Characteristics of patients on methadone maintenance treatment in Taizhou City / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics of methadone maintenance treatment(MMT)clients, and to explore their retention rate and associated factors in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. Methods Heroin or opiate addicts who started MMT between 2006 and 2014 in study area were included. Data including demographics, history of drug use and treatment information was extracted from the National MMT Data Management System and descriptive analysis were conducted. Multiple logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with retention rate. Results In total, 2 262 MMT clients were included for analysis. Most of them were male(87.53%), single, divorced or widowed(55.75%), and had an education of junior middle school or below(88.68%). Almost all of them (98.32%)were heroin addicts, and the age at first drug use ranged from 9 years to 54 years, with average age of(25.06±6.34)years. A total of 1 123(49.65%)clients had a history of inject drug use and 81(3.58%)clients had ever shared needles with others. The average duration on MMT was 5.02±2.01 years, and the average methadone dosage during treatment was (34.49 ±22.69)mL. The MMT retention rate was 29.2% (661/2 262). In multivariable analysis, districts such as Huangyan District, Yuhuan County and Linhai City, aged≥40 years and average methadone dosage>20 mL during treatment were independently and positively associated with retention rate. Conclusion Most of MMT clients in Taizhou are male, unmarried, and had low education level. The retention rate is low in Taizhou but older patents and those receive high methadone dosage have a relatively higher retention rate.