PREVIOUS STUDIES OF THE RESULTS OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS HAVE INVOLVED OLDER, HARD-CORE ADDICTS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SHOWN POOR RESULTS. THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM OF THE FAMILY MATERNITY CLINIC OF THE KINGS COUNTY, N.Y., ADDICTIVE DISEASE HOSPITAL. THE CLINIC HAS BEEN TREATING A POPULATION OF YOUNGER ADDICTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN NOVEMBER, 1971. IT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR PREGNANT ADDICTS, ADDICTED MOTHERS, AND THEIR ADDICTED SPOUSES. STABILIZED METHADONE DOSAGES ARE KEPT TO 60 MG OR LESS WHEN POSSIBLE, AND PATIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DETERMINATION OF A STABILIZING METHADONE DOSAGE AND A DETOXIFICATION SCHEDULE. PATIENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE COUNSELING IN WHICH CHILD CARE AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE EMPHASIZED, AND METHADONE DETOXIFICATION AFTER A PERIOD OF STABILIZATION IS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED. THE SAMPLE EXAMINED IN THIS STUDY COMPRISES THE 70 NONPREGNANT PATIENTS WHO REQUESTED DETOXIFICATION FROM JULY 1972 TO JANUARY 1974. WOMEN MAKE UP 74.3 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE, WITH THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE WOMEN 22.4 YEARS AND 26 YEARS FOR THE MEN. THE SAMPLE WAS 77.1 PERCENT BLACK, 12.9 PERCENT WHITE, AND 10 PERCENT PUERTO RICAN. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE WOMEN EITHER MARRIED OR LIVING IN A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN WAS 78.9. BECAUSE OF THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM, ALL THE MEN IN THE SAMPLE WERE EITHER MARRIED OR LIVING WITH A WOMAN IN A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP. THE SAMPLE SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDS TO THE TOTAL CLINIC POPULATION. PREGNANT WOMEN WERE INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE SAMPLE. OF THE 70 PATIENTS REQUESTING DETOXIFICATION, 62.9 PERCENT COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE AND HAVE REMAINED DRUG-FREE AND IN CONTACT WITH THE PROGRAM AN AVERAGE OF 11.5 MONTHS. AT THE END OF EVALUATION, 6 WERE DRUG-FREE FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, 22 WERE DRUG-FREE FOR 6-12 MONTHS, 9 FOR 13-18 MONTHS, AND 7 FOR MORE THAN 18 MONTHS. IN ADDITION, EIGHT PATIENTS WERE UNABLE TO COMPLETE DETOXIFICATION; NINE COMPLETED DETOXIFICATION BUT, AFTER A DRUG-FREE PERIOD, AGAIN REQUIRED METHADONE MAINTENANCE IN THE CLINIC. THE PRINCIPAL FINDING OF THE STUDY WAS THAT 44 OF 70 PATIENTS REMAINED DRUG-FREE AND IN CONTACT WITH THEIR TREATMENT PROGRAM. LOW-DOSE METHADONE TREATMENT LEADING TO ABSTINENCE AFTER A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF MAINTENANCE, ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG COUNSELING AND MEDICAL SUPPORT, IS A VIABLE APPROACH FOR YOUNG, FAMILY-ORIENTED ADDICTS WITH A SHORT HISTORY OF ADDICTION. (RCB)