Researchers in the Netherlands carried out two separate trials involving 549 heroin addicts who were not responding to methadone maintenance treatment. One trial used inhalable heroin and the other used injectable heroin.
Participants received either 12 months of methadone alone (control group), 12 months of methadone plus heroin (experimental group), or six months of methadone alone followed by six months of methadone plus heroin (comparison group). Psychosocial treatment was offered throughout.
In both trials, 12 month treatment with heroin plus methadone was significantly more effective than treatment with methadone alone. Many physical, mental, and social problems improved and few serious adverse events occurred.
"Our study provides strong evidence of the efficacy of prescribed heroin for addicts who are resistant to other forms of treatment," conclude the authors.