Prison based detoxification for opioid dependence: a randomised double blind controlled trial of lofexidine and methadone.
This paper reports results from the first controlled trial of opioid withdrawal treatment in the UK using lofexidine in a prison setting. Seventy-four opioid dependent male inmates at a Southern England prison were randomised to receive either methadone (the standard prison treatment) or lofexidine using a randomised double-blind design. No significant statistical difference between the treatment groups was found in relation to the primary variable of severity of withdrawal symptoms (effect size=0.12). No discernible difference was found in the sitting blood pressure or heart rate of the two groups during the trial. These results provide support for the use of lofexidine for the management of opioid detoxification in the prison setting.
Howells
Cliff
C
Prison Health Task Force, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, SE1 8UG, London, UK. m.farrell@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Allen
Steve
S
Gupta
John
J
Stillwell
Garry
G
Marsden
John
J
Farrell
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation
D003000:Clonidine; D008691:Methadone; C025655:lofexidine