The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Patients, Programs, Services, and Outcome John C. Ball and Alan Ross This book examines the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction. It is a comprehensive evaluation of six methadone programs in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The study was sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and conducted by an evaluation team led by a distinguished expert. The study involved an intensive examination of techniques and outcomes in the six programs, followed by two years of data analysis and literature review. The primary conclusion is that methadone treatment is substantially effective in reducing heroin use and associated criminal behavior. This finding is consistent with previous independent evaluations. However, the study goes beyond general effectiveness to examine the specifics of the treatment process. The programs, while all using methadone, differ significantly in treatment philosophy, techniques, and resources. The study provides detailed descriptions of the six programs, including on-site data collection over three years. It also presents analyses of treatment outcomes, including the relationship between methadone dose and heroin use. The findings suggest that sub-optional doses of methadone can hinder rehabilitation efforts and complicate the analysis of other process variables. The study also addresses the impact of the AIDS epidemic on methadone treatment, emphasizing the need for adequate dosing to prevent the spread of viral infections. It concludes that a full blocking dose of methadone is often essential to suppress narcotic craving and eliminate heroin use in 95% of patients. The book also includes a detailed analysis of the pretreatment characteristics of 617 male methadone maintenance patients, as well as a discussion of the reduction in drug abuse and crime during methadone maintenance treatment. It concludes that methadone maintenance treatment is an effective intervention for heroin addiction, with significant reductions in heroin use and associated criminal behavior. The study highlights the importance of adequate dosing, comprehensive program data, and the need for continued research and evaluation of methadone maintenance treatment. It also acknowledges the contributions of the evaluation team and the staff of methadone maintenance treatment programs.The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Patients, Programs, Services, and Outcome John C. Ball and Alan Ross This book examines the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction. It is a comprehensive evaluation of six methadone programs in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The study was sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and conducted by an evaluation team led by a distinguished expert. The study involved an intensive examination of techniques and outcomes in the six programs, followed by two years of data analysis and literature review. The primary conclusion is that methadone treatment is substantially effective in reducing heroin use and associated criminal behavior. This finding is consistent with previous independent evaluations. However, the study goes beyond general effectiveness to examine the specifics of the treatment process. The programs, while all using methadone, differ significantly in treatment philosophy, techniques, and resources. The study provides detailed descriptions of the six programs, including on-site data collection over three years. It also presents analyses of treatment outcomes, including the relationship between methadone dose and heroin use. The findings suggest that sub-optional doses of methadone can hinder rehabilitation efforts and complicate the analysis of other process variables. The study also addresses the impact of the AIDS epidemic on methadone treatment, emphasizing the need for adequate dosing to prevent the spread of viral infections. It concludes that a full blocking dose of methadone is often essential to suppress narcotic craving and eliminate heroin use in 95% of patients. The book also includes a detailed analysis of the pretreatment characteristics of 617 male methadone maintenance patients, as well as a discussion of the reduction in drug abuse and crime during methadone maintenance treatment. It concludes that methadone maintenance treatment is an effective intervention for heroin addiction, with significant reductions in heroin use and associated criminal behavior. The study highlights the importance of adequate dosing, comprehensive program data, and the need for continued research and evaluation of methadone maintenance treatment. It also acknowledges the contributions of the evaluation team and the staff of methadone maintenance treatment programs.