Kicking a heroin or opioid use disorder through a methadone treatment program takes dedication and lots of time. Every morning, often before the sun is up, patients at public clinics stand in line, waiting for their turn to be watched as they swig a little cup of the powerful medicine. It’s a process they’ll have to repeat day after day—perhaps for at least a year depending on their treatment plan. Little wonder some call methadone “liquid handcuffs.” But there is an alternative: buprenorphine. It can be prescribed in a doctor’s office and taken in the comfort of a private home. No standing in line, no distrust, no stigma.