[Treatment of drug-dependent patients with methadone. 2: AIDS prevention by drug substitution?]

Abstract

On the basis of epidemiological findings, it is shown that methadone programs are unsuitable to prevent the spread of HIV infection, and that the AIDS epidemic among intravenous drug users does not justify the introduction of such programs. Abstinence from all psychotropic substances should remain the overriding aim of all rehabilitation programs for drug addicts.