Methadone treatment retains its share of detractors in most parts of the world, but criticism of the treatment for opiate addiction is perhaps most intense in Russia. There, research experts are discovering that they can be legally sanctioned for even talking about the treatment, which seems far away from being introduced into the country, The New York Times reported July 22.

After organizing a February conference in which methadone was one of the discussed topics, Dr. Vladimir D. Mendelevich of the Institute for Research into Psychological Health discovered that Moscow's legislature had launched an inquiry into whether he had engaged in "drug propaganda." Health officials in Russia express skepticism over methadone's effectiveness and worry over use of a replacement therapy over a lifetime; some methadone opponents in the country say Western nations are trying to force the treatment into Russia for commercial gain.

"There is no possibility to have a normal discussion about this issue," Mendelevich said. Health officials have said there is little possibility that methadone will be legalized in Russia soon; two high officials refused the Times' request to be interviewed to discuss the subject.

While any action on methadone treatment appears unlikely, intravenous drug use in Russia continues to grow. Most of the country's estimated 3 million to 6 million drug addicts use heroin or other narcotics that originate in Afghanistan. Intravenous drug use accounted for about 66 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases in Russia in 2006, and the HIV epidemic continues to increase, though at a somewhat slower rate than in past years.

Even those officials who oppose methadone treatment acknowledge that the country's present system for treating opiate addicts is not helping enough individuals. Some say that more than 90 percent of those treated at detoxification centers relapse shortly after their one-to-two month stay, where doctors encourage them to abstain immediately from drug use.

The shortcomings of the present system are encouraging more supporters of methadone treatment to speak out in the face of government opposition. "I am for any scientific, medical approach to treatment," said Albert Y. Zaripov, a counselor and former heroin addict.