Buprenorphine is safer during induction than methadone and, despite shorter retention in treatment, is not associated with a higher risk of death, a study from New South Wales has found. 'While treatment with methadone has been shown to reduce overall mortality in heroin users, both the early weeks of treatment and the period immediately after leaving treatment are associated with increased risk of death. Buprenorphine has been shown to be a safer option in some small studies.'