Methadone and Its Unintended Consequences in Society: A Historical Perspective

It has been more than forty two years since Dr.because of evil persons, evil groups, evil values.
Marie Nyswander and Vincent P. Dole, a husband andYet...much of what is associated with our social
wife team, announced a scientific breakthrough whichproblems is closely related to things we deem good.
was considered, at that time, the most advanced(J.M. Martin and J.P. Fitzpatrick, Delinquent Behaviors,
step in the American Medical community. ThisRandom House, New York, 1964, pg 5).In a further
advanced discovery was a synthetic drug that wouldsearch of the litersture, I found that sociologists
enhance medical supervision of drug addicts and theirPeter L. Berger, Emile Durkheim, Robert Merton, and
heroin addiction. Dole and Nyswander indicated thatMax Weber all discuss this sociological dysfunction. To
the use of methadone by heroin addicts appeared toimprove our understanding of the drug problem, we
alleviate their hunger for heroin, thus reducing theshould view it from the sociologist's platform. In other
necessity for crime against property; and the needwords, we must be knowledgeable of how the
for addicted individuals to enlist new converts to theproblem is sustained through social and political
drug culture. "Methadonia," a documentary byinteraction. For example, Peter Berger informs us that
filmmaker, Michel Negroponte, recently aired on HBOa sociological problem is quite different from a social
created a renewed interest in the synthetic opiateproblem. Social problem is the official interpretation
methadone. During the 1960's methadone was usedand explanation when something in society does not
primarily to block the euphoric effect of heroinwork the way it should. The sociological problem, on
addiction and to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawlthe other hand, is understanding the social interaction.
from heroin. Mr. Negroponte's film focused mainly onTherefore, it is not important why something goes
recovering addicts at the New York Center forwrong, according to the authorities, but how the
Addition Treatment Services, which is located onsystem works as a unit; and by what means it is held
Broadway at Houston Street.The 90 minutes filmtogether.To echo Berger once again, he further
followed the addicts through their murky world ofpoints out that, the fundamental sociological problem
addiction while respecting their efforts to stay clean.is not crime but the law, not divorce but marriage,
The film also shows how methadone can lead to annot racial discrimination but racial stratification, not
addiction worse than heroin or other addictive drugs.revolution but goverment. If we accept Berger's
The documentary highlighted a trend in whichconcept then the foundamental sociological problem in
methadone users often develop secondary additionsthis instance is not addiction but methadone.In light of
to prescription drugs. These prescription drugs,this theory we may conclude that the drug problem
combined with methadone, produce a euphoric rushin the United States is a sociological problem and not
and, too often, an addiction that is morea social problem as it is commonly defined by
life-threatening than caused by heroin addiction.authorities. It appear the problem is born out of the
Before proceeding further, my readers shouldunenforceable laws and ineffective political
understand what methadone is. Methadone is abureaucracies, and not the inherent qualities of
synthetic chemical discovered by Germany duringindividuals. Naturally certain personality types such as
World War II, when their supply of pain killing opiatesthe passive-dependent are disproportionately
were in short supply. Today, in some instances, itassociated with addiction. These personality types
continues to be used as a pain-killer. Methadone isand their association with drug use are often
addictive as is all other opiates such as heroin,explained by the socio-psychological process leading
demerol, morphine, barbituates, and alcohol.to addiction.Historically, this society has been
Therefore, abuse or over-use of these drugs willinundated with bureaucratic decisions to institute
result in two major consequences; (1) systemic bodilycriminal law to regulate private morality.In 1914 the
tolerance, and (2) specific physical withdrawalHarrison Act, was passed to control all opiates. This
symptoms that occur with discontinued use.Since thelegislation defined all addicts as criminals and many
discovery of methadone, the treatment of drugdoctors prescribing opiates as law violators. The
addiction in the United States has reached the levellimited effectiveness of the law is often seen as the
of mega business. It is now an intrinsical part of thefirst step in the institutionalization of drug use as a
Nation's economy, and becoming more entrenchedsocially created evil. Later, the Marijuana Tax Act and
each day. In the process, the intimate doctor/patientother punitive regulations compounded this effect.
relationship originally sought in the methadone clinicThese ineffective and inappropriate legislations
been overturned. In its place is the current interest inrepresent an attempt by moral entrepreneurs to
Medicaide reimbursement; client's return visits, andcontrol social morality.Sociologists has concluded that
policing clients for strict adherence to drugthe social cost of seeking criminal law solution to
abstinence.Unintended, Unforeseen Consequences incontrol social morality greatly outweighs any social
Society It would appear that the chemists, whobenefits that might result. If we examine the
discovered methadone, and those who introducedsituation very carefully, we will discover that the
methadone to the United States in 1947, intended itssame kind of bureaucratic decision making philosophy
use to ease the pain and suffering that was theis at work in an effort to resolve the drug problem.
by-product of war and injury. Dole and NyswanderThe difference this time is that the approach is not
intended goal was to used methadone to stem thelaw but chemical; as witnessed by the widespread
tide of heroin addiction and its social ills in the Unitedproliferation of methadone maintence clinics across
States. However, they could not foresee methadonethe Nation.References:Berger, Peter L., Invitation to
someday being partly responsible for society's furtherSociology. New York, Doubleday Company,
deterioration, socially, economically, and, politically. This1963.Weber, Max., The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit
social phenomenon of unintended results of humanof Capitalism. New York, Charles Scribner's & Sons,
action in society is described by sociologist, Max1968.Dr. Smith is a Psychologist and personal
Weber, Robert Merton, and Robert Nisbet. Theconsultant with over three decades of working with
American sociologist Robert Merton refers to thisindividuals and groups, specializing in all personal issues
concept as manifest and latent functions. The formerrelated to quality of life concerns. I have had broad
are the desired and intended function of socialsuccesses working with individuals who had
processes, and the latter the unintended undesireableexperienced Incest, and other Sexual Trauma, Adult
processes. Robert Nisbet, was most direct inChildren of Alcoholics. These experiences often
explaining this theme:In the popular view...we have amanifest themselves symptomatically as depression,
tendency to think of social problems as theanxiety, stress, eating disorders, cigarette and related
consequence solely of evil or undesireable elements.addictions, but more commonly relationships are
For centuries a large part of Western ethics hasproblematic on all levels. For additional information
been based upon the view that only good can comecontact Dr.
from good; only evil from evil. If there is crime, it is