RESUMO
Opiate addiction is a complex phenomenon in which biological, psychological and social interact. Heroin is one of those substances that are highly addictive that some users do very difficult to unravel. Opiate addicts express requirements that require strategies for comprehensive care including medication opioid substitution, methadone and buprenorphine, have a prominent place. These therapies allow patients to reduce or stop their illicit opioid use and thus promote change their consumption patterns and lifestyles. Thereby reducing the various consequential damages, these strategies diversify modes of care and provide access to a significant proportion of people dependent on heroin or opiates to support associated with the substitution, to promote their medical care their social inclusion and reduce the use therapeutic injection. This article provides an overview of the history of these therapies, discuss the goals and outcomes of these treatments, their indications and cons-indications and finally addresses the modalities of care necessary for their implementation and monitoring