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Outpatient vs hospital methadone detoxification: an experimental comparison
The International Journal of the Addictions
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Outpatient methadone detoxification for heroin addiction is significantly cheaper than inpatient care but offers similar limited success. Most patients relapse within two months, indicating methadone is a palliative approach for narcotic withdrawal.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Narcotic addiction poses a significant public health challenge.
- Detoxification is a critical first step in addiction treatment.
- Methadone is commonly used for narcotic withdrawal management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness and cost of hospital-based versus outpatient methadone detoxification for heroin addicts.
- To evaluate patient outcomes, including achieving a drug-free state and relapse rates.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of different detoxification settings.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 40 heroin addicts.
- Comparison of inpatient versus outpatient methadone detoxification.
- Treatment duration planned for up to 10 days with supportive psychiatric services.
- Follow-up assessment of treatment effectiveness and patient relapse.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in effectiveness between inpatient and outpatient methadone detoxification.
- Limited success in achieving a sustained drug-free state for both treatment groups.
- High relapse rates, with most patients returning to narcotic use within 2 months.
- Outpatient detoxification was approximately one-tenth the cost of inpatient treatment.
Conclusions:
- Methadone detoxification is largely a palliative procedure for heroin addiction.
- Outpatient detoxification offers a cost-effective alternative to inpatient care without compromising effectiveness.
- Further research is needed to improve long-term outcomes for narcotic addiction treatment.