Effectiveness of Low-Dose Methadone Maintenance for the Treatment of Inner City Heroin Addicts

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Abstract
Addicts were maintained on a daily average methadone dose of 30 mg. Clients remaining in treatment for 6 and 12 mo. were compared to clients dropping out of treatment within the first 30 days and followed up 1 yr later. Clients remaining in treatment showed significant reductions in heroin usage and arrests, and large increases in full-time employment. One year later, the dropouts were doing as poorly as they had 1 yr earlier. Methadone maintenance averaging 30 mg/day achieved similar success rates as other studies using larger daily doses, but did so at the expense of retaining fewer clients in treatment. Treatment strategies should be designed to impact at the first 30 days of treatment to retain them in treatment in view of the beneficial effects awaiting them if they stay.