Under careful monitoring by medical professionals, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is safe, effective, and affordable.  When employed to treat opiate addiction, methadone performs three functions, all of which are integral to the recovery process: it prevents the symptoms of withdrawal, eliminates cravings, and prevents the client from experiencing a high in the event that he or she uses another opiate during treatment. MMT, the most widely accepted and best-studied treatment for opioid dependence, has been shown to reduce not only addiction related morbidity and mortality, but also the societal costs associated with drug-related crimes and the spread of bloodborne diseases such as HIV.  In addition, long-term MMT has been shown to be more effective than short-term or non-agonist-based treatments, and a high rate of relapse to opioid use has been found when MMT is discontinued too soon.