1965 - Developed & popularized the use of methadone as treatment for heroin addiction.

* Together with her colleague Dole, Nyswander hypothesized that heroin addiction was a metabolic disease, and that methadone could be used as a drug to treat this disease. * Contradiction of earlier beliefs that addiction was purely a personality disorder, the treatment of which should lead to abstinence. * Dole and Nyswander soon set up a local program for treating addicts with methadone, and similar programs eventually became widespread around the country and around the world.

Category:
Treatment, Addiction

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
N/A