During the first half of 1992, the number of known AIDS cases among drug users in France totaled 4,387. It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of all drug users in the country are seropositive and that between 40,000 and 75,000 drug users have AIDS. By focusing on a moralistic view of abstaining from drug use, French drug policies do not encourage needle exchange projects, outreach, or education. In the two methadone programs France has, the starting dose is established in terms of addiction and assessed through conversations with the patient. The average starting dose is 40 mg; 50.64 percent of all patients are given an average dose of 30 to 50 mg. Methadone is not considered to be a maintenance treatment, however, and methadone has not yet been used to reduce HIV infection. The author suggests that methadone should be viewed as at least a partial solution to control the incidence of AIDS among drug users.