Unlike morphine and heroin, methadone is described as which of the following?

Unlike morphine and heroin, methadone is described as which of the following?

• A. Not a narcotic
• B. Non-habit forming
• C. A synthetic drug
• D. A central nervous system depressor

Answer: (C)

The key idea being tested is the origin of the drug. Morphine is a natural opioid derived from opium, and heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine. Methadone, on the other hand, is fully synthetic and produced in a lab. Because of this, methadone is described as a synthetic drug, which distinguishes it from the naturally derived morphine and the semi-synthetic heroin. Note that this doesn’t negate similarities in effect—methadone still acts on the same opioid receptors and is a controlled, habit-forming substance with CNS depressant effects—but the statement about being synthetic is what sets it apart from the others.

The key idea being tested is the origin of the drug. Morphine is a natural opioid derived from opium, and heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine. Methadone, on the other hand, is fully synthetic and produced in a lab. Because of this, methadone is described as a synthetic drug, which distinguishes it from the naturally derived morphine and the semi-synthetic heroin.

Note that this doesn’t negate similarities in effect—methadone still acts on the same opioid receptors and is a controlled, habit-forming substance with CNS depressant effects—but the statement about being synthetic is what sets it apart from the others.