NCJ Number
70643
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 59-68
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Methadone treatment programs are advocated as the only means of limiting involvement of West German addicts in criminal activities.
Abstract
Drug addiction is necessarily linked with crime, as addicts must frequently resort to stealing the drugs that they crave or must obtain enough money through illegal activities to purchase black market drugs. Methadone maintenance programs of the Dole/Nyswander type seek to stabilize long tern addicts over 20 years old without multiple drug dependence or severe psychological problems by providing a maintenance dose of methadone. The program is divided into three phases: 1) adjustment of the patient to a maintenance dose of methadone (6 weeks), 2) provision of daily oral doses to the patient at a clinic, and 3) continuation of phase two with integration of the patient into a normal living situation and eventual reduction of dosage to nothing. The success rate of such programs has been fairly high, although some patients continue to use heroin occasionally. A side effect of such programs, if used extensively, might be partial destruction of illegal heroin market, but a certain number of illegal users must be expected to remain customers. Many studies indicate that criminal activities of patients in such methadone programs are dramatically reduced, while others show no change. In general, however, all such studies use arrests and convictions to measure effectiveness. Evaluation of this type does not take into account such factors as police attitudes toward programs, which influence arrest rates. Whether studies regard addicts as criminals involved in yet another form of antisocial behavior or victims of prohibitive drug policies tends to affect attitudes toward the feasibility of methadone programs. In either case, repressive policies force addicts to turn to the criminal drug subculture for high-priced heroin. The advantage of methadone programs is seen in the possibility of diverting addicts toward rehabilitation rather than a career. A 25-item bibliography is furnished. --in German.