title: Misconceptions toward methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and associated factors among new MMT users in Guangzhou, China.
abstract: The methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program is scaling up in China, but little is known about drug users' cognitions of MMT. To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of MMT-related misconceptions, a totally of 300 newly admitted MMT users were interviewed in three MMT clinics in Guangzhou. Four statements were used to assess MMT-related misconceptions. The results showed that the majority of participants misconceived that MMT is intended primarily for detoxification (92.3%), that one could be completely detoxified and quit using methadone after using it for 2-3months (64.2%), that MMT is not a long-term or even lifetime treatment (77.9%); and that one should attempt to reduce its treatment dosage as methadone is harmful to one's health (84.3%); 48.5% of the respondents possessed all four types of misconceptions. Prior experience of methadone use in voluntary drug detoxification centers (OR=1.82 to 2.55, p<0.05) was associated with some misconception items, whilst being introduced by some peer drug users or community members to use MMT (versus not being introduced by anyone; OR=0.38 to 0.50, p<0.05), having taken up HIV voluntary counseling and testing prior to admission (OR=0.52, p<0.05), and a higher HIV-related knowledge level (OR=0.38, p<0.05) were associated with lower likelihoods for possessing some of the misconceptions. The findings suggested that MMT-related misconceptions were very prevalent among newly recruited MMT users in China. Misconceptions are potential factors causing drop-outs. Interventions targeting such misconceptions are greatly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Joseph T F
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Lirui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yuteng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Wenya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone