legs occur, leading to kicking movements; chills and goose bumps on the addicts skin often occur during cold turkey withdrawal, which is the sudden stoppage in narcotic use. When the frequency and severity of these withdrawal symptoms increase treatment is needed (Berger 19).The methods and philosophies of the original techniques were quite different; but use the same criteria for success. Most treatment programs are seen as successful when the patients: 1) stop using heroin, 2) stop committing crimes, and 3) become productive members of society. An addict who stopped his criminal activities, and held a regular job but who continued to use heroin, would be a treatment failure. Success is based on abstinence. Success in those terms has eluded all of the currently accepted treatment methods except methadone maintenance (Ashly 170).Methadone maintenance is not an abstinence program. Methadone is a narcotic powerful enough to block the effects of heroin. Methadone treatments were developed in response to the clear failure of all established treatment programs. The methadone treatment programs are still used today and have been very successful; some surveys show results as high as eighty-percent success rate. The only problem that arises with the methadone treatment is whether or not a person can become addicted to methadone. Most heroin users first encounter with one of these treatment programs is when they are admitted to prisons and correctional facilities (Allen 286).Since the 1980s the number of drug offenders admitted to the correctional system has amplified. Since these drug offenders often cannot find a constant supply of drugs inside, some programs in the institution are available for dependency, and some have been successful. Nearly 95,000 people confined in correctional institutions alone were on some form of treatment for heroin dependency. Should we spend money trying to incapacitate these people or spend millions a ...
