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

55,4nitiide of heroin addiction in America knows no jurisdictional boundaries;local, State, even national borders, provide no shield to thisdeadly traffic.There are those who say that there will always be a supply of heroinas long- as there is a demand for the drug ; others claim that as longas heroin is available, the demand for it can always be created. In fact,both statements are true, and we must take this into account in anyeffort to deal with the problem.It is clear, in the first instance, that we cannot reasonably expectsubstantially to halt the smuggling of heroin into this country. Shortof the imposition of police state techniques, a virtual sealing of ourborders, heroin will reach its customers on the streets. We have beentold by the authorities of our Government that we are able to seizeonly about 20 percent of the heroin that is smuggled into this country.But the same supply, as well as satisfying demand, also creates additionaldemand. For the classic way for the heroin addict to supporthis habit is to become a heroin pusher himself. And as long as addictshave enough heroin to push in order to pay for their own habits, wewill see an ever increasing number of new addicts, for the market isvirtually limitless.What can we hope to do to fight this menace? Last year, this committeeurged that the United States take the lead in working for theeventual elimination of opium poppy production wherever such productiontakes place. We were told we were dreamers. Well, if to worktoward an admittedly long-range goal that holds some promise ofsuccess means to be dreamers, we gladly accept the title. But is this goalso impossible of attainment, or has our own skepticism worked to ensureour failure in this endeavor ? I was pleased to read the other daythat the Prime Minister of Turkey has offered his legislative or parliamentarybody legislation that would substantially reduce the opiumcrops, something we recommended long ago. We are pleased to learnthat one house of the Turkish Parliament has already passed the proposedlegislation. We applaud liis actions as a new awareness of theworld wide nature of heroin abuse. So are we dreamers after all? Apositive approach by the United States may well be one of the kev ingredientsin fostering a similar attitude by other members of theworld community.A substantial portion of our energies have gone to an examinationof the research underway to produce drugs for treating addicts. Althoughwe must be mindful of the distinction between curing an addictof his addiction and reintegrating him into society, as a committeeon crime, we are obviously anxious to fully explore any treatmentmodality which offers the hope of reducing crime.We have carefully examined the use of methadone as a maintenancedrug, and while we believe it is far from a panacea, we do believe thatit is the best drug now available on a large scale for treating a substantialsegment of the addict population. But we have also received testimonyabout the new antagonist dimgs, which curb an addict's cravingfor heroin. We believe these significant drugs have been slighted bythose who have the funds to foster the development of treatmentmodalities. We have heard testimony that for about $5 million—a merepittance given the magnitude of the problem—we could possibly developa long-lasting nonaddictive antagonist. You will recall Mr. In-