Attitudes of staff and clients in a methadone maintenance program

This study used a nine-scale semantic differential (S-D) instrument in assessing the attitudes of staff and clients in a methadone clinic toward the concepts HEROIN, METHADONE, DRUG COUNSELING, and DRUG-FREE. Ratings of the concepts showed generally large standard deviations for HEROIN, consistently neutral ratings of METHADONE, and high ratings of DRUG COUNSELING and DRUG-FREE by both groups. Significant differences (p less than .05) between staff and client groups were found along only two of the nine S-D scales: GOOD-BAD and SHARP-DULL. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning of the staff/client similarities and the ambivalent attitudes toward methadone, with possible implications for treatment and future research.