Author/Editor     Nolimal, D; Crowley, TJ
Title     Difficulties in a clinical application of methadone-dose contingency contracting
Type     članek
Source     J Subst Abuse Treat
Vol. and No.     Letnik 7, št. 4
Publication year     1990
Volume     str. 219-24
Language     eng
Abstract     We review outcome of 14 methadone-maintenance patients who were offered a choice of administrative discharge or a methadone-dose contingency contract for continued drug abuse. In the three months before intervention, only 38 percent of urines were drug-free, while 55 percent were drug-free during the three-month intervention. Marked improvement occurred during the first month, while later the effect faded. Nine patients discontinued or reduced drug abuse, arriving at stable or fluctuating dose, and did not detoxify. Five others continued drug abuse, eventually reducing their methadone doses to zero. The procedure at least temporarily reduced drug abuse among the former group, but lack of uniformity in applying contingencies may have weakened the effect. Considering the spreading AIDS epidemic, we review the confusing literature on management of still-abusing methadone maintenance patients and suggest a protocol for their treatment.
Descriptors     BEHAVIOR THERAPY
METHADONE
MOTIVATION
NARCOTIC DEPENDENCE
STREET DRUGS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DETECTION
ADULT
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP, DRUG
DRUG ADMINISTRATION SCHEDULE
MIDDLE AGE
NARCOTIC DEPENDENCE