Comparison of the Outcomes of Three Detoxification Methods (Clonidin, Methadon, Rapid) in Opioid-dependents Referred to Kerman Shaheed Beheshti Hospital in a 6 -month Follow- up

Background & Aims: In this study the efficacy of traditional method, methadone tapering method and rapid method as three opiate detoxification treatments was compared based on demographic features and naltrexone consumption in a 6- month follow up. Method: This Cohort prospective study was performed on 140 opioid addict men referred to opiate detoxification center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman/ Iran from 2005-2007. They were divided into three groups of traditional method (n= 61), methadone tapering (n= 34) and rapid treatment (n= 45) and followed up for 6 months in order to evaluate the results of detoxification treatments. Results:At the end of the first month, the rate of abstinence in whole was 80.7%, and this rate was 83.6% in traditional treatment group, 82.4% in methadone group and 75.6% in rapid treatment group that shows no significant difference. After the 6th month the rate of abstinence was 12.8% in whole, 16.7% in traditional treatment group, 16.7% in methadone group and 6.3% in rapid treatment group. These rates, too, show no significant difference among three groups. The rate of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 1st month was 75.7% in whole, 52.5% in traditional group, 47.1% in methadone group and 97.8% in rapid treatment group that shows significant difference among three groups (P<0.05). There was no case of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 6th month. Conclusion: Since the rate of relapse and results of three detoxification methods have been the same the best detoxification method for each patient should be selected based on the physical condition of the patient, available facilities, probable expenses and physician's clinical judgment.