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Three of the most studied opioid receptor sites are the mu, delta and
kappa receptors, named using the letters of the Greek alphabet to
differentiate each type. The mu opioid receptor site has received the
most attention because it tells us a lot about how opioid drugs work.

Some drugs bind with greater strength (affinity) at receptor sites than
others and will produce a more pronounced effect. For example,
heroin has a greater affinity for binding at the mu, delta and kappa
opiate receptor sites than morphine. These opioid receptors are
associated with mood and pleasure, among other things. Because
heroin binds more readily at these sites, it produces a more intense
behavioral euphoric effect.

Methadone Treatment

Because heroin isn't just a drug to users, it's an abiding personal passion and an all-
consuming concern, a soothing balm of oblivion to calm the dull ache of existence.
It's the reason some people get up in the morning and the reason they fall asleep at
night. It's the first thought they think of when they realize they're awake, alive, or
alone. It's an identity, vocation, and pastime, a lover, master, and friend. In fact,
heroin is just about everything to every addict, all the time. Everything, that is,
except safe, legal, and free.
Anonymous

Research from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has
shown that opioid dependent individuals will compulsively continue to
use opioids despite adverse physical, emotional and life altering
consequences because of at least two motivational factors: 1) the
desire to self medicate the pain of narcotic withdrawal symptoms, and
2) the driving force of drug craving.

The primary goal of methadone treatment is to stabilize clients on a
sufficient dose of methadone to both treat the symptoms of withdrawal
and to block the behaviors of drug craving – two precipitating
dynamics for relapse behaviors. Once stabilized, clients can then
begin the process of recovery by gaining new skills from counseling
that will enable them to regain a normal lifestyle. As used in
maintenance treatment, methadone is not a heroin substitute. It is