METHADONE TREATMENT OF OPIATE ADDICTS

Internationally substitution is the most common treatment of drug addi cts. Studies show that there are positive effects compared to control groups without treatment, that only few patients are discharged from s ubstitution treatment regularly and that dropout from treatment is mos tly the cause for relapse. Furthermore the results depend on the varyi ng quality of treatment implementation. Since introduction of the NUB guidelines (drawn up by the medical organisation of federal physicians and the insurance companies) in Germany the amount of substitution ha s risen considerably up to 15.000 patients. Standardized regulations a re missing, the implementation does not currently meet the necessary q uality requirements.