A comparison of abstinence-oriented and indefinite methadone maintenance treatment.
Advantage was taken of a natural experiment to compare the outcome of abstinence-oriented and indefinite methadone maintenance. Subjects assigned to an abstinence-oriented program were significantly more likely than those assigned to indefinite maintenance to use heroin (OR 1.3) and amphetamines (OR 2.8) during the first 2 years of methadone treatment but less likely to use benzodiazepines (OR 0.7). Subjects discharged from the abstinence-oriented program were significantly more likely to relapse and return to maintenance treatment (RR, first 6 months, 4.2). The abstinence-oriented program was also less able to attract heroin addicts into maintenance treatment.
Caplehorn
J R
JR
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000662:Amphetamines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008691:Methadone