Methadone is a pill. I have some here that my grandfather took before his death for pain. They are very tiny white pills and dissolve rapidly according to g'pa's hospice nurse.
You are exactly right. The conclusions that are being attached to methadone are just not correct. Methadone is a standard pain reliever for everything from cancer pain to hospice care to chronic back pain before/after surgery, etc. It is by far one of the easiest opiates to "wean off of" BUT if abused, there is definitely a problem. In addition, if there is an undetected heart condition, methadone will definitely exacerbate things. Methadone is not just for heroin addicts.
The standard dosage for those who are taking methadone for heroin addiction is anywhere upwards of 80mg to 120mg and it is in liquid form. For pain treatment -- not heroin addiction, it can be anywhere from 2.5mg to 20mg in pill form. BIG difference.