Despite its long use in the UK, prescribing heroin to misusers remains controversial. Tony Sheldon looks at the history and the evidence behind the increased prescribing in Europe.

Two sides of debate on prescribing heroin.

Some heroin addicts are very difficult to treat. Should heroin be prescribed to this group?
Yes, say Jürgen Rehm and Benedikt Fischer; maintenance with heroin is the way forward.
No, says Neil McKeganey, it is treating the effects of misuse and not the addiction.