METHADONE IS JUST ANOTHER DRUG

To the Editor:

It's time that we who provide medical addiction treatment that ultimately
makes patients narcotic-free speak up against methadone maintenance
programs as they are now constituted (news article, Sept. 30). It is
morally wrong to promote methadone maintenance as a treatment because, in
reality, it replaces one narcotic with another, and especially since we can
inexpensively, medically detoxify the heroin addict over a few days.

Also, to promote methadone maintenance programs that are open-ended and
provide support for a life-time of addiction is an insult to the thousands
of recovering addicts who are able to kick the habit without methadone and
who are now drug-free.

NICHOLAS A. PACE, M.D. New York, Oct. 2, 1998

To the Editor:

Clyde Haberman (NYC column, Oct. 2) calls Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to task
for his incivility in referring to Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, the White House
drug policy director, as a "disaster" as well as for using such language to
describe a man who was "the youngest four-star general, as well as the most
highly decorated Army general on active duty, when President Clinton
appointed him to the drug post."

Yet whatever importance one attaches to civility in public discourse, the
wrongheadedness of Mayor Giuliani's attack on General McCaffrey's
endorsement of methadone use has less to do with the general's military
record than with the fact that the attack was wrong on its merits.

On the other hand, were the Mayor to turn his attention to General
McCaffrey's resistance to the use of marijuana for medical purposes, now
there's a policy for which the word "disaster" would be none too strong.

ALAN LEVINE New York, Oct. 3, 1998

To the Editor:

Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey is both a military hero and an expert on drug
policy (NYC column, Oct. 2). His opinions may fairly be subject to question
and criticism, but his reputation as a patriot and dedicated drug fighter
is not. Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's use of words like "disaster" to
describe General McCaffrey says much about the character flaws of the
Mayor, not about General McCaffrey.

We Vietnam veterans are sen-sitive about draft avoiders who attack the true
heroes of our horrific little war. As Clyde Haberman said, General
McCaffrey has earned the right to courteous treatment, especially from
someone who never wore his country's uniform -- like the Mayor.

MICHAEL J. GORMAN Whitestone, Queens, Oct. 2, 1998

To the Editor:

Let us hope that Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey continues to make drug policy
recommendations based on scientific evidence (news article, Oct. 3). Next
issue: needle exchange programs. There is a tremendous body of literature
supporting the expansion of needle exchange programs to reduce the spread
of diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.

It is unfortunate that General McCaffrey is adamant about not using Federal
money for needle exchanges; however, nothing is stopping him from urging
state and local governments to review the literature and make decisions for
themselves. This would require minimal political capital and zero
expenditure and would send the signal that needle exchanges are not
destructive and are worth considering.

BEAU KILMER Berkeley, Calif., Oct. 3, 1998

Checked-by: Richard Lake