The program has a significant role in providing residential treatment for convicted drug addicts and as an alternative to prison for drug addicts. The program aims at the total rehabilitation of drug addicts. The length of treatment ranges from 2 to 12 months. The average length of stay for both young and adult addicts released in 1995 was 5 months and 17 days. Since the program began in 1969 it has treated 49,213 addicts. By the end of 1995, 45,950 persons had completed supervision and 31,708 of these were neither reconvicted nor relapsed into drug use within the supervision period. During 1995 a total of 2,533 persons were admitted to the compulsory placement, an increase of 3 percent over 1994. About 28 percent were ages 14-20 years; the average age on admission was 28 years for males and 25 years for females. Almost all abused heroin, which has been the most frequently abused drug for many years. Figures and tables