International results show a clear superiority of heroin-assisted treatment for opioid-dependent individuals in terms of prognosis, crime, health, suffering, and quality of life, especially compared to methadone treatment. Recently, this form of treatment has been integrated into the statutory health insurance system. For a successful heroin-assisted treatment, pharmacological knowledge alone is not sufficient. A deeper understanding of the heroin-dependent individuals, their illnesses, prior experiences, and needs is essential. Heroin-assisted treatment quickly alleviates the enormous pressure to obtain the substance. However, it is not merely substance substitution; due to the extent of patient contacts, it also has strong socio-psychiatric and milieu therapeutic aspects. The establishment of a daily structure and the atmosphere of...