title: The experience of long-term opiate maintenance treatment and reported barriers to recovery: a qualitative systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To inform understanding of the experience of long-term opiate maintenance and identify barriers to recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative systematic review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 studies in 17 papers, mainly from the USA (65%), met inclusion criteria, involving 1,088 participants. Studies focused on methadone prescribing. Participants reported stability; however, many disliked methadone. Barriers to full recovery were primarily 'inward focused'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first review of qualitative literature on long-term maintenance, finding that universal service improvements could be made to address reported barriers to recovery, including involving ex-users as positive role models, and increasing access to psychological support. Treatment policies combining harm minimisation and abstinence-orientated approaches may best support individualised recovery.
authors: Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors: Caitlin
authors: C
authors: Notley
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Blyth
authors: Vivienne
authors: V
authors: Maskrey
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Craig
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Holland
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone