Knowledge of Methadone Toxicity Among US Maintenance Clinic Staff

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Abstract
In 1996, readers of the US magazine Addiction Treatment Forum completed a questionnaire on methadone maintenance. All the 149 respondents working in maintenance programs had difficulty answering six questions on methadone toxicity. Surprisingly, there was no measurable association between knowledge of methadone toxicity and either respondents' qualifications, experience or position, or their general knowledge of the risks and benefits of maintenance treatment. Respondents were better informed of these general risks than staff working in 14 New York City maintenance programs in 1994. These findings suggest there is a pressing need for US methadone maintenance staff to be informed of the risks, signs and symptoms of methadone toxicity.