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This study describes the differences between treated and untreated addicts involved in a suburban adolescent heroin epidemic. Twenty-nine percent of the addicts interviewed were untreated during the ten-year period studied. Results showed that untreated addicts had smaller habits, were more likely to stop using heroin, had more cohesive families and higher self-esteem while in high school than treated addicts. Background factors were related to current use of heroin by untreated and treated addicts. The decision to enter treatment can be a confounding factor in studies on heroin addiction. Studies on factors producing dependence need to include treated as well as untreated addicts.

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Family life was examined in relation to different levels of heroin involvement, use of other drugs, and deviant behavior. The study population included heroin addicts, experimenters, persons exposed but not using heroin, and a comparison sample of persons who neither used nor were exposed to heroin. More elements of family life were related to heroin use by females than males. The relationship with the opposite sex parent had the strongest impact on both male and female heroin users.