title: Feasibility of referring drug users from a needle exchange program into an addiction treatment program: experience with a mobile treatment van and LAAM maintenance.
abstract: We evaluated program entry, retention, and early treatment response of needle exchange program (NEP) attenders referred to a drug treatment program using levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride (LAAM). Of 163 referrals, 114 (70%) entered the program, and 84% were retained for at least 90 days. Comparing baseline and follow-up visits after 1 month, there were significant reductions in the Addiction Severity Index subscale scores for drug and alcohol use and legal situation. We observed a 31% and 22% reduction in heroin- and cocaine-positive urine tests, respectively (p < .0001). Although LAAM is no longer considered a first line treatment for heroin addiction, these results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing long-acting agonist therapies such as LAAM to treat opioid dependence among NEP attenders.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brooner
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008692:Methadyl Acetate