title: Patterns of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse during long-term methadone maintenance treatment.
abstract: Individuals' use of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol during long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was studied. Prospectively collected data from 103 heroin-addicted individuals who were consecutively admitted for MMT and remained 2 years in treatment were evaluated. The patients were assessed every 6 months with a standardized interview. Three longitudinal patterns of drug abuse were identified. A proportion of patients abstained fully from their particular drug use (26% from heroin, 39% from cocaine, and 19% from alcohol); a proportion (39%, 32%, and 47%, respectively) switched between periods of abuse and nonuse of these drugs; and chronic drug users (34%, 28%, and 33%, respectively) continued use, including periods of daily abuse throughout MMT. Different therapeutic interventions may be needed in patients with different longitudinal patterns of additional substance use during MMT.
authors.affiliation: Association for Risk Reduction in Use of Drugs, Geschäftsstelle, Konradstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobler-Mikola
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hättenschwiler
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meili
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Edi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Böni
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Modestin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone