Design and Implementation of an Automated Dispensing Device for Reducing Methadone Therapy Misuse

Introduction: A variety of (deliberate or inaccurate) errors in drug rehabilitation clinics may occur  due to use of addictive drugs. Automated drug distribution systems play a significant role in reducing drug medication errors. Method: Firstly, according to the addiction rehabilitation centers requests, the design and construction of the device was performed. The prototype systems were examined and tested in several centers. Finally, the results of the final sample performance were analyzed using statistical methods.Results: The results of quantitative measurements (in multi-center and multi-device) indicate that the mean and standard deviation of the error of the machine is 0.232 ± 0.055 mL and the relative error is 1.33 ± 0.58 percent.Conclusion: In this article, we described the principles of operation, reliability and accuracy of a methadone syrup dispenser system. The results show that this device can be effective in reducing medication errors in the field of addiction management especially in drug rehabilitation centers.