THE MEDICAL STATUS OF METHADONE-MAINTENANCE PATIENTS IN TREATMENT FOR11-18 YEARS

To assess the safety and potential health consequences of long-term me thadone maintenance treatment, we identified 111 male patients admitte d to methadone maintenance treatment between 1965 and 1968, still enro lled in 1980 and in continuous treatment for at least 10 years. We wer e able, between 1980 and 1985, to examine patients or review records o f 110 patients (99%). Most medical diagnoses, symptomatic complaints, physical examination findings and laboratory test results occurred wit h similar frequency in the long-term methadone maintenance patients an d in a group of 56 long-term heroin addicts. These data suggest that p rolonged methadone maintenance treatment is safe and is not associated with unexpected adverse effects.