The motivation for this study is the increase of treatment needs of heroin dependents at SANCA, (South African National Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse) Witbank. SANCA Witbank wants to ensure that the most effective treatment can be supplied. Research goals are to:  Do a literature study of out-patient treatment programmes.  Assess the needs of heroin out-patient dependents with regard to out-patient treatment programmes.  Make recommendations with regard to out-patient treatment programmes for heroin dependents. It was an exploratory research subject and the data collection methods were qualitative and quantitative. Interview schedules were used as research tools. Schedule B was completed by the researcher with heroin dependents that visited SANCA Witbank for the period 31 January 2005 to 4 February 2005. Schedule A was completed by the researcher with personnel of SANCA out-patient clinics and the questions were discussed and completed telephonically. The conclusion is that the treatment programme of SANCA Witbank is in line with the rest of the drug dependent field and only minimal recommendations were made. / Social Work / MA(SS)(MENTAL HEALTH)