The spread of addiction-the role of the "average addict"

A survey of an accidental sample of 100 addict-clients indicates that approximately two-thirds of addicts induct others into the heroin culture. Typically, the number of new users recruited in this way is no more than one or two new users contacted by each experienced addict. The problems of interdicting the transmission process is complicated not only by the large numbers of persons involved in that process, but is further complicated by the fact that new users are recruited relatively early in the experienced users' careers when they are least likely to be known to treatment or law enforcement officials. The work of interdicting the spread of phenomenon is still further complicated by the fact that heroin is transmitted between friends under circumstances the experienced user can characterize, if with some possible exaggeration, as involving an effort to share a pleasurable experience and/or to meet others' requests.