately $4,700 per patient, whereas one full year of imprisonment costs approximately $24,000 per person. Controversy
Methadone substitution as a treatment of opioid addiction has been criticized in the social sciences for its role in the social control of addicts. Such critique centers on the notion that substance addiction is reframed with a disease model. Thus methadone, which mimics the effects of opioids and renders the addict compliant, is labeled as a "treatment" and so achieves the disciplinary objectives of managing the "undesirables". It is suggested that methadone does not function as much to curb addiction as to redirect it and maintain dependency on authorised channels. Several authors apply a Foucauldian analysis to the widespread prescription of the drug and use in institutions such as prisons, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres. Regulation
United States and Canada
Methadone is a Schedule I controlled substance in Canada and Schedule II in the United States, with an ACSCN of 9250 and a 2014 annual aggregate manufacturing quota of 31,875 kilos for sale. Methadone intermediate is also controlled, under ACSCN 9226 also under Schedule II, with a quota of 38,875 kilos. In most countries of the world, methadone is similarly restricted.
Methadone, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Tapering off of methadone maintenance
DE patent 711069, Dr Max Bockmuehl & Dr Gustav Ehrhart, "Verfahren zur Darstellung von basischen Estern", published 1941-09-25, issued 1941-09-25,  assigned to IG Farbenindustrie AG