THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE THAT MANY FORMER HEROIN ADDICTS IN NEW YORK CITY HAVE SWITCHED TO THE USE OF ILLICIT METHADONE. ADDICTS FIND THAT METHADONE IS NOT AS DANGEROUS AS HEROIN, AND THAT METHADONE PERMITS THEM TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ILLICIT METHADONE INCLUDE THE SALE OF DISPENSED METHADONE BY PATIENTS OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, DIVERSION FROM MANUFACTURERS, AND ILLEGAL MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION THROUGH ORGANIZED CRIME. THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE EVIDENCE OF THE LATTER SOURCE, AND MOST ILLICIT METHADONE IS BELIEVED TO COME FROM SALE OF TAKE-HOME SUPPLIES AND THE THEFT OF THE DRUG FROM STORAGE. TO PREVENT ROBBERIES AND THEFTS, NEW YORK CLINICS KEEP AN EXACT INVENTORY COUNT OF THE METHADONE RECEIVED FROM PHARMACIES EACH DAY; UNUSED METHADONE IS RETURNED AT THE END OF THE DAY. DISCREPANCIES IN THE ACCOUNTING MUST ALWAYS BE INVESTIGATED. DOSES ARE ADMINISTERED IN LIQUID FORM, IN THE PRESENCE OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL. ALTHOUGH DIVERSION OF SUPPLIES IS A PROBLEM, THE TAKE-HOME PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL FOR REHABILITATION, AND MANY PATIENTS WOULD RETURN TO USING HEROIN IF THE TAKE-HOME METHADONE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE $1,450 PER YEAR PER PATIENT COST OF THE NEW YORK CITY PROGRAM IS FAR MORE ECONOMICAL THAN THE $24,000 COST OF KEEPING AN ADDICT IN PRISON FOR A YEAR. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK).