PROHIBITION OF TAKE-HOME DOSAGES - NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON METHADONE-MAINTENANCE TREATMENT

Patients on methadone maintenance were forewarned that a law prohibiti ng take-home dosages was to be enforced within 6 months. At the end of the 6-month period preceding the enforcement of the law the effect of the anticipated suppression of the rake-home privilege was studied on a cohort of 211 methadone-maintained patients on take-home dosages. T he outcome of the treatment of these patients was compared to that of a control group of 220 patients at the end of a 6-month period prior t o the announcement of the new law. The outcome of the study suggests t hat the restrictive regulation is counterproductive for retaining pati ents in treatment.