Ethan Nadelmann

Ethan Nadelmann, director of The Lindesmith Center, a drug- policy research institute, argues in favor of prescribing heroin to addicts under supervised conditions. According to Nadelmann, this unique approach to heroin addiction would benefit addicts and society. A Swiss program that supplies addicts with legal heroin has reduced drug-related crime and improved the health of addicts.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Nadelmann, how is heroin administered in the Swiss heroin-prescription programs?
2. What have the preliminary findings about the Swiss experiment revealed about heroin maintenance, as cited by Nadelmann?
3. In the author’s view, why is heroin maintenance a sensible and humane approach to heroin addiction"

The Swiss government is selling heroin to hard-core drug users. But in doing so the government isn’t offhandedly facilitating drug abuse; it...