Methadone is a legal drug used to treat opiate addiction. However methadone is a synthetic narcotic and I fear that as long as I'm on this drug I can't get close to God like I once was before I walked away and ended up in worse shape than I have ever been in. My life has changed for the better since I have been on this program, but I'm going on 2 years and the withdrawals off from this drug is 10 times as severe as pain pills. I've tried to detox but fail every time. Is this a sin to put this before God or is it the same as taking any other medication to treat a disease.
Answer
Of course God want first place in our lives. “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) From what I have learned in researching methadone, it appears that you would be much more able to get close to God while on that than if you were on the opiates it is designed to treat.
It takes longer to work yourself off of methadone than it does off the opiates, but the detox is much less strenuous. Talk to the doctor in your treatment program about slowly reducing your dose, if he thinks that is medically practical. And have patience. It may also be that you are one of those who will never be able to totally end treatment. Only your doctor could advise you on that.
Properly supervised methadone treatment would be like any other treatment for a disease. It would be similar in concept to mood enhancing drugs used to treat depression or mania. As long as they help you maintain a level of rational thought, they actually may help your relationship with God. Going off the treatment would not be advisable if it increases your chances of returning to drugs that would cause you to sin, as opiate addiction often does.