Valium use and abuse by methadone maintenance clients

Twenty-one Valium-using/abusing methadone maintenance clients were compared with 42 non-Valium-using clients as to demographic characteristics and two psychological indices, the Symptom Check List-90-R and the Addiction Severity Index. The Valium users scored much like adult psychiatric outpatients and had more drug and psychiatric problems than the Valium nonusers, who resembled most nearly "adolescent nonpatients" in profiles. Possible reasons for Valium use/abuse by methadone maintenance clients are discussed.