Regarding your July 13 article on methadone-related deaths in North Carolina: Public awareness is an important part of how we need to respond to these alarming developments. For some, methadone has been a useful, inexpensive treatment for chronic pain. For others it has been the only effective path away from addiction. Methadone's benefits are well established. We must do a better job of minimizing its potential risks.

As stated in the article, most methadone overdoses occurred in those using methadone without prescription. Only a small percentage was related to those being prescribed methadone for addiction treatment, and seldom was the methadone diverted from these settings. This does not minimize the importance of safe prescribing practice. Methadone must be used selectively, with appropriate dosing, education and monitoring. Training and support for those prescribing methadone, including those prescribing it within the addiction treatment setting, are vital.

However, in addressing concern about overdoses, we must be careful not to limit access to a valuable treatment tool for those who need it. To do so may actually hamstring our ability to respond to the escalating abuse of opiates in our communities.

James Finch, M.D.

President, N.C. Society of Addiction Medicine

Durham