THE VERA PROPOSAL WAS FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT INVOLVING 300 MALE ADDICTS WHO HAD PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE TREATMENT-RESISTANT. THESE ADDICTS WERE TO BE MAINTAINED ON HEROIN INJECTED AT A CLINIC FOR A PERIOD OF NO LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS, DURING WHICH TIME THE ADDICTS WOULD BE PREPARED FOR MORE CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT (E.G., METHADONE MAINTENANCE, DRUG-FREE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES). HEROIN MAINTENANCE WAS ENVISIONED AS A 'LURE' TO BRING HARDENED ADDICTS INTO THE TREATMENT SYSTEM. A REFORMIST EFFORT TO MOBILIZE SUPPORT FOR HEROIN MAINTENANCE EXPERIMENTS MADE NOTABLE INROADS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, BUT INTENSE OPPOSITION FROM BLACKS, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL GROUPS, AND TRADITIONAL ANTI-DRUG FORCES BLOCKED EVEN THE MOST CAREFUL CLINICAL TRIAL OF HEROIN MAINTENANCE. THIS OPPOSITION WAS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE FORMATION OF AND AD HOC CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THAT SOUGHT THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION TO PREVENT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FROM GRANTING APPROVAL TO THE RESEARCH PROPOSED BY THE VERA INSTITUTE. THE INTENSITY OF THE OPPOSITION REVEALS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE USE OF HEROIN HAD ACHIEVED A SYMBOLIC STATUS BEARING LIMITED RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE ENCOUNTERED IN ADMINISTRATION OF A CLINICAL PROGRAM FOR THE THE CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN. ON THE OTHER HAND, REFORMISTS' BELIEF THAT PROVIDING HEROIN UNDER CLINICAL CONDITIONS WOULD SOLVE THE REMAINING ADDICTION PROBLEM DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ADDICT'S CONTINUING DESIRE TO DEAL WITH THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL STRAINS THROUGH 'STREET LIFE' AND THE PLEASURE OF HEROIN EUPHORIA. BOTH OPPOSITION TO AND SUPPORT OF HEROIN MAINTENANCE ASSUMED A RITUALISTIC QUALITY. REFORMISTS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT NARCOTICS MAINTENANCE WAS WELL ESTABLISHED AS A FACT OF SOCIAL LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT THE LIMITS OF THE MEDICAL MODEL OF REFORM HAD BEEN REACHED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)