Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats
Published on: November 11, 2013
Quality of life among heroin users on buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance
Alexander M Ponizovsky1, Alexander Grinshpoon
1Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. alexander.ponizovsky@moh.health.gov.il
Objectives:
To assess the quality of life (QoL) of heroin users starting and following 4 and 8 months of maintenance treatment program using buprenorphine vs. methadone.
Methods:
Participants received maintenance treatment with oral methadone or sublingual buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin dependence. Participants' QoL was measured using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire completed before treatment and at 1-, 4-, and 8-month follow-up. Baseline data from 304 heroin-dependent participants starting maintenance treatment, and 4-month and 8-month follow-up data for the 180 and 129 participants, respectively, retained in trial treatment are presented.
Results:
For the participants retained in treatment, statistically significant improvements in QoL and all specific life domains were observed in 4 and 8 months. However, for users who were maintained on methadone, this improvement was observed during the first month of treatment.
Conclusions:
The results show the beneficial effects of the maintenance treatment programs using both buprenorphine and methadone with regard to satisfaction with QoL and all specific life domains among heroin-dependent outpatients, with methadone having an earlier onset than buprenorphine. Further studies are needed to identify the factors linked to these benefits and their time course.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Drug Dependence
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Analgesia and Pain Management

