Methadone maintenance: results of treatment in heroin addict at Thanyarak Hospital (1990-1996).

ABSTRACT

Methadone maintenance is a treatment program designed for chronic heroin addicted patients. The purpose is to make them maintain their productive function and adaptive social behavior. The retrospective descriptive study was done from 1990 to 1996. 195 cases joined the Methadone Maintenance Program (MMP) during this period. 188 cases were men and 7 cases were women. The average age was 31.9 +/- 7.2 yr. (19-49 yr. old). 105 cases were single and 90 cases were married. 155 cases were labourers (79.2%). 159 cases (81.5%) used more than 500 mg of heroin a day, it may be assumed that they spent 327 +/- 159 baht a day ($13 +/- 5). The duration of heroin usage before MMP was 8.7 +/- 5.4 yr. (4-25 yr.) In and out of the detoxification treatment program was 12.7 +/- 10.1 times (4-44 times). We found that 11 cases successfully decreased and then stopped the methadone. 32 cases were in the program for more than 1 year and also joined the program until the end of this study. This meant that 43 cases (22%) were successful in stopping their heroin addicted behavior. The average dose of methadone administration was 61.5 mg (40-80 mg mostly). The average time for the patients attending the program was 8.2 months (2-80 months). 38 cases who attended the program for more than 1 1/2 years were in the older-aged and married group. We found no difference in the previous heroin usage or methadone dose in these patients before they attended the MMP. The 32 cases which remained on MMP used mostly less than 40 mg of methadone a day. Two-thirds of the cases discontinued the program due to their positive urine test findings for heroin up to 8 times. Although the MMP was a good way to decrease the heroin addicted behavior, it's not a promising way to stop this problem.