Prohibition of take-home dosages: negative consequences on methadone maintenance treatment.
Patients on methadone maintenance were forewarned that a law prohibiting take-home dosages was to be enforced within 6 months. At the end of the 6-month period preceding the enforcement of the law the effect of the anticipated suppression of the take-home privilege was studied on a cohort of 211 methadone-maintained patients on take-home dosages. The outcome of the treatment of these patients was compared to that of a control group of 220 patients at the end of a 6-month period prior to the announcement of the new law. The outcome of the study suggests that the restrictive regulation is counterproductive for retaining patients in treatment.
Pani
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Drug Addicition Service, USL 21, Cagliari, Italy.
Pirastu
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R
Ricci
A
A
Gessa
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GL
D000328:Adult; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009042:Motivation; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone