American Psychiatric Association Task Force Reports: introduction

In general, the overall report on methadone maintenance reflects the views of a predominance of methadone sympathizers rather than methadone advocates on our task force. Those who oppose methadone maintenance must justify their position by offering viable alternatives in the tertiary treatment (i.e., rehabilitation) of 80,000 to 100,000 heroin addicts. Arguments that the government's effort is misplaced and should be directed at social programs which would eliminate the endemic problem of heroin use in areas of extreme deprivation are important to consider on their own merits, but should not be arguments against the tertiary treatment of this disorder. In general, the authors of this statement view the traditional caveat to physicians, 'do no harm,' as the primary consideration. It is in this spirit that this report makes certain specific recommendations relative to the continuing practice of methadone maintenance in the rehabilitation of heroin addicts.