AIMS To determine the relationship between methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and hepatitis C (HCV) seroconversion among illicit drug users. DESIGN A generalized estimating equation model assuming a binomial distribution and a logit-link function was used to examine for a possible protective effect of MMT use on HCV incidence. SETTING Data from three prospective cohort studies of illicit d...

OBJECTIVE Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was introduced to China in 2004 to reduce the harm of injecting drug users (IDUs). However, little is known about continued drug use, especially methamphetamine (MAMP), among MMT patients. METHODS A survey was conducted among patients attending five major MMT clinics in Dehong Prefecture in 2014 to investigate the heroin and MAMP use and their a...

We assess the influence of co-occurring psychiatric disorders on retention in 189 opioid dependent patients in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and determine the incidence of psychiatric co-morbidity during an 18-month follow-up period. About 68.5 % were retained in the MMT. Neither co-occurring mental disorders (chi-square = 0.303, df = 1, p = 0.622) nor methadone doses [85 (88.9) vs. 7...

background: the role of methadone in qtc prolongation, torsades de pointes (tdp) arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death has been debated. because of widespread use of methadone in methadone maintenance treatment (mmt) centers, we aimed to study dose-related effects of methadone on qtc prolongation. methods: in a comparative observational study, 90 patients who were under mmt were evaluated. patien...

Background: For opioid-dependent patients not benefitting from conventional treatments (i.e., oral methadone), evidence suggests that supervised injectable medications are effective. The present study aims to describe participants’ baseline characteristics in a study comparing injectable diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone and factors independently associated with prior access to methadone at hi...

Injection drug use (IDU) continues to be a significant public health issue in the U.S. and internationally, and there is evidence to suggest that the burden of injection drug use and associated morbidity and mortality falls disproportionately on minority communities. IDU is responsible for a significant portion of new and existing HIV/AIDS cases in many parts of the world. In the U.S., the prev...

We noted with interest the many parallels this study’s (Chen and Fujiwara, Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment 2009:3;61–70) findings have with other similar studies from the western world. In this context, we wish to highlight two crucial principles regarding methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) that ought to guide the clinician. First, given the robust evidence base proving the superiori...

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Today, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), is one of the most common treatments for opioid dependence, and Governments are making great efforts to expand MMT service centers. With Increase the number of these centers, their problems are more pronounced. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the performance and characteristi...

Although the efficacy of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in opioid dependence disorder has been well established, the influence of methadone pharmacokinetics in dose requirement and clinical outcome remains controversial. The aim of this study is to analyze methadone dosage in responder and nonresponder patients considering pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic factors that may contribute t...

BACKGROUND Socio-behavioral consulting centers offer methadone maintenance therapy which is a very useful method for drug dependents. These centers offer a wide range of services like education, consulting, prevention, care taking of patients and treatment for high risk groups such as AIDS-infected patients. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is helpful in harm minimization and increasing the ...