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Simple, Rapid Spectrophotometric Assay of Dispensed Methadone for Diversion Control
John R Brooklyn1, Dwight E Matthews
1From the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry (JRB) and Chemistry and Medicine (DEM), University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Journal of Addiction Medicine
|March 8, 2022
Summary
A handheld ultraviolet spectrometer effectively detects altered methadone take-home doses, aiding opioid treatment programs in identifying diversion and ensuring treatment integrity.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Methadone treatment is crucial for opioid use disorder.
- Diversion of take-home methadone doses is a significant challenge.
- Current detection methods for diversion are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a handheld ultraviolet light absorption spectrometer for detecting methadone concentration in take-home bottles.
- To assess the spectrometer's ability to identify potentially altered patient doses.
Main Methods:
- Calibrated spectrometer using standardized methadone dilutions.
- Compared measured concentrations in take-home bottles (suspected and unsuspected) against expected doses.
Main Results:
- Spectrometer successfully identified altered methadone doses.
- Out of 103 "of concern" bottles, 15 showed <25% and 8 showed <75% of expected concentrations.
Conclusions:
- A handheld, low-cost UV spectrometer offers a simple, effective method for in-house analysis of methadone doses.
- This technology can help clinics monitor diversion rates and inform state/federal agencies on illicit methadone use.
