Misuse of Heroin and Methadone in the City of Oxford.

Home Office statistics provide some evidence of the rapid growth of heroin abuse. In 1960 there were 63 known addicts in the age group 34 years and under, and by 1968, when notification of addiction to heroin was made compulsory under the Notification of Addicts' Act, the number had risen to 2,294 The use of methadone ("Physeptone") both in withdrawal and in long-term maintenance therapy, has resulted in cases of additional dependence. The aim of this paper is to present an enumerative survey of abuse of these two drugs by persons of 30 years of age and under, known to have resided at some time within the Oxford City boundaries during the year 1969. The initial model for this study was that published by de Alarcon and Rathod in 1968. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]