Retention in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Preliminary Analysis of the Role of Transfers Between Methadone Prescribing Physicians

We examine the impact of transfers between methadone treatment prescribing physicians on 1-year retention. Episode data (n=13,359; 1996 to 2001) drawn from a Canadian population-based methadone registry were analysed using a binary logistic regression model. The odds ratios for remaining in treatment for 365 days or more decreased for repeated episodes of treatment, but increased with age and number of transfers. The positive effect of the number of transfers was non-linear and tended to level off with higher numbers of transfers. Analyses indicate that transfers between prescribing physicians may play an important role in prolonging methadone maintenance treatment.

[1]  J. Bell,et al.  Cycling in and out of treatment; participation in methadone treatment in NSW, 1990-2002. , 2006, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[2]  C. Strike,et al.  Factors predicting 2-year retention in methadone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. , 2005, Addictive behaviors.

[3]  P. Friedmann,et al.  Does retention matter? Treatment duration and improvement in drug use. , 2003, Addiction.

[4]  B. Brands,et al.  Changing patient characteristics with increased methadone maintenance availability. , 2002, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[5]  M. Farré,et al.  Retention rate and illicit opioid use during methadone maintenance interventions: a meta-analysis. , 2002, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[6]  B. Brands,et al.  The Expansion of Methadone Prescribing in Ontario, 1996–1998 , 2000 .

[7]  W. Hall,et al.  How long is long enough? Answers to questions about the duration of methadone maintenance treatment , 1998 .

[8]  S. Magura,et al.  Pre- and in-treatment predictors of retention in methadone treatment using survival analysis. , 1998, Addiction.

[9]  D. Simpson,et al.  Treatment retention and follow-up outcomes in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). , 1997 .

[10]  Alan Ross,et al.  The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Patients, Programs, Services, and Outcome , 1991 .

[11]  L. Grönbladh,et al.  The Swedish Methadone Maintenance Program , 1984 .

[12]  G. Serban.  Social and Medical Aspects of Drug Abuse , 1984, Springer Netherlands.

[13]  M. Anglin,et al.  Shutting off methadone. Costs and benefits. , 1981, Archives of general psychiatry.

[14]  P. Cushman.  Abstinence following detoxification and methadone maintenance treatment. , 1978, The American journal of medicine.