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Voluntary versus Prescribed Termination of Methadone Maintenance
Author(s) -
Berger Herbert,
Smith Malcolm J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0007-0890
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1978.tb00140.x
Subject(s) - methadone maintenance , methadone , medicine , maintenance therapy , psychiatry , surgery , chemotherapy
Abstract This study was initiated to use a new criteria in determining the value of the methadone maintenance programs; to wit, a comparison of patients who stayed under therapy with those who dropped out. Those who left the program against advice, abused drugs while on the program and relapsed into drug use shortly after leaving. Fewer were gainfully employed; more were arrested for various crimes for the most part. Alcoholism was more common in this group during treatment and even more so after termination. Both groups stayed on the dole. Thus non‐complying patients do badly after leaving a methadone maintenance program and every effort should be used to motivate them to continue under treatment until they are rehabilitated.