Methadone Therapy in Hamburg

Abstract

Methadone treatment for opiate addicts as a structured form of therapy has been introduced in Hamburg in the summer of 1988. The number of patients in substitution has been increasing ever since. Since 1991 scientific follow-up research has been done. The following presents a number of selected results, which show the overall positive effects of methadone therapy. The retention rate is 91.3%, which is extremely high. The dose of methadone (10 ml levomethadone in general) depends primarily on the dose of heroin a patient was using before the beginning of substitution. The additional use of heroin, cocaine or cannabis does not have any influence on the dosage of methadone. On the whole, we can see positive developments: the patients’ health improved substantially, social reintegration started, the additional use of drugs was given up or decreased. Furthermore the conditions of substitution allow an intensive psycho– and sociotherapy. Both therapists and patients consider such additional therapies effective. Not only do they report an improvement of general well-being but also progress in psychic development as well as progress and changes in social behavior.