DRUG-USE, HIV RISK-TAKING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF BENZODIAZEPINE USE AMONG METHADONE-MAINTENANCE CLIENTS

Methadone maintenance clients who used benzodiazepines were compared w ith other methadone maintenance clients on a range of drug use and psy chosocial treatment outcome measures. Despite being on higher methadon e doses, benzodiazepine users were more likely to have recently inject ed, to have used cocaine and amphetamines, to have borrowed or lent us ed needles and syringes, and to have reported polydrug use in the prec eding month. Benzodiazepine users also exhibited higher levels of psyc hopathology and social dysfunction than other methadone maintenance cl ients. It is concluded that benzodiazepine-using methadone maintenance clients are a dysfunctional subgroup of the methadone population, who may require more clinical intervention than other clients.