COCAINE USE IN BUPRENORPHINE-MAINTAINED VS METHADONE-MAINTAINED PATIENTS

The authors examined cocaine use in 110 opioid-dependent cocaine users during a 24-week, randomized, double-blind clinical trial in which pa tients were maintained daily on one of the following: 2 mg of buprenor phine, 6 mg of buprenorphine, 35 mg of methadone, or 65 mg of methadon e. During the 24-week trial, cocaine use, as measured by urinalysis an d self-reports, did not differ across medication groups, although opia te use decreased significantly in the methadone groups relative to the buprenorphine groups. These results suggest that buprenorphine, at do ses up to 6 mg/day, is not more effective than methadone in decreasing cocaine use in opioid-dependent cocaine users.