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Alcohol Use in Youthful Methadone‐Maintained Former Heroin Addicts: Liver Impairment and Treatment Outcome
Author(s) -
Hartman N.,
Kreek M. J.,
Ross A.,
Khuri E.,
Millman R. B.,
Rodriguez R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1983.tb05469.x
Subject(s) - heroin , medicine , methadone , methadone maintenance , narcotic , addiction , liver function , substance abuse , liver function tests , alcohol abuse , psychiatry , drug
Combined alcohol abuse and narcotic dependency is now recognized as a common problem in adults but has not been well characterized in adolescents, nor have the effects of combined substance abuse on liver function in this age group been assessed. Forty‐four youthful former heroin addicts (27 males (M) and 17 females (F)) on methadone maintenance therapy were interviewed in detail about past and present alcohol use and underwent physical examination. Liver function studies and tests for hepatitis B antigen and antibody were performed. Four and onehalf years later, 28 of these patients still in treatment or willing to return for study purposes were similarly reevaluated. The original sample included 15 whose alcohol intake was high (12 M + 3 F: group A) and 29 whose intake was low or absent (15 M + 14 F: group N). Sixty‐six per cent of group A patients and 58% of group N patients remained in treatment at the second time point. Group A had significantly greater abnormalities in liver function than group N with evidence of progression over 4 1/2 years, based both on physical examination and blood chemistry results. Seventy‐five per cent of the patients had evidence of exposure to hepatitis B virus (anti HB. positive) in 1981 while 7% demonstrated antigenemia. The results demonstrate that: (1) alcohol abuse is common among adolescents and young adults in methadone maintenance therapy; (2) that it is associated with significant acute or chronic liver impairment; (3) exposure to HE virus is endemic in youthful former heroin addicts; and (4) the retention of alcohol‐abusing patients in methadone treatment and drug‐free follow‐up is as great as with non‐alcohol abusing patients.