D. Dippoliti et al., RETENTION IN TREATMENT OF HEROIN USERS IN ITALY - THE ROLE OF TREATMENT TYPE AND OF METHADONE-MAINTENANCE DOSAGE, Drug and alcohol dependence, 52(2), 1998, pp. 167-171
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.