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Methadone maintenance clients in Amsterdam after five years
1Amsterdam Municipal Health Service, Department of Epidemiology, The Netherlands.
The International Journal of the Addictions
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Clients leaving Amsterdam's Methadone Maintenance (MM) system showed improved outcomes. They reported reduced hard drug and methadone use, better self-care, and more drug-free social connections after five years.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- The Amsterdam Methadone Maintenance (MM) system aims to regulate clients' lives for societal acceptance and personal satisfaction.
- Understanding outcomes for clients exiting MM programs is crucial for treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare outcomes of clients who stayed in or left the Amsterdam MM system after five years.
- To identify factors associated with successful program exit and improved quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two random samples of clients entering the Amsterdam MM system.
- Comparison of 17 clients who left MM within five years against 21 clients who remained in the program.
Main Results:
- Clients who left the MM program reported significantly less hard drug and methadone use.
- Exiting clients demonstrated improved self-care practices.
- A higher proportion of clients who left had established drug-free social networks.
Conclusions:
- Exiting the Amsterdam MM system can be associated with positive outcomes, including reduced substance use and enhanced social integration.
- Methadone maintenance treatment may facilitate a transition to a more self-sufficient and socially acceptable lifestyle for some individuals.