title: Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol (LAAM). Its advantages and drawbacks.
abstract: Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol, or LAAM, is a medication therapy for individuals addicted to opiates that provides an alternative to methadone. Because it is administered only three times a week and, therefore, requires fewer clinic trips, patient acceptance can be higher than with methadone. While blocking the effects of other opiates and preventing withdrawal, LAAM does not produce a subjective high. However, because most patients are not familiar with LAAM, they may be initially more anxious and need more counseling and support when receiving the medication than they would with the more familiar methadone medication. On balance, LAAM enables clinic administrators and counselors to offer an alternative medication to methadone that some clients prefer once they become adjusted to it because of LAAM's even, stable effect. Through hypothetical but true-to-life case studies of LAAM use, it is possible to gain a clearer understanding of the advantages and drawbacks of using LAAM.
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138-1168, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilcock
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017277:Drug Approval; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D008692:Methadyl Acetate; D008691:Methadone