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