INITIAL RESEARCH CONCERNING METHADONE INDICATED ITS MARKED ADDICTION LIABILITY, AND THE DRUG WAS NOT CONSIDERED USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT OF OPIATE ADDICTION. METHADONE, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN USED BENEFICIALLY FOR THE DETOXIFICATION AND LONG-RANGE MAINTENANCE OF INDIVIDUALS ADDICTED TO HEROIN. DETOXIFICATION USUALLY INVOLVES THE ADMINISTRATION OF METHADONE IN DECREASING DOSES TO REACH A DRUG-FREE CONDITION OVER A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 21 DAYS. INPATIENT CARE PROVIDES A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHICH TEMPORARILY PROTECTS THE PATIENT FROM THE ADVERSE PRESSURES OF THE DRUG-USING CULTURE. AMBULATORY OR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PLACES GREATER RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PATIENT TO RECEIVE THE REQUIRED MEDICATION, WITHOUT RETURNING TO THE USE OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS. BOTH PROGRAMS HAVE EXPERIENCED ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS AS EVIDENCED BY THE 70 PERCENT DROPOUT RATE DURING THE DETOXIFICATION PERIOD. AMBULATORY PROGRAMS FOR PATIENTS NEEDING LOW DOSES OF METHADONE WHILE THEY ATTEMPT TO RECONSTRUCT THEIR LIVES ARE CONSIDERED COST EFFECTIVE. THE OPERATION OF THE MONSIGNOR WALL SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER IN NEW JERSEY INDICATES ADDITIONAL COUNSELING AND MEDICAL SERVICES MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ADDICTS. METHADONE IS, HOWEVER, BEING DIVERTED FROM PROGRAMS TOWARD ABUSE AND ILLEGAL SALES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT METHODS BE APPLIED TO CROSS-CHECK THE RECORDS OF ADDICTS AND PREVENT MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIP IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. INCREASED MONITORING OF PATIENTS IS REQUIRED TO DETECT SUPPLEMENTAL USE OF NARCOTICS PURCHASED FROM THE SALE OF METHADONE. AN ALTERNATIVE TO METHADONE SHOULD BE SOUGHT IN COMBINATIONS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY. (TWK).