The first 38 methadone maintenance treatment patients in Stockholm: 15-year follow-up with a main focus on detoxification from methadone.
OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated the first 38 methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients in Stockholm. The aim was: (i) to investigate the possible predictive factors for successful treatment termination, and (ii) the long-term outcome effects and life situation of MMT patients and those who terminated the treatment.


METHODS
The patients were interviewed at the start and approximately 15 years later, and divided into four groups: (1) no withdrawal attempts, (2) forced to stop the treatment, (3) successful tapering and (4) non-successful tapering.


RESULTS
The predictive factor found that Group 1 showed a lower life quality compared with Groups 3 and 4. Fifteen years later, the life situations of Groups 3 and 4 were significantly more stable. Also the subjective well-being in Group 3 was significantly higher. Over all, Group 2 showed significantly more illicit drug use compared with Group 3. The social life situation was significantly improved for all patients during the 15 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms our earlier findings that the ultimate goal of MMT for the motivated patients with good progress should be an opiate-free life. The life situation and subjective well-being seems to be higher after successful termination of MMT.
Hiltunen
Arto J
AJ
Department of Psychology, Karlstad University, Universitetsgatan 2, S-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden. arto.hiltunen@kau.se
Eklund
Calle
C
Borg
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D012951:Socialization; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone