Melody Glenn—Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

MOTHER OF METHADONE
A DOCTOR'S QUEST, A FORGOTTEN HISTORY,
AND A MODERN-DAY CRISIS
Melody Glenn, MD
Beacon Press, July 22, 2025
Hardcover: $28.95; Paperback: $18.95 (forthcoming July 2026)
Ebook: $15.99, Audiobook: $28.00
Hardcover ISBN: 9780807017760
Paperback ISBN: 9780807024409
eBook ISBN: 9780807017753
Audiobook ISBN: 9780807020906

Glenn reports:

My obsession with the history of methadone began during my interview to become a physician at a methadone clinic, which was surrounded by a locked iron fence and patrolled by a police officer. Had methadone clinics always felt so carceral?

During the interview, I realized I harbored a stigma against methadone, as did many of the doctors I knew. We often believed that buprenorphine, a similar medication, was far superior to methadone. Was that preference due to buprenorphine’s pharmacological properties or something less rooted in science—a belief in abstinence-based recovery or even in the need to punish people who used drugs, for example?

Although medications for opioid use disorder are among the most effective treatments for any chronic disease, less than half of Americans have access to them.

That evening, I dove into the archives to see how methadone was received when first proposed as a treatment for heroin addiction in the 1960’s. That’s when I discovered Dr. Marie Nyswander, the co-founder of methadone maintenance. In her story, I hoped to find both answers to my questions and a vision for the addiction physician I hoped to become.

While working on my MFA in creative writing thesis, I began an essay on Dr. Nyswander. After about 15 pages, I realized she deserved a book.

I read several blogs and books on book proposals, but few addressed the hybrid memoir/biography I was writing. I found Elizabeth Gassman on Reedsy, an editor who spent several months helping me write my proposal. I also purchased a membership to Publishers Marketplace and reviewed their daily deal alerts to find agents who represented books like mine. I reached out to 38 agents. Several asked to see my proposal, and a few offered to represent me. I am now happily represented by Ayla Zuraw-Friedland at the Frances Goldin Literary Agency.

I wish I had known to apply to more book festivals soon after my book was published, as many have a short eligibility window. They are a lot of fun. My advice to aspiring authors: Just keep writing—the story will appear.

Contact info:

• Melody Glenn, melodyglenn@aemrc.arizona.edu
  • Glenn’s website: Melody Glenn, MD MFA
  • Bluesky: Melody Glenn, MD MFA
  • X: MGlennEM
• Book:
  • Publisher: Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis
  • Glenn’s website: Melody Glenn, MD MFA
• Publicists:
  • Bev Rivero brivero@beacon.org
  • Alyssa Hassan AHassan@beacon.org
• Agent: Ayla Zuraw-Friedland azf@goldinlit.com

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Melody Glenn.

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