Catherine left after three days, in mid-withdrawal, and immediately went back to using heroin. But this sort of sentiment makes treatment specialists uneasy. Like others in his field, he worries that addicts will see this treatment as a quick fix, without recognizing the intense psychological work needed to truly kick the habit. The scathing National Institute of Drug Abuse report makes the same point. That's where the journey begins.
Success is dependent on the length of time in treatment.
Yet, success occurs all too rarely with methadone and other types of treatment. One study showed that an overwhelming 82 percent of heroin addicts relapsed within a year of finishing methadone treatment. While psychological factors are undoubtedly one reason, another may be biological. Winningly open about the limitations of the procedure and the criticism it has received, Solomon admits many of his early patients are likely to have relapsed. He doesn't have an accurate record of recidivism in part because several patients he has called to check on simply haven't called back.