title: Does HIV test result influence methadone maintenance treatment retention?
abstract: We compared groups of opioid users new to methadone maintenance to determine if persons who first learn that they are HIV-seropositive in a drug treatment program are more likely to drop out of treatment than persons who learn they are seronegative. We found no difference in patients' continuation in methadone treatment at either 6 or 12 weeks associated with HIV serostatus. Our findings suggest that voluntary HIV testing can be implemented as part of AIDS prevention programs with little fear of adversely affecting treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brown University, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wimbush
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amicarelli
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009042:Motivation; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone