After a brief historical review results of German evaluation studies are contrasted for the first time with international results concerning the efficiency of methadone treatment of heroin addicts. All studies report a fast and obvious improvement of the patients' physical and psychic well-being. Decrease is observed in drug related criminality as well as in its following consequences such as arrests, trials, and inprisonments. Patients distance themselves from the drug-scene and at the same time increase communication with a drug-free environment. One problem persisting for German methadone-patients is the reintegration into their education or job. As to this only minor improvements have been obtained. Already after a short time patients on a methadone-therapy reduce their illicit use of drugs substantially. Especially the consume of heroin is getting reduced if not totally given up. The use of other drugs such as cocaine, tranquilizers and barbiturates gets reduced. For a number of patients the use of benzodiazepines remains a problem. The time patients stay in methadone-therapies (and to a high degree the success of the therapy itself) depends on a well structured arrangement of the methadone program and on the methadone dosage. Long-term follow-up studies abroad show that after methadone treatment the percentage of patients staying abstinent in the long run is almost the same as after drugfree treatment.
