Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 29, Issue 4 , Pages 259-265, December 2005

Patterns of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse during long-term methadone maintenance treatment

  • Anja Dobler-Mikola, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Association for Risk Reduction in Use of Drugs, Geschäftsstelle, Konradstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Josef Hättenschwiler, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Burghölzli Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Daniel Meili, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Association for Risk Reduction in Use of Drugs, Geschäftsstelle, Konradstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Thilo Beck

      Affiliations

    • Association for Risk Reduction in Use of Drugs, Geschäftsstelle, Konradstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Edi Böni

      Affiliations

    • Association for Risk Reduction in Use of Drugs, Geschäftsstelle, Konradstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Jiri Modestin, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Burghölzli Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +41 44 384 21 11; fax: +41 44 384 27 19.

Received 5 May 2005; received in revised form 1 June 2005; accepted 1 August 2005.

Abstract 

Individuals' use of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol during long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was studied. Prospectively collected data from 103 heroin-addicted individuals who were consecutively admitted for MMT and remained 2 years in treatment were evaluated. The patients were assessed every 6 months with a standardized interview. Three longitudinal patterns of drug abuse were identified. A proportion of patients abstained fully from their particular drug use (26% from heroin, 39% from cocaine, and 19% from alcohol); a proportion (39%, 32%, and 47%, respectively) switched between periods of abuse and nonuse of these drugs; and chronic drug users (34%, 28%, and 33%, respectively) continued use, including periods of daily abuse throughout MMT. Different therapeutic interventions may be needed in patients with different longitudinal patterns of additional substance use during MMT.

Keywords: Methadone maintenance, Additional abuse, Heroin, Cocaine, Alcohol

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PII: S0740-5472(05)00168-6

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2005.08.002

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 29, Issue 4 , Pages 259-265, December 2005

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