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METHADONE DIVERSION - EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES

NCJ Number
65806
Author(s)
J A INCIARDI
Date Published
1977
Length
116 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHADONE TREATMENT, RESEARCH ON DIVERSION FROM MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, AND METHODS FOR MEASURING THE EXTENT OF DIVERSION IN THE DRUG ABUSING COMMUNITY.
Abstract
DEVELOPED BY GERMAN SCIENTISTS IN WORLD WAR II, METHADONE HAS BECOME A PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR TREATING HEROIN ADDICTION SINCE IT PREVENTS WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, CAN BE TAKEN ORALLY, AND HAS MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS. METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT BECAME POPULAR IN THE 1960'S, AND REPORT OF ITS ILLEGAL USE BEGAN TO EMERGE IN THE 1970'S. THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, UNDER A CONTRACT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, CONDUCTED A STUDY OF METHADONE DIVERSION IN 5 CITIES DURING 1972-73 AND CONCLUDED THAT THE DRUG WAS READILY AVAILABLE ON THE STREETS. FORDHAM CONDUCTED A SECOND STUDY DURING 1974-75 IN NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, DETROIT, SAN FRANCISCO, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. A TOTAL OF 599 ACTIVE STREET ADDICTS AND 725 METHADONE MAINTENANCE PATIENTS, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WERE INTERVIEWED AT LENGTH. THIS RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THE METHADONE SUPPLY HAD INCREASED, BUT IT WAS NOT A MAJOR DRUG OF ABUSE. RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY TOOK METHADONE TO AVOID WITHDRAWAL, LIMIT THEIR HABIT, OR DETOXIFY. MOST USED METHADONE IN LIQUID FORM AND USUALLY OBTAINED THE DRUG FROM PATIENTS IN METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. DATA FROM COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROGRAMS COMBINED WITH THE NATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS ON DRUG ABUSE, CLIENT ORIENTED DATA ACQUISITION PROCESS (CODAP) AND DRUG ABUSE WARNING NETWORK (DAWN) COULD PROVIDE A RELIABLE INDEX OF METHADONE DIVERSION. ACUTE OR FATAL REACTIONS TO ILLICIT METHADONE REQUIRE FURTHER STUDY, BUT STATISTICS INDICATE THAT METHADONE-RELATED DEATHS ARE DECLINING. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, METHADONE COSTS LESS THAN HEROIN, PROBABLY REDUCES SOME HUSTLING ACTIVITY, AND AVOIDS MEDICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO INTRAVENEOUS INJECTIONS OF HEROIN. THE INTRODUCTION OF L-ALPHA-ACETYLMETHADON AS A REPLACEMENT DRUG FOR METHADONE IS LIKELY TO REDUCE THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICATION DIVERTED FROM TREATMENT PROGRAMS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN 47 TABLES RELATING TO METHADONE USE AND FORMS USED BY CODAP, A TREATMENT PROGRAM, AND HOSPITAL TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON DRUG USERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED -MJM)