RETENTION IN TREATMENT OF HEROIN USERS IN ITALY - THE ROLE OF TREATMENT TYPE AND OF METHADONE-MAINTENANCE DOSAGE

Retention in treatment among 1503 heroin users attending public treatm ent centres in 1995 was studied. Three different treatments were consi dered: methadone maintenance, drug-free program and naltrexone. The re tention rate after 1 year was 40% for patients in methadone maintenanc e, 18% in naltrexone and 15% in drug-free program. For patients in mai ntenance, methadone dosage and clinic policy were the most important f actors for retention. Patients taking greater than or equal to 60 mg/d ay and 30-59 mg/day were respectively 70 and 50% more likely to remain in treatment than those receiving a < 30 mg daily dose. Patients in m aintenance-oriented clinics were 30% more likely to remain in treatmen t than those in abstinence-oriented centres. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.