Methadone maintenance treatment has important benefits for addicted individuals and for society.

These benefits include:

• reduced or stopped use of injection drugs

• reduced risk of overdose and of acquiring or transmitting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B or   C, bacterial infections, endocarditis, soft tissue infections, thrombophlebitis, tuberculosis, and   STDs

• reduced mortality - the median death rate of opiate-dependent individuals in MMT is 30          percent of the rate of those not in MMT

• possible reduction in sexual risk behaviors, although evidence on this point is conflicting

• reduced criminal activity 

• improved family stability

• employment potential

• improved pregnancy outcomes.

Using commonly accepted criteria for medical interventions, several studies have also shown that MMT is extremely cost-effective.