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Treatment entry among individuals on a waiting list for methadone maintenance.

Author(s): Gryczynski J, Schwartz R, O'Grady K, Jaffe J

Affiliation(s): Friends Research Institute, Inc., Social Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. jgryczynski@frisrc.org

Publication date & source: 2009, Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse., 35(5):290-4.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

BACKGROUND: Many methadone programs in the United States have waiting lists for care. OBJECTIVES: To examine specific predictors of treatment entry among individuals on a waiting list for methadone maintenance. METHODS: Heroin users placed on a waiting list for methadone treatment (n = 120) were administered a urine screen for drug use and assessed with a battery of measures at study entry and at 4 month follow-up as part of a larger clinical trial. Logistic regression was used to examine hypothesized predictors of treatment entry. Outcomes for those failing to enter treatment were also examined. RESULTS: Only 25 individuals (20.8%) entered treatment within four months of being placed on a waiting list. Intravenous drug users were more likely to enter treatment (p <.05) whereas cocaine users were less likely to do so (p <.01). Motivation did not predict treatment entry, and cocaine use did not moderate this relationship. There were some improvements in heroin use among those who did not enter treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research is needed on the relationship between motivation and treatment entry. Programs may need to make special efforts to facilitate entry for treatment-seeking heroin users who also use cocaine. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: These findings have implications for improving access to methadone treatment.

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