title: The impact of welfare reform on methadone treatment: policy lessons from service providers in New York city.
abstract: This article explores the impact of recent changes in welfare policy on public assistance recipients who are in methadone maintenance treatment, from the perspective of methadone service providers. Data were collected between late 2000 and early 2002, and included in-depth interviews with 11 providers from three methadone treatment programs in New York city, contextual interviews with three welfare agency personnel and three patient advocates, and participant-observation in trainings and clinical meetings related to vocational services and public assistance for methadone patients. Because service providers are front-line implementers of new welfare regulations, their experiences, and insights should be consulted by policymakers as welfare policy continues to evolve.
authors.affiliation: National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, New York 10010, USA. benoit@ndri.org
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magura
authors.forename: Graham L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Staines
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008691:Methadone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009519:New York City; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011640:Public Policy; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone