cannabisnews.com: Giuliani Changes Mind on Methadone!





Giuliani Changes Mind on Methadone!
Posted by FoM on January 16, 1999 at 13:02:57 PT

NEW YORK Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is backing off his plan to move thousands of Heroin Addicts into abstinence programs at city hospitals. 
The mayor, who six months ago announced he wanted to abolish methadone treatment, said the original idea was ``maybe somewhat unrealistic,'' according to The New York Times. City officials said Friday that the shift in policy came after a methadone-treatment experiment at five public hospitals resulted in few successes. Methadone, a synthetic drug, is prescribed to cut the craving for heroin. After a five-month tryout, only 21 of the city's 2,100 treated addicts had given up the methadone, health officials said. And of those, five relapsed into heroin use. However, Giuliani said drug treatment experts had persuaded him not to eliminate methadone programs, which researchers across the country still consider the best hope for most recovering heroin addicts. 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: