Narcotics research, rehabilitation, and treatment. Hearings, Ninety ...

397Naloxone, recently approved for marketing as a narcotic antagonist,has some similarity to cyclazocine but lacks its narcotic actions, andin particular, does not produce repiratory depression. Naloxone hasno reiDorted addictive potential but its short duration of action, 4 to6 hours, limits its usefulness. It has also, like cyclazocine, been testedon a pilot study basis for the treatment of heroin addiction. It ishoped that similar agents having the properties of naloxone, but alonger duration of action, can be synthesized.To reduce the availability of addictive drugs, a variety of agentsare being synthesized and tested to obtain a potent analgesic withno abuse potential. Four such analgesic agents are currently underinvestigation. In addition, the search continues for a safe and effectiveblocking agent in the treatment of heroin and other forms ofaddiction. Only a limited number of drugs have reached the stage ofanimal testing, and a very few have become available for clinicaltests in humans. I can assure you that we at the Food and DrugAdministration are extremely eager to expedite the investigation ofany of these potentially good drugs and are working \\dth variousgroups in order that this can be accomplished.Mr. Chairman, we would be delighted to attempt to answer anyquestions that you or any members of the committee might have.Mr. Perito. Dr. Edwards, you have submitted for the record aletter dated May 14, 1971, subject, "Investigation of MethadoneMamtenance Program"; is that correct?Dr. Edwards. That is correct,Mr. Perito. Mr. Chairman, at this point I would respectfully offerfor the record this two-page memorandum, mth enclosure, submittedby Dr. Edwards.Chairman Pepper. Without objection, it will be received.(SeeExliibit No. 17(b).)Chairman Pepper. You may inquire, Mr. Perito.Mr. Perito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.Dr. Edwards, to the best of your knowledge, how many addictsare presentl}^ being treated in the United States on methadone?Dr. Edwards. May I ask Dr. Gardner to address liimself to that?He is in charge of our total program.Dr. Gardner. I would estimate that about 20,000 to 30,000 arebeing treated. At the moment v/e have no really accurate figure, butthis is our estimate based on what we know about some of the NIMHprograms and other programs which have submitted progress reportsto us. Our 6-month annual reports which have started to come in -willbe coming in over the next month or so, and should give us a betterfigure. The inspectional programs should also provide a better estimateof the number of addicts under treatment.Mr. Perito. I take it. Dr. Gardner, when you mention the figureof 30,000 addicts you are referring to 30,000 persons presently beingtreated in methadone maintenance programs; is that a correctassumption?Dr. Gardner. That is right.Mr. Perito. Do you have any idea how manj^ addicts are beingtreated throughout the United States on a detoxification basis inaddition to the maintenance basis?60-296—71 —pt. 2-