A mandatory short-term methadone-to-abstinence program in New York City.

In July 1998, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York City introduced a program requiring the 2100 patients in methadone maintenance programs in selected clinics to terminate their use of methadone within 90 days. Previous short-term methadone-to-abstinence programs in California had generally been unsuccessful. Seven months of debate and controversy ensued. And several new ideas received widespread attention because of the public spotlight on this issue. In January 1999, the Mayor announced that his program had been inadequately conceptualized, was not realistic, and was being withdrawn. The wide attention given the Mayor's new program and its criticism by various authorities had led to a thoughtful examination of the whole methadone maintenance situation, with a reasonable likelihood that the situation would improve.