For the study, researchers in the Netherlands evaluated more than 500 patients who were categorized as "treatment resistant." The participants had been using heroin for at least five years.

One group of participants was given methadone only, while another group was given heroin, either injected or inhaled, as well as methadone. The research found that 25 percent of the participants given the prescribed heroin responded well to treatment, compared with 10 percent of the group given only methadone.

Although many are opposed to treating addicted individuals with the same drug that led to their addiction, such treatment could benefit certain users. Gerry Stokes, director of Operations for Addiction, one of the leading agencies in the United Kingdom working with heroin users, said he is open to the idea of heroin maintenance.

"We are open to the argument that regulated heroin prescribing could be a useful way of reducing harm," said Stokes. "At the same time we recognize that if people were ever to be offered heroin, it must happen in an environment that is carefully controlled and regulated -- similar to the prescribing system that currently exists."

The study's findings are published in the Aug. 9, 2003 issue of the British Medical Journal.

van den Brink, W., Hendriks, V., Blanken, P., Koeter, M., van Zwieten, B., & van Ree, J. (2003) Medical prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: two randomised controlled trials. British Medical Journal, 327: 310.

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