NCJ Number
127772
Date Published
Unknown
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Four major studies conducted over a period of 10 years evaluated the effectiveness of civil commitment and/or methadone maintenance in treating chronic heroin addicts. Data on 10 samples, representative of a number of long-term California treatment programs, were collected from admission records of the California Civil Addict Program (CAP), admission records of various California county methadone treatment programs, and active client lists of these programs.
Abstract
One set of analyses evaluates the immediate and long- term outcomes of civil commitment and methadone maintenance treatment. A second analysis examines the successive effects of the CAP and methadone maintenance. Another series of followup studies supports the efficacy of methadone maintenance in producing desirable outcomes in chronic addicts. Four of the 10 samples were cross-section samples of their respective clinic populations; they were used to examine the effects of the termination of entire treatment programs. The evaluations suggest that both approaches reduce drug use, drug dealing, other drug-related crimes, and arrests and may have other social benefits. The most effective elements of civil commitment, which can be applied to any addict, are the behavioral ones. Methadone maintenance, used with addicts not amenable to other social intervention strategies, provides a substitute source of meeting addiction needs, but negates the need for involvement in drug-related crimes. 3 tables, 10 figures, and 11 references