IMPACT OF A MULTIMODALITY TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR HEROIN ADDICTS

• NCJ Number: 35556
• Journal: Comprehensive Psychiatry Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1972) Pages: 391-397
• Author(s): B S BROWN; R L DUPONT; U F BASS; S T GLENDINNING; N J KOZEL; M B MEYERS
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychopathological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT ON A ONE-YEAR STUDY WHICH COMPARED THE EFFECTIVENENSS OF HIGH AND LOW-DOSE METHADONE MAINTANCE, METHADONE DETOXIFICATION, AND ABSTINENCE IN TREATING HEROIN ADDICTION.

Abstract

THE STUDY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 450 ADULTS AND 150 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE NARCOTICS TREATMENT ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PROGRAM CLIENTS INCLUDED BOTH IN-PATIENTS AND OUTPATIENTS, WALK-INS AND INVOLUNTARY ADDICT-CLIENTS REFERRED THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MEASURES OF TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS WERE RETENTION IN THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, ABSTINENCE FROM ILLICIT DRUGS, ABSENCE OF ARRESTS, AND EMPLOYMENT, JOB TRAINING, OR SCHOOLING. OVERALL, 24 PERCENT OF ALL THE ADULT CLIENTS SAMPLED WERE RETAINED FOR ONE YEAR AND MET ALL CRITERIA OF TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS. HIGH-DOSE METHADONE CLIENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO SATISFY ALL CRITERIA OF EFFECTIVENESS, AND ABSTENENCE CLIENTS LEAST LIKELY. SIXTEEN PERCENT OF THE YOUTH CLIENTS WERE RETAINED IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF STUDY AND 54 PERCENT WERE ARRESTED, REPRESENTING ALMOST A 50 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE ARREST RATE. OF THE YOUTHS RETAINED IN THE PROGRAM, 54 PERCENT WERE IN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OR SCHOOLING AND 74 PERCENT SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ILLICIT DRUG USE DURING THE TWELFTH MONTH OF STUDY. NINETY-ONE PERCENT OF THE ORIGINAL 150 YOUTHS IN THE SAMPLE WERE IN ABSTINENT TREATMENT. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.