WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ENDS - CONSEQUENCES FOR A CLINIC AND ITS CLIENTS

The Los Angeles Enhanced Methadone Maintenance Project was a 5-year re search demonstration project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse with the goal of reducing high-risk behavior for human immunodef iciency vints (HIV) among heroin users. A clinic was established for t he purposes of the study and 500 clients with high-risk profiles were recruited into treatment. Follow-up assessments demonstrated that clie nts had reduced their drug use, criminal behavior, and HIV-risk behavi ors after entering treatment. At the end of the project clients were g iven the option of continuing treatment at the clinic on a fee-for-ser vice basis, transferring to another treatment provider, or undergoing detoxification. Clients who were eligible for Medicaid were likely to continue receiving methadone treatment, bur those without Medicaid fun ding were not. The implications of terminating treatment among a high- risk population recruited into a research demonstration project are di scussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.