Source: New York Times Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 MISGUIDED ON METHADONE To the Editor: I was shocked to read of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's plan to abolish all methadone treatment programs for heroin addicts in New York City (news article, July 21). The Mayor's plan seems particularly shocking in light of Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey's recent statements about possibly expanding methadone treatment in the United States following his trip to Europe. Methadone treatment works better than any other known treatment for heroin addiction. People in the treatment program work, go to school, raise families, pay taxes, do volunteer work, join civic and religious organizations -- everything that people have in mind when they talk about being healthy and productive. DEBORAH ABDEL -HADI South Charleston, W. Va., July 21, 1998 - --- Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)