[Factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment among drug users in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment(MMT) among drug users in Urumqi.


METHODS
With national MMT guideline( drift) for heroine addicted drug users, local heroine-dependent people were admitted to community-based MMT program affiliated to Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region Center for Mental Health. Data on outpatients' social-demo characteristics, baseline behaviors on drug use and daily stabilized dose of drugs were entered to MMT database.


RESULTS
Up to 10, Feb. , 2006,353 persons withdrew MMT treatment among 709 heroin dependant drug users. Between 11, Aug., 2005 and 10, Feb., 2006, with median duration as 77 days, cumulative drop-out rate of 90 days and 180 days after first dose of MMT were 73.8% among 455 and 99.4% among 355 drug users, respectively. The incidence of drop-outs was 29.8 per 100 person-month. The median length of stay (days) in MMT was 68.0 (95% CI: 59.0- 78.0). Correlates of retention were found as: Being Uigur(HR = 1.35;95% CI :1.09-1.67), duration of drug use (HR =0.74; 95% CI:0.55-0.99) and stabilized dose(HR = 0.60;95% CI: 0.48-0.74) was found in multiple Cox proportional hazard regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
Retention of MMT among drug users in Urumqi was low. Uigur people should be given individual counseling to help them increase the compliance rate. Within the ranges of clinic dosage, adjustment of the methadone dose on an individual base might serve as an appropriate approach to increase the effectiveness of the program.
Wang
Jun
J
National Center for AIDS/ STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing 100050, China.
Li
Fan
F
Mo
Lan-rong
LR
Li
Lin
L
Guan
Yong-sheng
YS
Hao
Chun
C
Yin
Lu
L
Li
Xin-xu
XX
Chen
Xi
X
Ruan
Yu-hua
YH
Shao
Yi-ming
YM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult