[Use of and participation in self-help groups for methadone substitution patients]

To evaluate the importance of self-help groups and the patients' readiness to participate in such groups a sample of 675 methadone patients in Hamburg was asked by means of questionnaires. 43% of the patients had heard of self-help groups. One quarter of them (10% of the whole sample) had participated in self-help groups at some time. The greatest importance of self-help organisations is attached to a representation of the interests of methadone patients to improve their overall situation. Another important purpose of self-help groups is seen in getting help for legal, financial and social problems. Getting in contact with other clients or offering breakfast/lunch, washing clothes or shower facilities etc. is not evaluated as an important task for self-help organisations. Patients who are working on a regular basis and living in stable conditions are less interested in participating in self-help groups. Thus, the participants in self-help groups can hardly benefit from the experiences of the socially better integrated methadone patients.