Drug Users' Views of Prescribed Methadone

Abstract

This paper aims to redress the imbalance in current methadone evaluations by investigating the views and experiences of drug users themselves. The research was funded by the Scottish Office and involved semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 80 illicit drug users currently receiving prescribed methadone. All interviews were audio-recorded with full transcription and analysis of the transcribed material was carried out using the software package, Winmax. The study revealed that the respondents' comments were consistent with the views often expressed by professionals. That is, service users valued the ability of methadone to reduce illicit drug use, to decrease drug-related harm and to prevent crime; and were worried by abuse of the prescribing system and the fact that methadone was addictive and caused similar problems to, or worse problems than, heroin. Additionally, service users were concerned about, and often prioritized, the impact of prescribed methadone on their health, physical and emotional resources, financial circumstances and relationships. The paper concludes that methadone is a controversial but useful substitute drug, the prescribing of which requires careful and continuous monitoring. To this end, evaluations of methadone should consider the views of those receiving as well as those providing services.