title: A randomized trial of an interim methadone maintenance clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interim methadone maintenance has been proposed as a method of providing clinically effective services to heroin addicts waiting for treatment in standard comprehensive methadone maintenance programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinic that provided initial medical evaluation, methadone medication, and AIDS education, but did not include formal drug abuse counseling or other social support services was established in New York City. A sample of 301 volunteer subjects recruited from the waiting list for treatment in the Beth Israel methadone program were randomly assigned to immediate entry into the interim clinic or a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in initial levels of illicit drug use across the experimental and control groups. One-month urinalysis follow-up data showed a significant reduction in heroin use in the experimental group (from 63% positive at intake to 29% positive) with no change in the control group (62% to 60% positive). No significant change was observed in cocaine urinalyses (approximately 70% positive for both groups at intake and follow-up). A higher percentage of the experimental group were in treatment at 16-month follow-up (72% vs 56%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited services interim methadone maintenance can reduce heroin use among persons awaiting entry into comprehensive treatment and increase the percentage entering treatment.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yancovitz
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Peyser
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Trigg
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009519:New York City; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000379:methods*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone