The article begins with a summary of clinic settings in which doctors, other staff, and addicts came together. A section on staff views of treating addicts discloses that many doctors view treating addicts as unattractive, a low-status occupation within psychiatry, an area of medicine with few of the rewards found in other medical jobs. Special clinics established to treat addicts included in their programs: (1) prescription of opiate drugs; (2) group therapy; (3) individual therapy; (4) in-patient detoxification; (5) referral to therapeutic communities; and (6) a wide range of social-work help. Clinic staff viewed control and containment of the drug problem as a major aspect of their work, and considered themselves responsible for dealing with the heroin problem, rather than with drug problems in general, and for controlling the drug problem through controlling drug supplies. There is a section on the high level of overt conflict between clinic staff and patients. The authors observed that the clinics' primary task was the social control of addiction, with medical work responsible for control rather than treatment. Involvement by outsiders (Home Office, Department of Health, etc.) is welcomed by the doctors, who consider them allies in the fight against the drug problem. Tables