It kind of bottomed out in the late '70s and early '80s. Then it started to grow. Methadone maintenance is strictly controlled and enforced by the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration. With only a few exceptions, patients must be at least 18 years old and have been addicted for a year or more. Mrs. Culver, also a registered nurse, says.
Few people come in and stop their heroin immediately.
Some are desperate. Their lives have really fallen apart. William Collins is a methadone counselor at the agency. Because counseling is a vital part of treatment, he's in daily contact with addicts. Heroin is very, very addictive,'' he says.