Appreciating the user's perspective: listening to the "methadonians".

Researchers have long neglected the user's perspective and experiences in assessing drug effects and drug use. With increased interest in Canada directed at prescribing heroin in place of methadone, researchers took the relatively unique approach of gathering data and information from methadone users to determine their views and experiences with methadone programs and alternative treatment choices. The results of that research portrayed very interesting and useful notions of users regarding methadone maintenance and the prescribing of heroin.