Source: The New York Times Contact: Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Pubdate: 6 Oct 1998 METHADONE IS JUST ANOTHER DRUG To the Editor: It's time that we who provide medical addiction treatment that ultimately makes patients narcotic-free speak up against methadone maintenance programs as they are now constituted (news article, Sept. 30). It is morally wrong to promote methadone maintenance as a treatment because, in reality, it replaces one narcotic with another, and especially since we can inexpensively, medically detoxify the heroin addict over a few days. Also, to promote methadone maintenance programs that are open-ended and provide support for a life-time of addiction is an insult to the thousands of recovering addicts who are able to kick the habit without methadone and who are now drug-free. NICHOLAS A. PACE, M.D. New York, Oct. 2, 1998 - ----- To the Editor: Clyde Haberman (NYC column, Oct. 2) calls Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to task for his incivility in referring to Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, the White House drug policy director, as a "disaster" as well as for using such language to describe a man who was "the youngest four-star general, as well as the most highly decorated Army general on active duty, when President Clinton appointed him to the drug post." Yet whatever importance one attaches to civility in public discourse, the wrongheadedness of Mayor Giuliani's attack on General McCaffrey's endorsement of methadone use has less to do with the general's military record than with the fact that the attack was wrong on its merits. On the other hand, were the Mayor to turn his attention to General McCaffrey's resistance to the use of marijuana for medical purposes, now there's a policy for which the word "disaster" would be none too strong. ALAN LEVINE New York, Oct. 3, 1998 - ----- To the Editor: Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey is both a military hero and an expert on drug policy (NYC column, Oct. 2). His opinions may fairly be subject to question and criticism, but his reputation as a patriot and dedicated drug fighter is not. Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's use of words like "disaster" to describe General McCaffrey says much about the character flaws of the Mayor, not about General McCaffrey. We Vietnam veterans are sen-sitive about draft avoiders who attack the true heroes of our horrific little war. As Clyde Haberman said, General McCaffrey has earned the right to courteous treatment, especially from someone who never wore his country's uniform -- like the Mayor. MICHAEL J. GORMAN Whitestone, Queens, Oct. 2, 1998 - ----- To the Editor: Let us hope that Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey continues to make drug policy recommendations based on scientific evidence (news article, Oct. 3). Next issue: needle exchange programs. There is a tremendous body of literature supporting the expansion of needle exchange programs to reduce the spread of diseases like AIDS and hepatitis. It is unfortunate that General McCaffrey is adamant about not using Federal money for needle exchanges; however, nothing is stopping him from urging state and local governments to review the literature and make decisions for themselves. This would require minimal political capital and zero expenditure and would send the signal that needle exchanges are not destructive and are worth considering. BEAU KILMER Berkeley, Calif., Oct. 3, 1998 - --- Checked-by: Richard Lake