THE COMMITTE'S INQUIRIES INCLUDED STAFF INVESTIGATIONS OF METHADONE DIVERSION, OUTSIDE STUDIES AND RESEARCH ON METHADONE AND ABUSING PATIENTS, METHADONE-RELATED DEATHS, EMERGENCY ROOM DATA, USE OF DIVERTED METHADONE, AND PRIMARY ADDICTION TO METHADONE. IN ADDITION METHADONE REGULATION AND METHADONE ABUSE IN NEW YORK WERE EXAMINED. THE HEARINGS CONVINCED THE COMMITTEE THAT METHADONE, PROPERLY UTILIZED, IS A LEGITIMATE TREATMENT MODALITY FOR OPIATE ADDICTION. IT MUST, HOWEVER, BE SEEN AS ONE TREATMENT MODALITY ONLY, AS IT DOES INVOLVE THE SUBSTITUTION OF ONE ADDICTIVE DRUG FOR ANOTHER AND THUS PRESENTS A NORMAL, MEDICAL, AND LEGAL DILEMMA. FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, METHADONE DIVERSION AND ILLICIT SALES REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT THREAT. THE COMMITTEE DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS CASES OF PRIMARY METHADONE ADDICTION, OF DRUG DEATH DUE TO ILLICIT METHADONE USE AND OF EMERGENCY ROOM EPISODES INVOLVING METHADOME. ILLICIT USE OF METHADONE MUST BE MINIMIZED AND TAKE-HOME DOSAGE UNITS REPRESENT A MAJOR THREAT. ALTHOUGH THE BENEFITS OF METHADONE TREATMENT ARE GREAT, THE SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS OF ITS WIDESPREAD USE ARE ALSO GREAT. THE COMMITTEE STATES THAT THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES MUST INTENSIFY THEIR SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO METHADONE. SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS, AND COSTS ALTERNATIVE DRUGS SUCH AS LAAM (L-ALPHA ACETYL METHADOL) AND NARCOTIC ANTAGONISTS MUST BE SCIENTIFICALLY CONSIDERED. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)