Do I have to dissolve my 40MG Tablets of Methadone? Why am I not supposed to chew and/or swallow them?

I have been on methadone maintenance for about 3 years now & I just gained something called Step 30 which means that I don't have to go in to the clinic every day anymore. Instead, I come in once a month to pick up a months worth of pills. When I went in to the clinic I was getting liquid methadone, but now I have the Methadose 40mg Methadone Hydrochloride Tablets For Oral Suspension USP. On a different label they are also called Methadone HCL 40mg Diskettes. I'm told that I am not supposed to chew and/or swallow them before I dissolve them in water. Unfortunetly, they taste horrible and even mixing them in OJ is nasty. My question is, why can't I break them up & swallow them, & if I did what would be the worst thing that could happen? If I do absolutely have to dissolve them first, do you have any advice on a less painful way to administer them? Thanks!