Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here
What Can I Do?


Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP
Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE
Resources
Resources
Find useful publications, online documents & more.


DrugScreening.org


 

Vincent Dole, Father of Methadone Treatment, Dies
August 3, 2006

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

The man who first proved that methadone could be used to treat opiate addiction has died, the Associated Press reported Aug. 2.

Vincent P. Dole, 93, along with colleague Marie Nyswander, conducted the pioneering research in the 1960s that led to the establishment of the methadone treatment system. Dole and Nyswander theorized that the painkiller, although highly addictive itself, satisfied the addictive urges of opiate users without debilitating them. Their research led to the use of "maintenance" doses of methadone being administered to opiate users as long-term therapy.

The work of Dole and Nyswander also helped cast addiction as a medical, not moral, problem. Still, the "harm reduction" nature of methadone treatment makes it controversial even now, with some contending that drug users should be compelled to abstain completely, not substitute one drug for another.

"I think [Dole] was sort of perplexed by [the controversy], because he saw some of the plain logic of helping people in distress," said Jules Hirsch, a longtime colleague at Rockefeller University.

Dole died of complications of a ruptured aorta. Nyswander, who became Dole's second wife, died in 1986.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:

Comment:
(limit 200
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for all, please:

  1. Keep it clean, courteous, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.

  2. Do not post promotional links to organizations, products or services, or personal requests for assistance (get help).

  3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.