Abstract
Aims and methodTo examine patients' perceptions of unmet needs during methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), and to explore the relationship between co-occurring benzodiazepine misuse and severity of needs. A cross-sectional survey was carried out at an MMT programme in Dublin, Ireland. All patients were invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Of the 191 eligible patients, 107 agreed to participate and completed the Camberwell Assessment of Need questionnaire.ResultsUnmet needs for substance misuse treatments, daytime activities, socialisation, money management and psychological distress were high. Fifty-two respondents (49%) reported using non-prescribed benzodiazepines during the past month. Compared with non-users of benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine users reported higher ratings of total and unmet needs (P < 0.05). The number of days using benzodiazepines predicted the severity of needs.Clinical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of addressing coexisting psychological needs, and further support enhancing treatment interventions for benzodiazepine misuse or dependence among patients on MMT.
Highlights
MethodsThe Research Ethics Committee of the Drug Treatment Centre Board in Dublin approved the study
In accordance with our hypothesis, we found that a higher number of days of benzodiazepine use is significantly associated with higher total and unmet need scores
Tunde Apantaku-Olajide is a consultant general psychiatrist at Saint John Regional Hospital, New Brunswick, Canada. He holds an academic position in the Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University (Dalhousie Medical New Brunswick), Canada
Summary
The Research Ethics Committee of the Drug Treatment Centre Board in Dublin approved the study. This is the oldest, largest addiction treatment centre in Ireland, providing a broad range of out-patient treatments, including specialist psychiatric, psychological, social and medical interventions. Service users who were opioiddependent and who had received MMT for at least 3 months were eligible for inclusion in the survey. Service users with acute or end-stage medical problems (e.g. AIDS) were excluded. All eligible service users were sent a personal letter explaining the study and inviting them to participate. Service users who did not respond to this letter were approached personally and verbally invited to participate
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