Thanks for these articles. Where I live there is a pain management doctor who prescribes methadone to his patients who do not have insurance because the cost of oxycontin is so high. Some spent between $300 and $700 per month without insurance and told the doctor they didn't think they could go on and since they were in great need of pain medicine he asked if they would like to try the methadone. Most promptly switched to it. After the transition they were feeling much better about pain control and also spending $20 a month for their medications instead of hundreds of dollars!