OUTPATIENT NONOPIOID DETOXIFICATION FOR OPIOID WITHDRAWAL - WHO IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT

The authors examined characteristics of successful completers of an ou tpatient clonidine/oxazepam detoxification procedure for opioid depend ence. Of 215 initial applicants, 167 received medication, and 65 succe ssfully completed by taking a dose of naltrexone. Those who completed were more likely to have last used an opioid other than heroin to be h eroin smokers, rather than intravenous users, to have used benzodiazep ines in the 30 days before treatment, and to have abstained from opioi ds for a longer time before presenting for treatment. Neu, users (for less than 2 years) did no better than those using longer than 2 years. These findings may help in the continued refinement of patient placem ent criteria.