Falek A, Hollingsworth F
Int J Addict. 1980 Feb;15(2):155-63. doi: 10.3109/10826088009040004.
Cytogenetic studies on cultured lymphocytes showed an increase in the frequency of chromosome breaks in heroin addicts (2.6%) compared to controls (0.4%). Within the first year, patients on methadone maintenance had a decline in the frequency of chromosome damage. Investigation of former addicts who had not been exposed to heroin for over one year revealed a remarkably low frequency of cells with damage for both methadone users (0.8%) and for those not using methadone (0.6%). These results indicate that long-term treatment programs reverse the cytogenetic alterations found in heroin users.
对培养淋巴细胞的细胞遗传学研究表明，与对照组（0.4%）相比，海洛因成瘾者的染色体断裂频率有所增加（2.6%）。在第一年，接受美沙酮维持治疗的患者染色体损伤频率有所下降。对已超过一年未接触海洛因的 former addicts 进行调查发现，美沙酮使用者（0.8%）和未使用美沙酮者（0.6%）的受损细胞频率都非常低。这些结果表明，长期治疗方案可逆转海洛因使用者中发现的细胞遗传学改变。
