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Impact of Methadone Treatment on Drug Misuse and Crime

NCJ Number
187821
Author(s)
Jeremy Coid; Andrea Carvell; Zelpha Kittler; Andrew Healey; Juliet Henderson
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes a study conducted in a typical community-based clinic for drug abusers in inner-city London; it describes the characteristics of 221 opiate addicts participating in methadone treatment and the impact of treatment on their drug abuse and criminal behavior.
Abstract
Most subjects (85 percent) had been committing crimes to help fund their drug use. The most common offenses were theft or shoplifting, fraud or deception, and drug dealing. A total of 54 percent had suffered from mental illness at some time in their lives, and 30 percent had attempted suicide. Following treatment, heroin use decreased by 56 percent, from 25 days per month on average before treatment to 11 days per month after treatment. Theft decreased by 52 percent, from 44 days in the 6-month period before treatment to 21 days after treatment. Drug-dealing decreased by 64 percent, from 56 days to 20 days. Average illegal earnings from the previous 6 months of criminal activity decreased by 73 percent, from 10,984 pounds in the period before treatment to 2,930 pounds after treatment. Treatment was most effective for those who had the highest levels of drug use and who were the most criminally active before treatment. Those who were in treatment the longest showed the greatest reduction in daily expenditure on illicit drugs. Economic modeling suggests that, when an opiate addict receives methadone treatment for a full 6 months, the cost of this treatment (960 pounds) compares favorably with the estimated reduction in illegal earnings over this period (between 2,142 pounds and 7,878 pounds). 4 figures