The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) applauds the
strong stand taken by Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy, supporting methadone maintenance as an
effective treatment for heroin addiction (''Heroin access spurs need
for methadone,'' The Forum, Jan. 25). Unlike New York Mayor Rudy
Giuliani, who uses public misunderstanding about heroin addiction and
methadone-maintenance treatment to gain political favor, McCaffrey has
evaluated the facts and made an objective and unbiased conclusion.
Methadone treatment saves lives.

A criminal justice approach has not been effective in controlling
heroin use in this country. Putting addicts in prison does not treat
or control addiction.

If we are to restrain the growing increase in heroin use among the
youth of America, it is imperative that the public and policy makers
understand that a rational public health approach must be taken.
Otherwise we will have doomed our youth and their families to
imprisonment, death, disease and misery.

Since its beginning more than 30 years ago, methadone maintenance has
been demonstrated many times to be the most effective treatment for
heroin addiction.

In spite of its success, methadone often is disparaged as a
''substitute drug'' by those who ignore the positive benefits it
clearly has brought to society.

Because of such attitudes, methadone patients are treated as social
outcasts. This will not change as long as there is no organization or
formal mechanism for methadone patients to voice their concerns.

NAMA will work toward the day when methadone patients are judged not
by the medication they take, but by the contributions they make to
their families and their communities.

Joycelyn Woods, (exec. vice president National Alliance of Methadone
Advocates New York, N.Y.)