STAFF AND CLIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD METHADONE MAINTENANCE

• NCJ Number: 35585
• Journal: International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (1972) Pages: 247-255
• Author(s): B S BROWN; U F BASS; S K GAUVEY; N J KOZEL
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ATTITUDES OF SAMPLES OF TWO CLIENT GROUPS, ONE RECEIVING METHADONE TREATMENT AND ONE RECEIVING ABSTINENCE TREATMENT, AND OF THE STAFF IN A MULTI-MODALITY TREATMENT CENTER WERE COMPARED.

Abstract

COMPARISONS WERE OF THEIR CHARACTERIZATIONS OF AN ADDICT ON HEROIN, OF AN ADDICT WHO HAS GIVEN UP ALL DRUGS, AND OF AN ADDICT BEING MAINTAINED ON METHADONE. THE ADJECTIVE CHECK LIST WAS EMPLOYED. EACH GROUP CHARACTERIZED THE ADDICT WHO HAS GIVEN UP ALL DRUGS AS FUNCTIONING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THE ADDICT BEING MAINTAINED ON METHADONE, WITH THE LATTER SEEN BY ALL GROUPS AS FUNCTIONING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THE ADDICT USING HEROIN. THESE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT METHADONE MAINTENANCE IS NOT YET FULLY ACCEPTED AS A LONG-TERM TREATMENT DEVICE BY CLIENTS, EVEN BY THOSE CLIENTS ASKING TO BE PLACED ON METHADONE, OR BY THE STAFF THAT ADMINISTERS SUCH TREATMENT. SEVERAL REASONS ARE SUGGESTED TO EXPLAIN THIS PHENOMENON, AND EXPLORATION IS MADE OF THE VARIOUS TECHNIQUES ADMINISTRATORS MIGHT EMPLOY TO DEAL WITH IT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)