Inadequate treatment of opioid dependence due to society's attitudes and beliefs.

The attitudes and beliefs held by society, including health professionals, are detrimental to the health and welfare of the chemically dependent. Dependency on psychoactive agents bears the hallmarks of a bona fide neurological illness due to alterations in neurons affected by exogenous neuroactive agents. Emphasis on abstinence as the only acceptable goal of treatment may be harmful to those incapable of attaining a drug-free state. Other alternatives for treatment must be offered without stigmatization and bias against the drug dependent. Methadone treatment for opioid dependence needs to be promoted and liberalized, especially because the oral route of administration eliminates the risks accompanying drug injection. Patients receiving methadone must be retained in treatment rather than terminated for rules infractions that are not harmful to others. This is an urgent matter in light of the current HIV epidemic among drug injectors.