METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE IS WIDELU USED IN DRUG TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTS AND EFFECTIVELY RELIEVES THE CRAVING FOR HEROIN.

METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE IS WIDELU USED IN DRUG TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTS AND EFFECTIVELY RELIEVES THE CRAVING FOR HEROIN. HOWEVER, METHADONE IS ITSELF ADDICTIVE AND A DRUG OF ABUSE. AS A RESULT, DIVERSION OF METHADONE TO THE BLACK MARKET BY PATIENTS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND THE DRUG CANNOTUSUALLY BE GIVEN TO PATIENTS FOR SELF-MEDICATION. THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT METHADONE FREE BASE OR ACETYL METHADOL WOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY SKIN PERMEABLE TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATION AS A TRANSDERMAL PATCH, ESPECIALLY IF THE DRUG IS ADMINISTERED WITH A SKIN PERMEATION ENHANCER SUCH ASETHANOL OR PROPANOL. THIS RESEARCH PROPOSES TO DEVELOP SUCHA SYSTEM. BECAUSE METHADONE IN A TRANSDERMAL PATCH, COMPOUNDED WITH UNPALATABLE EXCIPIENT, WOULD NOT BE OPEN TO ABUSE, THIS APPROACH COULD ALLOW INNOVATIONS IN DRUG TREAT- MENT PROGRAMS. IN THE PROPOSED PHASE I PROGRAM, THE PERMEABILITY OF SKIN TO METHADONE FREE BASE AND ACETYL METHADOL WITH AND WITHOUT SKIN PERMEATION ENHANCERS WOULD BEDETERMINED. IF THESE RESULTS ARE SUFFICIENTLY ENCOURAGING, TRANSDERMAL DEVICES WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN A PHASE II PROGRAM, AND A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH CLINICAL RESEARCH WOULD BE UNDERATKEN.