A member of the International Society of CNS Drug Development, Wayne Macfadden MD is a former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Wayne Macfadden MD has successfully provided medication assisted treatment for opiate use disorder with buprenorphine and methadone.

Opioids are medications used to treat chronic pain. Those who use opioids may become addicted, developing an uncontrolled craving for the medication that makes them continue taking the drug even when continued use causes deleterious effects on their health. They also can develop physical dependence, which occurs when the body becomes tolerant to opioid medication, causing the need for an extra dose of the drug before effects can be seen.

Suboxone® is an opioid-containing combination of two different drugs (buprenorphine and naloxone) while methadone, on the other hand, is a single agent. Methadone and Suboxone® are both controlled substances, meaning they are regulated by the government (DEA) and their use should be under a doctor's supervision. They both can treat chronic pain and opioid addiction, as well as withdrawal symptoms that occur in those suffering from opioid dependence who abruptly discontinue their drug use.