High abstinence rates in heroin addicts by a new comprehensive treatment approach.
In this multi-center, naturalistic study, the effectiveness of naltrexone maintenance combined with the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) was investigated in detoxified, opioid-dependent patients (N=272). Patients were recruited from methadone maintenance programs. With intention-to-treat analysis, 10 months of treatment yielded abstinence rates of 28% and 32% at 10 and 16 months after detoxification. The cumulative abstinence rate at 16 months was 24%. Quality of life, craving, general psychopathology, use of other psychoactive substances, and addiction severity of the abstinent group significantly improved when compared to the relapsed group. This abstinence-oriented approach appears to be a feasible goal, and remains an important option next to long-term methadone maintenance in the management of opioid dependence.
De Jong
Cor A J
CA
Novadic-Kentron, Network for Addiction Treatment Services/Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.dejong@acsw.ru.nl
Roozen
Hendrik G
HG
van Rossum
Leo G M
LG
Krabbe
Paul F M
PF
Kerkhof
Ad J F M
AJ
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016730:Program Development; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone