This report describes the opiate maintenance clinic established in Shreveport, Louisiana (1919-1923), whose short existence has recently been questioned by researchers. The authors of this manuscript visited with the original director of the clinic and were given permission to use the medical records of patients of the old clinic and numerous letters and reports which helped describe the clinic operations. The report consists of an in-depth analysis of the 762 patients, and deals with the specific methods and procedures of both the clinic and detoxification hospital. For nearly 40 years, the narcotics policies of the United States, supervised by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, have grossly exaggerated the effects of opiates, and have denied the value of any kind of drug maintenance. The Shreveport experience well illustrates these wronghanded policies. The city was told to tackle its drug problem; it did it well, and then was told it was breaking the law and could not continue. The history of the Shreveport clinic explains a great deal about the nature and early treatment of opiate addiction. The addicts were found to respond well to morphine treatment when regarded as responsible human beings, rather than irresponsible, disturbed criminals as they often are today. In a brief summary, the authors relate their findings to important contemporary issues, namely, the feasibility of drug maintenance. (PC)