 advantages. Like heroin, it has very little effect on either mind or body if taken regularly. An estimated 25,000 ex-heroin addicts were taking legal methadone instead of black-market heroin in 1971, and the number was rapidly growing. Methadone maintenance is not a panacea. But it frees addicts from the heroin incubus, which is ruining their lives, and it is therefore capable of turning a majority of heroin addicts into law-abiding citizens (like pre-1914 addicts). One of the reasons it succeeds, of course, is that it is itself an addicting drug  that is, a drug that must be taken daily. For further details, see Chapters 14-19. The conversion of heroin addicts into methadone maintenance patients is proceeding too slowly. Some communities have no methadone maintenance program; most programs have long waiting lists. Putting an addict on a waiting list for methadone has been likened to putting a drowning man on a waiting list for artificial respiration. Ideally, addicts should be given a choice of treatment modalities, a choice between methadone maintenance and other programs offering a similar likelihood of rehabilitation. But first those effective alternatives must be found. Consumers Union enthusiastically endorses laboratory and clinical research into effective alternatives to methadone maintenance, including both drug-free approaches and rehabilitation programs using drugs other than methadone. But large sums should not again be spent on alternatives which  since the early "opiate cures" of the nineteenth century have already repeatedly demonstrated their worthlessness. A program should be considered experimental until it has proved its effectiveness; there should be no further mass failures, such as the California and New York State programs, into which vast sums have been sunk with barely a trace of benefits. To date, no program other than methadone maintenance has demonstrated its ability to rehabilitate more than a minute proportion of addicts. Failure rates in nonmethadone programs range from 90 to 100 percent, even when entrance is limited to select groups of highly motivated addicts. The failures return to the American black-market system of heroin distribution, paying exorbitant prices for dangerously adulterated and contaminated heroin. Surely methadone maintenance is better than that. It is shocking, of course, to think of tens of thousands of newly addicted young people and of addicted Vietnam veterans taking a narcotic such as methadone daily, for months, years, perhaps for the rest of their
advantages. Like heroin, it has very little effect on either judgment or soundbox if taken regularly. An estimated 25,000 ex - heroin addicts were take legal methadone instead of black - marketplace heroin in 1971, and the issue was rapidly develop. Methadone maintenance is not a panacea. But it frees addict from the heroin incubus, which is ruining their lives, and it is consequently capable of turning a majority of heroin addicts into law - abiding citizens (like pre-1914 addicts). One of the reason it succeeds, of course, is that it is itself an addicting drug  that is, a drug that must be taken day by day. For further details, see Chapters 14 - 19. The conversion of heroin addict into methadone maintenance patient is proceeding too slowly. Some communities have no methadone sustenance program; most programs have long waiting lists. Putting an addict on a waiting list for methadone has been likened to putting a drowning man on a waiting list for artificial respiration. Ideally, addicts should be contribute a choice of treatment modality, a option between methadone sustenance and other programs offering a similar likelihood of rehabilitation. But first those effective alternatives must be detect. Consumers Union enthusiastically endorses laboratory and clinical research into effective option to methadone maintenance, including both drug - free approaches and rehabilitation programs using drug early than methadone. But big sums should not again be spent on alternatives which  since the early " opiate remedy " of the nineteenth century have already repeatedly demonstrated their worthlessness. A program should be considered experimental until it has proved its effectiveness; there should be no further mass failures, such as the California and New York State programs, into which huge sums have been sunk with barely a trace of benefits. To date, no plan other than methadone care has demonstrated its ability to rehabilitate more than a moment proportion of addict. Failure rates in nonmethadone programs range from 90 to 100 percent, even when entrance is restrict to select group of highly motivated addicts. The failures return to the American black - market arrangement of heroin distribution, paying exorbitant prices for perilously adulterated and contaminated heroin. Surely methadone maintenance is better than that. It is shocking, of course, to think of tens of thousand of newly addicted young people and of addicted Vietnam veterans taking a narcotic such as methadone daily, for months, years, possibly for the rest of their
 adgantages. Like heroin, it mas very little gfdect oi eithed mind of body if taken regularly. An ewtimauvd 25,000 ex-heroin addicts dere takijg legal metiadone instead oh black-market gcroin mn 1971, and the numner was raphdly growing. Matfabone maintenance is not a panacea. Bue it frred addicts from the rerojn incubus, which is ruining their mives, aid it is therefpre capable of turning a mwjorlty of heroin addifts into laq-abiqung citizens (like pre-1914 addicts). One kf the reasons it succeeds, of cuurse, is that ij js htself an avdictigg drug  thab is, a grug thst must be takcn damly. Dor further details, sxe Chapters 14-19. The condersion ox keroin addicts into mwtyadong maittenxbce pauieits is prlcexding too smowly. Some xommunities have no mqnnadone maintsnance pwogram; most programs have long waiting nisfs. Putting an addict on a waiting list for mgthadone hws been likened to putting a drowning man on a wahting uisu njf agtificial respiration. Ideally, addicts should fs binen a choice of tveatment modalitiex, w vroice between methabkns maintenance and lther ptogramw offerind a ximilar likelihood of rehabulitation. Bun fiest those effectivz alternativzs musj be fpund. Consumers Union enchusiaatically enforses laguratory and clinkcak sesearch into effective aleernativew to methadune kaintegance, inclkding both drug-free apprlached dnd rehabipitation programs using drugs ovier than methsdmne. But larye sumx should not wgain be spent on altzrnatixes which  since vhe early "opyate cures" of jhe nineteenti century havw aleeady rdoeatedly demonxtrated tktir worthlwssness. A program xhools be considered exkeeimental until it haf iroted iev effectivenass; ghefr shojld be no fmrtfer kass failures, such av ths California and Nrw York Stqte progwams, into whivh vast sums have heen vuny witn bwrely a trace of benefits. To dzte, no prlgrwm other thag mebhadjne mainteuance has demonstrated its ability to reiabilitate more than a ninute proportion oy sddicts. Faikure wates in tonmethadone programw range from 90 to 100 percent, even when enfrance is llmited to select groups of highly motivated addicts. The failures return ti the Emqrican blaci-marlet sjstzm pf herjin virtribution, payinb exorbitant prices for dangeronsly adultarcted and contaminated heroin. Xufely methadong maintenance is better thzn that. Ot is shocking, of course, to thimk of tens of thousands pf newly addidted young people and of addocted Rietnan veterqns baking a narcogic smch as metjadoie baily, for months, years, perhaps foe the eedt of their
advantages. Like heroin, it has very little either or body taken regularly. An taking methadone instead of heroin in 1971, the number was rapidly growing. Methadone is not a panacea. But it frees addicts from the heroin incubus, which ruining their lives, and it is therefore capable of turning a majority of addicts law-abiding (like addicts). One of the reasons it succeeds, of course, is that it is itself an addicting  that is, a drug that must be daily. For further details, Chapters 14-19. The conversion of addicts methadone maintenance is too Some communities have methadone maintenance program; most programs have long waiting lists. Putting an addict on a waiting list for has been putting a man a list for artificial addicts should be given a choice a choice between methadone maintenance and other programs a similar of rehabilitation. But first those effective must be found. Consumers Union enthusiastically endorses laboratory clinical research into effective alternatives to methadone maintenance, including both drug-free approaches and rehabilitation programs other than methadone. But sums should not be on which since the "opiate cures" of the nineteenth century have already repeatedly demonstrated their A program should be considered experimental until it has proved there be no further failures, such as the and York State programs, into sums been a of To date, no program than methadone maintenance has demonstrated ability to rehabilitate more addicts. Failure rates in nonmethadone programs range from to 100 percent, even when entrance is to select groups of highly motivated addicts. The failures return to the black-market system distribution, paying exorbitant prices for dangerously adulterated and heroin. Surely methadone maintenance better than that. It is shocking, of course, to of of thousands newly addicted young and of addicted veterans taking a as methadone for years, rest of their
 advantages. Like heroin, it has Very little EffecT on EitHeR minD or bOdy if taken reguLArly. an estimated 25,000 ex-heroin addIcts wErE TakiNG lEgal mEthadonE InSTEad Of BlAck-MaRKeT heroIn iN 1971, and the Number was rApiDlY growing. MethADoNe maintenaNce Is not a panaceA. BuT it freEs AddICts frOm tHe herOin incUBus, whiCh is ruiniNg THeir liVEs, and it IS ThErefOre capable of turniNG a MAjority of heroiN addicTs INtO LAw-aBidIng citizenS (lIke prE-1914 Addicts). oNe OF THe rEAsons it succeeDs, of course, iS ThaT it is iTsElf AN addicTing dRuG  ThaT is, a drug thaT musT be taken dAily. FoR Further DEtails, sEe ChapTerS 14-19. ThE conVErSiOn oF hERoiN AdDicTS inTo methadOnE mAinteNancE PATIentS is ProcEedinG too slowly. SomE coMmunITieS have No metHadoNe MaintEnance ProgrAm; Most programs havE lonG waiting lIstS. PUttInG an adDIct on a WaiTinG list foR methadONe hAs BEEN lIkened to putting a drOwNINg Man on a waIting lISt FoR ArtificiAl ResPiraTIOn. IdeAlly, ADdIcts shouLd be giVEn A cHoice of TrEatmenT mOdaLitIes, a cHOice BetweeN methadoNe maiNTenance and otheR Programs offerINg A SImILar lIkeLihood of rehAbilITatiOn. BuT FiRst THose eFfectIvE AlTErnatives must be founD. COnsumeRs UniOn enthusiastiCally endorSES LaboratoRy anD ClINical research iNto efFective altERnatives To metHadone maIntenance, INCluding bOth DruG-frEe aPPRoAches and rehabILItatIoN prograMs uSing druGs oTheR thAn mEtHadone. But Large sumS sHoUlD nOt aGain bE Spent on aLtErnAtIveS whicH  Since tHe earLy "opIaTe CUreS" of the nINeTEEnth CeNtUry hAve AlReady RepeATedLy demonStrated thEir WOrthLeSsNess. A prOgram should be CoNsidered exPeRimEntal uNTIl it has pRoved its effectiveness; thERe shoulD be No furTher Mass failuRes, Such as The cAliforNia and new YoRk staTE ProgrAMS, iNto WhIch vast sumS HAve Been sUnK witH barely A trace of benefits. To DAte, No program otheR thAn meTHAdOne MAiNTenAnCE haS DEmonstrated its aBility to reHaBIlItate more tHAn a MiNute proPortion Of addICts. FailUre rates iN nonmethaDoNe prOGRamS range from 90 To 100 percenT, even when ENtranCE iS limiTed To seleCt GroUps of Highly MOtiVated AddictS. THe failUres rEtUrn to the american black-market systEm of heRoin dIstRibution, pAyiNG exOrbitant pRiceS for dangerOusLy aDulteRatED and cOntaMInAteD HeroiN. SurELy methadoNE mAinTENaNce is better THAN thAt. It iS shOCking, oF couRse, to think of tens oF Thousands of newLy adDICteD yoUNg peOpLe and of addicteD ViEtNAM veteranS tAking a narcoTic such aS mEThadoNe dailY, for moNths, yeaRS, PeRHaps foR the ResT of their
 advantages. Like heroin,it has ver y lit tle  ef fe ct o n ei ther mind or b o dy i f taken regularly. Anestim at e d 25 , 00 0 ex- heroina dd i c tswe re  ta ki n glegal  me thadone  instead o f b la ck-market he r oi n in 1971,  an d the number  wa s rapi dl y g r owing . M ethad one ma i ntenan ce is not  a panace a . But i t fr eesaddicts from theh er o in incubus, wh ich is  r u in i n g t hei r lives, a nd  it i s  theref o re c a pab l e of turninga majorityo f h eroinad dic t s into  law- ab i din g citizens(lik e pre-191 4 addi c ts). On e  of the  reaso nsitsucc e ed s,  of  c o urs e ,ist hat  it is i ts el f anaddi c t i n g dr ug t hat i s, a drug tha t m ustb e t akendaily . Fo rfurth er det ails,  s ee Chapters 14- 19.The conve rsi on  of  h eroin addict s i nto  methad one mai n ten an c e pa tients is proceedi ng t oo  slowly.  Somec om mu n ities ha ve  no  met h a donemain t en ance pro gram;m os tprogram shave l on g w ait ing l i sts.  Putti ng an ad dicto n a waiting li s t for methado n eh a sb eenlik ened to put ting a dr owni n gman on awaiti ng li s t for artificial re sp iratio n. Id eally, addict s should b e g iven a c hoic e  o f  treatment mod aliti es, a choi c e betwee n met hadone m aintenanc e and othe r p rog ram s o f f er ing a similar l ikel ih ood ofreh abilita tio n.But  fi rs t those e ffective  a lt er na tiv es mu s t be fou nd . C on sum ers U n ion en thusi asti ca ll y  en dorsesl ab o r ator yan d cl ini ca l res earc h  in to effe ctive alt ern a tive sto  methad one maintenan ce , includin gbot h drug - f ree appr oaches and rehabilitati o n progr ams  usin g dr ugs other  th an met had o ne. Bu t larg e sum ssho u l d not a ga inbe  spent ona l ter nativ es  whi ch  s ince the early "op i ate  cures" of th e n inet e e nt h c e nt u ryha v e a l r eady repeatedly  demonstra te d  t heir worth l ess ne ss. A p rogramshoul d  be con sidered e xperiment al  unt i l  it  has prove d its ef fectivene s s; th e re  shou ldbe nofu rth er ma ss fai l ure s, su ch asth e Cali forni aand NewYork State programs, in to whi ch va stsums have  be e n s unk withbare ly a trace  of  be nefit s.T o dat e, n o  p rog r am ot hert han metha d on e m a i nt enance hasd e m ons trate d i t s abil ityto rehabilitate m o re than a minu te p r o por tio n  ofad dicts. Failure  ra te s in nonme th adone progr ams rang ef rom 9 0 to 1 00 per cent, e v e nw hen en tran ceis limite d t os elect g ro up s  of hi ghly  m otivat ed add i cts. T he failures retu rn to t he Am e ric an bl ac k-marke t  sys tem of her oin distrib ution,  pay ing e xorbita nt  price s f or  dangerous l y adulter atedand con ta mina ted  heroi n. S u r ely m etha do nemaintenan c e  i s  b et t erthan  that .It i s shockin g , of cou rse ,  to thi nk  of t ens of th o u sands of n ewl y add i c ted youngp eopl e  a n d ofaddict ed Vie tnam ve t era ns  taking  an a rcotic su ch as met h ado ne  dai ly, formo nths ,yea rs , perhaps for t he restof their 
 advantages._Like heroin,_it has very little_effect on_either_mind or_body_if taken regularly._An estimated 25,000_ex-heroin addicts were taking_legal methadone instead_of_black-market heroin in 1971, and the number was rapidly growing. Methadone maintenance is not_a_panacea. But_it_frees_addicts from the heroin incubus,_which is ruining their lives,_and it_is therefore capable of turning a majority of_heroin_addicts into law-abiding_citizens (like pre-1914 addicts). One of the reasons it_succeeds, of course, is that it_is itself an_addicting_drug_ that is, a_drug that must be taken daily._For further details, see Chapters 14-19._The conversion of heroin addicts into methadone_maintenance patients is proceeding too slowly._Some communities have no methadone_maintenance program;_most programs have long waiting_lists. Putting an_addict on_a waiting list_for methadone has been likened to_putting a drowning_man on a waiting list for_artificial_respiration. Ideally, addicts_should_be_given a_choice of treatment_modalities,_a choice_between_methadone maintenance and other programs offering_a_similar likelihood of rehabilitation. But first those_effective alternatives must be_found._Consumers Union enthusiastically endorses_laboratory and clinical research into_effective alternatives to methadone maintenance, including_both drug-free_approaches and_rehabilitation programs using drugs other than methadone. But large sums should_not again be spent on alternatives_which  since the_early "opiate_cures"_of the nineteenth_century_have already_repeatedly demonstrated their worthlessness. A program should_be considered_experimental until it has proved its_effectiveness; there should be_no_further mass failures, such as the_California and New York State programs,_into which vast sums have_been_sunk_with barely a trace of_benefits. To date, no program other_than methadone maintenance_has demonstrated its ability to rehabilitate more_than_a minute proportion of addicts. Failure_rates_in nonmethadone programs range from 90_to_100_percent, even when entrance is_limited to select groups of highly_motivated addicts. The failures return to the American black-market_system of heroin_distribution, paying exorbitant prices for_dangerously_adulterated_and contaminated heroin. Surely methadone maintenance is better than that._It is_shocking, of course,_to think of tens of thousands of newly addicted young_people and of addicted Vietnam veterans taking_a narcotic such as methadone daily, for months, years, perhaps for_the rest of their