Dear Editor,

Following your items on the 'Work Ethic' and 'Subsidizing Addicts'
(SFC 12/17 pA30), drug dependency is one of the commonest serious
disabilities. With appropriate medical treatment a large proportion of
addicts are able to return to work or study. I know since I treat
them in my medical practice in Australia. Most Californian addicts
are still denied such treatment due to the continuing ban on doctors
prescribing the very drugs which are proven to work for addiction
(methadone, buprenorphine and LAAM). Public subsidies for such
treatment are known to be extremely cost effective.

Yours faithfully, Andrew Byrne