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Published on: January 22, 2016
Stagnation in Achieving Recommended Methadone Doses in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Jemima A Frimpong1, Yinfei Kong2, Maya-Grace T Archer3
1Department of Management and Organization, Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Health Services Research
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Methadone dosing in opioid treatment programs has not improved, with many patients still receiving sub-therapeutic doses. This stagnation highlights a gap between evidence-based guidelines and clinical practice, potentially limiting treatment effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Addiction medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public health
Background:
- Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a cornerstone of opioid use disorder care.
- Evidence-based guidelines recommend a minimum daily dose of 80 mg for MMT effectiveness.
- Adherence to these guidelines is crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in methadone dosing practices within Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) from 2017 to 2023.
- To evaluate the extent to which OTPs adhere to recommended methadone dosages.
- To identify factors influencing methadone dosing patterns.
Main Methods:
- An observational study utilizing national OTP surveys from 2017 and 2023.
- Longitudinal analysis of methadone dosing patterns and program characteristics.
- Examination of average dose levels and patient-level dosing.
Main Results:
- The percentage of OTPs providing the recommended minimum 80 mg/day methadone dose remained stagnant (56% in 2017 to 58% in 2023).
- Private-for-profit OTP ownership increased significantly (36% to 53%) during the study period.
- In 2023, 42% of patients received methadone doses below recommended clinical levels.
Conclusions:
- Methadone dosing levels in OTPs have stagnated nationally between 2017 and 2023.
- A significant disparity exists between evidence-based methadone dosing guidelines and current clinical practice.
- Targeted interventions are necessary to address barriers to adopting evidence-based care and improve MMT effectiveness.
Keywords:
Methadonedosageopioid treatment programsownership typesubstance use disorder treatmentunderdosingMore Related Videos
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