Opioid agonist maintenance for probationers: patient-level predictors of treatment retention, drug use, and crime

Subst Abus. 2012;33(1):30-9. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2011.616816.

Abstract

This study examined outcomes and their predictors among 181 probationers enrolling in opioid agonist maintenance with methadone or levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM). Participants were interviewed at treatment entry and 2-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Treatment retention and frequency of heroin use, cocaine use, and income-generating criminal activity were examined using survival and longitudinal analyses. Participants reported marked reductions in drug use and crime relative to treatment entry. A number of patient characteristics associated with various outcomes were identified. The findings support engaging probationers in treatment and highlight patient factors that might influence outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / agonists
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Baltimore
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Heroin Dependence / drug therapy
  • Heroin Dependence / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Methadone / therapeutic use*
  • Methadyl Acetate / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Patient Compliance
  • Prisoners*
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Methadyl Acetate
  • Methadone