title: Pathological gambling and treatment outcomes for adults age 50 or older in methadone maintenance treatment.
abstract: This study examined the relationship of pathological gambling to negative treatment outcomes for methadone maintenance patients aged 50 or older. The study included 130 methadone maintenance patients. Pathological gambling was determined using the Lie-Bet, a screen for pathological gambling; the outcomes were remaining in treatment and negative urine screens for drug use. Twenty percent of the sample identified as pathological gamblers. Pathological gambling was unrelated to remaining in treatment or negative urine screens. Although pathological gambling had no adverse influence on these treatment outcomes, the prevalence of pathological gambling suggests that screening for it may provide insights about other concerns.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Rafael J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone
keywords: heroin addiction; opiate addiction; pathological gambling; substance abuse