ABSTRACT
In this study the efficacy of traditional method, methadone tapering method and rapid method as three opiate detoxification treatments was compared based on demographic features and naltrexone consumption in a 6-month follow up. This Cohort prospective study was performed on 140 opioid addict men referred to opiate detoxification center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman/ Iran from 2005-2007. They were divided into three groups of traditional method [n=61], methadone tapering [n=34] and rapid treatment [n=45] and followed up for 6 months in order to evaluate the results of detoxification treatments. At the end of the first month, the rate of abstinence in whole was 80.7%, and this rate was 83.6% in traditional treatment group, 82.4% in methadone group and 75.6% in rapid treatment group that shows no significant difference. After the 6th month the rate of abstinence was 12.8% in whole, 16.7% in traditional treatment group, 16.7% in methadone group and 6.3% in rapid treatment group. These rates, too, show no significant difference among three groups. The rate of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 1st month was 75.7% in whole, 52.5% in traditional group, 47.1% in methadone group and 97.8% in rapid treatment group that shows significant difference among three groups [P<0.05]. There was no case of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 6th month