A study in 1972-76 randomly allocated heroin addicts seeking a heroin prescription into two groups, one prescribed injectable heroin, the other only oral methadone. Twelve months later many more of the heroin group were still in treatment but more were injecting and using heavily, though there was less crime. The methadone group tended to polarise into ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’ outcomes in terms of drug use and criminality.

Prescribing heroin: does it work? (PDF)

Additional keywords: research / heroin prescribing / methadone maintenance