METHADONE IS A CRUCIAL WEAPON IN DRUG WAR

It's too bad that sometimes a few "bad apples'' threaten to spoil a good
thing. The arrest and charging of 13 patients in Burnsville for selling
their methadone "take home'' medication (story, March 14) is a serious
violation of the law and an affront to patient-physician trust.

However, this event needs to be put in perspective. For more than 35 years,
methadone has demonstrated its effectiveness in the treatment of narcotic
addiction. The majority of patients go from daily use of narcotics to
prolonged, stable abstinence. Employment rates of less than 25 percent on
admission increase three-fold during treatment, and drug-related crime
drops by more than 90 percent. In addition, methadone treatment helps keep
HIV and hepatitis rates low among injection drug users, and does all of
these things at a fraction of the cost of other treatments.

The vast majority of narcotic addicts treated with methadone are abstinent,
employed and law abiding. It would be both unfair and inaccurate to
generalize the inappropriate behavior of a few "bad apples'' to these
successful, recovering persons.

Gregory Carlson

Minneapolis

The writer is director of addiction medicine, Hennepin Faculty Associates.

STING GUARANTEES INCREASE IN CRIME

To the residents of Dakota and surrounding counties: Thanks to the drug
(methadone) "sting'' operation near Dakota Treatment Center recently, your
tax dollars were just used by the drug task force to guarantee an increase
in the crime rate.

In the interest of making headlines, the drug task force managed to
interrupt opiate treatment for a number of individuals. It will put a
felony on their records for 50 cents worth of methadone, and force the
taxpayer to shoulder the cost of incarcerating people who were taking steps
to re-enter the mainstream of society.

Unfortunately, these people will still need treatment after their sentences
are served. Opiate addiction is unique in that it generally defies the best
efforts of drug addiction counselors and is generally interdicted by the
use of methadone or similar substances. Also, while awaiting trial they now
have no choice but to buy very expensive, illegal drugs on the street. I'm
guessing you know where the money comes from. Opiate addicts will recover
with the help of people who care and daily methadone use. Incarceration is
an expensive effort in futility.

W. C. Friese

St. Paul