[Substitution treatment of drug-dependent patients]

The author discusses the network of acts of parliament, subordinate legislation and decisions of the courts. Even if a substitution is legal, this does not necessarily mean that the expenses are covered by the statutory medical insurances. While in certain cases the insurances bear the costs of a treatment with methadone, the expenses for codeine and dihydrocodeine can be covered in no case. But it is possible to prescribe both at the expense of the patient. According to the law and the opinions of leading experts it is obligatory that the distribution of substitutes be combined with further medical, psychological and social care. For the latter the insurances cannot be charged. The essay concludes with presumptions about the future development of the regulations in force.