When I first started prescribing methadone, I had to get approval from Health Canada. I had to have a special exemption to be able to prescribe methadone. It was contingent on having taken a course in the prescribing of methadone, which outlined its neurochemistry and the pharmacokinetics of methadone. I had to meet special requirements before the College of Physicians and Surgeons to prove that I was in good standing to be able to prescribe opioids.
Those two authorities, the college and Health Canada, effectively screened me out as being someone who was going to be prescribing methadone for legitimate reasons, and the likelihood of over-prescribing or inappropriate prescribing was minimal.
That doesn't seem to be the case just because the number of patients who are experiencing opioid misuse renders it far too difficult, really impossible, for so many physicians treating that patient population to keep controls over things. It would just consume far too much time, I presume.
I can't say more than that.