Pubdate: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 Date: 08/20/1998 Source: New York Times (NY) Author: Mark L. Willenbring, M.D. Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ To the Editor: Re "The Mayor's Crusade Against Methadone" (editorial, Aug. 18): Although I applaud your support of methadone programs, I am concerned that you are suggesting yet another trial of abstinence-based programs. Decades of trials have shown that only a small minority of addicts achieve abstinence. Methadone maintenance, on the other hand, has been shown effective in a large majority of addicts. What are needed are new and better medications, not new trials of drug-free treatments. Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's policy may lead to more addicts out of treatment, on the street, committing crimes and getting AIDS and hepatitis. How is such a policy morally superior to methadone treatment? Mark L. Willenbring, M.D. Minneapolis The writer is an associate professor of psychiatry, University of Minnesota.