LEVO-ALPHA ACETYL METHADOL (LAAM) - ITS ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS

Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol, or LAAM, is a medication therapy for indiv iduals addicted to opiates that provides an alternative to methadone. Because it is administered only three times a week and, therefore, req uires fewer clinic trips, patient acceptance can be higher than with m ethadone. While blocking the effects of other opiates and preventing w ithdrawal, LAAM does not produce a subjective high. However, because m ost patients are not familiar with LAAM, they may be initially more an xious and need more counseling and support wizen receiving the medicat ion than they would with the more familiar methadone medication. On ba lance, LAAM enables clinic administrators and counselors to offer an a lternative medication to methadone that some clients prefer once they become adjusted to it because of LAAM's even, stable effect. Through h ypothetic al but true-to-life case studies of LAAM use, it is possible to gain a clearer understanding of the advantages and drawbacks of us ing LAAM. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.