I think the major difference between heroin and methadone is that when you are being given prescription methadone, then you're not giving all of your benefit money (often including disability benefit so it's a substantial sum), and all of the money you can get on various loans, and also the proceeds of any crime you may commit, to your dealer... A heroin addict who gets disability benefit but not a methadone program is essentially a conduit for Your Tax Dollars to flow from the welfare pot to the people making and selling the drug. This cannot be good.