NCJ Number
48192
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 125-132
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
HEROIN ADDICTS WITH A LEAST 3 MONTHS ON METHADYL ACETATE (LAAM) AND AT LEAST 3 ON METHADONE MAINTENANCE WERE ASKED TO COMPARE THE TWO DRUGS. OVERWHELMINGLY, THEY REPORTED BETTER HEROIN 'BLOCKAGE' WITH LAAM.
Abstract
IN MARCH 1975, THE ADDICTION RESEARCH FOUNDATION OPENED A RESEARCH CLINIC IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. THE STUDY REPORTED INVOLVED 69 PATIENTS OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE, WITH A HISTORY OF AT LEAST 1 YEAR OF HEROIN ADDICTION, WHO WERE INVOLVED IN A DOUBLE-BLIND TEST OF LAAM (LEVO-ALPHA-ACETYLMETHADOL, METHADYL ACETATE) VERSUS METHADONE MAINTENANCE. AT THE END OF THE 6-MONTH TRIAL, THOSE WHO HAD HAD AT LEAST 3 MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE WITH EACH METHOD WERE AKED TO COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE. THE PATIENTS OVERWHELMINGLY PREFERRED THE LAAM DOSAGE (65 MG THREE TIMES WEEKLY AS OPPOSED TO 71 MG DAILY FOR METHADONE). THEY ALSO REPORTED THAT LAAM REDUCED HEROIN CRAVING MORE, GAVE BETTER HEROIN BLOCKAGE, LEFT THEM FEELING MORE 'NORMAL' AND HAD LESS EFFECT ON DAILY ACTIVITIES. (ALL OF THESE RESPONSES WERE SIGNIFICANT AT THE 1 PERCENT LEVEL.) THEY ALSO REPORTED THEY USED LESS HEROIN AND LESS ALCOHOL ON THE LAAM MAINTENANCE REGIME. THE RESPONSE ON THE HEALTH QUESTION ('I FEEL IN BETTER HEALTH ON...') FAVORED LAAM SIGNIFICANTLY AT THE 5 PERCENT LEVEL. RESPONSES WERE MORE MIXED FOR THE QUESTIONS ON SLEEP, APPETITE, AND SEXUAL PERFORMANCE. THESE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT LAAM IS AN ACCEPTABLE MAINTENANCE DRUG. TABLES PRESENT THE SURVEY DATA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (GLR)