An innovative approach to reducing cannabis use in a subset of methadone maintenance clients

Cannabis use rates among methadone maintenance clients are high. We attempted to decrease cannabis use in our most stable clients by adding a requirement to the take home dose policy that clients provide cannabis free urines to achieve twice a week pick up status (2 x /week). The urine records and take home status of all clients were monitored for the 6 months prior to implementation of the policy change and 1 year following. A total of four of eight clients (50%) on 2 x /week status who were using cannabis discontinued their use in order to maintain 2 x /week status or to return to 2 x /week status if it had been lost.