Abstract
Aim: To evaluate whether effective methadone treatment affects cocaine use. Methods: Four hundred twenty-one consecutive patients admitted to a methadone maintenance clinic in Israel (1993-2002) were prospectively studied. Patients' urine samples were analyzed for cocaine during months 1 and 13. Results: On admission 55(13.1%) of 421 patients had urine positive for cocaine and 366 had negative. Of the 55 cocaine-positive patients, 45(81.8%) stayed in treatment at least one year, as did 267(73%) cocaine-negative. After one year (n = 312) 31 of 45 cocaine users stopped and 25 of 267 started. Methadone dose was highest in 31 patients who stopped cocaine (176.1 ± 42.1 mg/ day), followed by 14 who did not stop (161.4 ± 37.5 mg/day), and 25 who started during treatment (122.9 ± 48.7 mg/day), or 242 who never used cocaine (119.5 ± 48.4 mg/day) (ANOVA, F = 15.6, p < 0.0005). Conclusions: High methadone dose may reduce cocaine use in patients addicted to both heroin and cocaine.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
