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document
A randomized trial of an interim methadone maintenance clinic . BACKGROUND Interim methadone maintenance has been proposed as a method of providing clinically effective services to heroin addicts waiting for treatment in standard comprehensive methadone maintenance programs . METHODS A clinic that provided initial medical evaluation , methadone medication , and AIDS education , but did not include formal drug abuse counseling or other social support services was established in New York City . A sample of 301 volunteer subjects recruited from the waiting list for treatment in the Beth Israel methadone program were randomly assigned to immediate entry into the interim clinic or a control group . RESULTS There were no differences in initial levels of illicit drug use across the experimental and control groups . One-month urinalysis follow-up data showed a significant reduction in heroin use in the experimental group ( from 63 % positive at intake to 29 % positive ) with no change in the control group ( 62 % to 60 % positive ) . No significant change was observed in cocaine urinalyses ( approximately 70 % positive for both groups at intake and follow-up ) . A higher percentage of the experimental group were in treatment at 16-month follow-up ( 72 % vs 56 % ) . CONCLUSIONS Limited services interim methadone maintenance can reduce heroin use among persons awaiting entry into comprehensive treatment and increase the percentage entering treatment .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
methadone
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Intervention_Pharmacological
methadone
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Intervention_Pharmacological
methadone
25841
Intervention_Control
control group
25842
Outcome_Other
clinically effective
25843
Outcome_Physical
levels of illicit drug use
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Outcome_Mental
reduction in heroin use
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Outcome_Physical
cocaine urinalyses
25846
Outcome_Mental
heroin use
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Participant_Condition
heroin addicts
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Participant_Sample-size
301