Prohibition of take-home dosages: negative consequences on methadone maintenance treatment.

Pani, P P; Pirastu, R; Ricci, A; Gessa, G L · Drug Alcohol Depend · 1996

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Patients on methadone maintenance were forewarned that a law prohibiting take-home dosages was to be enforced within 6 months. At the end of the 6-month period preceding the enforcement of the law the effect of the anticipated suppression of the take-home privilege was studied on a cohort of 211 methadone-maintained patients on take-home dosages. The outcome of the treatment of these patients was compared to that of a control group of 220 patients at the end of a 6-month period prior to the announcement of the new law. The outcome of the study suggests that the restrictive regulation is counterproductive for retaining patients in treatment.

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