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Methadone and Its Unintended Consequences in Society: A Historical Perspective

It has been more than forty two years sincebecause of evil persons, evil groups, evil
Dr. Marie Nyswander and Vincent P. Dole, avalues. Yet...much of what is associated with
husband and wife team, announced a scientificour social problems is closely related to
breakthrough which was considered, at thatthings we deem good. (J.M. Martin and J.P.
time, the most advanced step in the AmericanFitzpatrick, Delinquent Behaviors, Random
Medical community. This advanced discoveryHouse, New York, 1964, pg 5).In a further
was a synthetic drug that would enhancesearch of the litersture, I found that
medical supervision of drug addicts and theirsociologists Peter L. Berger, Emile Durkheim,
heroin addiction. Dole and NyswanderRobert Merton, and Max Weber all discuss this
indicated that the use of methadone by heroinsociological dysfunction. To improve our
addicts appeared to alleviate their hungerunderstanding of the drug problem, we should
for heroin, thus reducing the necessity forview it from the sociologist's platform. In
crime against property; and the need forother words, we must be knowledgeable of how
addicted individuals to enlist new convertsthe problem is sustained through social and
to the drug culture. "Methadonia," apolitical interaction. For example, Peter
documentary by filmmaker, Michel Negroponte,Berger informs us that a sociological problem
recently aired on HBO created a renewedis quite different from a social problem.
interest in the synthetic opiate methadone.Social problem is the official interpretation
During the 1960's methadone was usedand explanation when something in society
primarily to block the euphoric effect ofdoes not work the way it should. The
heroin addiction and to alleviate thesociological problem, on the other hand, is
symptoms of withdrawl from heroin. Mr.understanding the social interaction.
Negroponte's film focused mainly onTherefore, it is not important why something
recovering addicts at the New York Center forgoes wrong, according to the authorities, but
Addition Treatment Services, which is locatedhow the system works as a unit; and by what
on Broadway at Houston Street.The 90 minutesmeans it is held together.To echo Berger once
film followed the addicts through their murkyagain, he further points out that, the
world of addiction while respecting theirfundamental sociological problem is not crime
efforts to stay clean. The film also showsbut the law, not divorce but marriage, not
how methadone can lead to an addiction worseracial discrimination but racial
than heroin or other addictive drugs. Thestratification, not revolution but goverment.
documentary highlighted a trend in whichIf we accept Berger's concept then the
methadone users often develop secondaryfoundamental sociological problem in this
additions to prescription drugs. Theseinstance is not addiction but methadone.In
prescription drugs, combined with methadone,light of this theory we may conclude that the
produce a euphoric rush and, too often, andrug problem in the United States is a
addiction that is more life-threatening thansociological problem and not a social problem
caused by heroin addiction. Before proceedingas it is commonly defined by authorities. It
further, my readers should understand whatappear the problem is born out of the
methadone is. Methadone is a syntheticunenforceable laws and ineffective political
chemical discovered by Germany during Worldbureaucracies, and not the inherent qualities
War II, when their supply of pain killingof individuals. Naturally certain personality
opiates were in short supply. Today, in sometypes such as the passive-dependent are
instances, it continues to be used as adisproportionately associated with addiction.
pain-killer. Methadone is addictive as is allThese personality types and their association
other opiates such as heroin, demerol,with drug use are often explained by the
morphine, barbituates, and alcohol.socio-psychological process leading to
Therefore, abuse or over-use of these drugsaddiction.Historically, this society has been
will result in two major consequences; (1)inundated with bureaucratic decisions to
systemic bodily tolerance, and (2) specificinstitute criminal law to regulate private
physical withdrawal symptoms that occur withmorality.In 1914 the Harrison Act, was passed
discontinued use.Since the discovery ofto control all opiates. This legislation
methadone, the treatment of drug addiction indefined all addicts as criminals and many
the United States has reached the level ofdoctors prescribing opiates as law violators.
mega business. It is now an intrinsical partThe limited effectiveness of the law is often
of the Nation's economy, and becoming moreseen as the first step in the
entrenched each day. In the process, theinstitutionalization of drug use as a
intimate doctor/patient relationshipsocially created evil. Later, the Marijuana
originally sought in the methadone clinicTax Act and other punitive regulations
been overturned. In its place is the currentcompounded this effect. These ineffective and
interest in Medicaide reimbursement; client'sinappropriate legislations represent an
return visits, and policing clients forattempt by moral entrepreneurs to control
strict adherence to drugsocial morality.Sociologists has concluded
abstinence.Unintended, Unforeseenthat the social cost of seeking criminal law
Consequences in Society It would appear thatsolution to control social morality greatly
the chemists, who discovered methadone, andoutweighs any social benefits that might
those who introduced methadone to the Unitedresult. If we examine the situation very
States in 1947, intended its use to ease thecarefully, we will discover that the same
pain and suffering that was the by-product ofkind of bureaucratic decision making
war and injury. Dole and Nyswander intendedphilosophy is at work in an effort to resolve
goal was to used methadone to stem the tidethe drug problem. The difference this time is
of heroin addiction and its social ills inthat the approach is not law but chemical; as
the United States. However, they could notwitnessed by the widespread proliferation of
foresee methadone someday being partlymethadone maintence clinics across the
responsible for society's furtherNation.References:Berger, Peter L.,
deterioration, socially, economically, and,Invitation to Sociology. New York, Doubleday
politically. This social phenomenon ofCompany, 1963.Weber, Max., The Protestant
unintended results of human action in societyEthic and the Spirit of Capitalism. New York,
is described by sociologist, Max Weber,Charles Scribner's & Sons, 1968.Dr. Smith is
Robert Merton, and Robert Nisbet. Thea Psychologist and personal consultant with
American sociologist Robert Merton refers toover three decades of working with
this concept as manifest and latentindividuals and groups, specializing in all
functions. The former are the desired andpersonal issues related to quality of life
intended function of social processes, andconcerns. I have had broad successes working
the latter the unintended undesireablewith individuals who had experienced Incest,
processes. Robert Nisbet, was most direct inand other Sexual Trauma, Adult Children of
explaining this theme:In the popularAlcoholics. These experiences often manifest
view...we have a tendency to think of socialthemselves symptomatically as depression,
problems as the consequence solely of evil oranxiety, stress, eating disorders, cigarette
undesireable elements. For centuries a largeand related addictions, but more commonly
part of Western ethics has been based uponrelationships are problematic on all levels.
the view that only good can come from good;For additional information contact Dr.
only evil from evil. If there is crime, it is



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