The Taipei City Health Bureau clarified that methadol is a controlled substance, not a drug, and emphasized that the clean needle program does not provide criminal immunity

2026/10/06 11:55

Methadone treatment medication counter at Taipei United Hospital Kunming Campus. (Photo by reporter Cai Kaiheng)

[Reporter Cai Kaiheng/Report from Taipei] The issue of drug prevention has become a political issue. Recently, medical professionals clarified that "methadol is a second-level drug." The Taipei City Health Bureau countered that methadol is an oral controlled drug, and the promotion of methadol replacement therapy and clean needle services is implemented in accordance with the "Drug Addiction AIDS Harm Reduction Plan" of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The outside world is urged not to spread false rumors and harm the long-term efforts of frontline colleagues. However, according to the reporter's verification, "methadon" is essentially a synthetic opioid, which is a second-level drug in the "Drug Harm Prevention and Control Ordinance" and is also a second-level controlled drug.

The Health Bureau reiterates that it promotes methadone replacement therapy and clean needle services in the hope of reducing the risk of HIV and other blood-borne infectious diseases among drug addicts caused by sharing needles, diluents and related equipment. At the same time, combined with health education consultation, screening and referral for addiction treatment, it will gradually establish a complete drug addiction AIDS harm reduction service network, and focus on psychological consultation and education for drug addicts to help drug addicts solve related physical and mental problems so that they can return to society and minimize the harm of drugs to the people and society.

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In addition, the press release issued by the Health Bureau on the 4th stated, "If drug addicts who participate in the clean needle program use the needles they receive to commit illegal acts such as administering drugs, they will still be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law and will not receive any immunity from criminal law." The Health Bureau solemnly clarifies that the clean needle program is centered on "harm reduction" and is mainly for epidemic prevention and reducing the risk of infection caused by shared needles. It is not intended to legalize drug use. The government provides clean needles to reduce the risk of drug addicts contracting infectious diseases such as HIV from sharing needles; however, whether drug possession and use are illegal must still be determined in accordance with the law, and they have not received any immunity from criminal law.

However, according to the reporter's check on the secondary drug list of the "Drug Hazard Prevention Regulations" on the official website of the Taipei City Drug Hazard Control Center, methadone, methadone intermediates, original methadone, and isomethadone are all listed on the list. According to the classification and items of controlled drugs on the official website of the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, methadol is also listed as a second-level controlled drug.