Before the 1960s, the only form of treatment available in the United States for heroin addiction was imprisonment in a federal correctional facility. Since there did not yet exist recovery programs to help end the cycle of heroin addiction, the only resource available to these addicts upon their release from prison was the support of their parole officers. Predictably, these addicts quickly returned to heroin use and its associated behaviors.

In recent decades, however, medical science has come to understand heroin addiction as a complex but treatable physical and mental illness, rather than a crime. Experts now know that with the proper treatment, people can and do recover from heroin addiction.

They also understand quite well, however, that the recovery process is long and difficult.

Deciding to Recover

Most heroin addicts who have entered recovery programs found the resolve to...