The influence of coping and depression on abstinence from illicit drug usein methadone-maintained patients

Use of illicit drugs by opioid-dependent patients maintained on methadone u ndermines the benefits of methadone maintenance treatment. Because suppleme ntal pharmacologic approaches have met with limited success, it is importan t to identify psychological mechanisms associated with drug use that potent ially could contribute to the development of more effective treatments. To investigate this issue, the current study assessed coping and depression in 307 methadone-maintained patients and found a reliance on avoidant coping strategies, most notably by depressed patients. Patients who achieved absti nence following a 12-week coping skills training intervention decreased the use of avoidant coping strategies. Drug use at the 6-month follow-up was r elated to gains made during treatment, specifically reduced cognitive avoid ance, reduced depression, and number of drug-free weeks during treatment.