Adolescents and Short Term, Low Dose Methadone Maintenance

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Abstract
This paper will report results on 37 heroin-addicted young patients enrolled in the methadone section of the VITAM Treatment Center. These patients were predominantly male, range from 15 to 24 years of age, and represented for the most part the white, upper-middle-class segment of this Southwestern Connecticut catchment area. The data presented here shows that methadone can be used successfully in young heroin addicts. No serious side effects were observed in these patients. It was found that they could function normally when provided with methadone at low-dose maintenance levels and could successfully participate in the overall treatment program. Successful withdrawal was initiated and completed in 35 % of the patients. The need for and the efficacy of methadone are independent of age or dose but may relate to the length of addiction. It was also found that a minimum methadone therapy time may be 60 days, because below that time results measured by retention in the program were minimal. At the end of 18 months, 35% of program participants remain drug-free and are either currently in the treatment program or graduated and working or in school. Clinical observations relative to the use of methadone in adolescents are discussed at length in the paper.

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