NCJ Number
58023
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF WHY ADDICTS JOIN METHADONE TREATMENT SCHEMES (DETOXIFICATION OR MAINTENANCE) AND WHY A NUMBER DROP OUT OF THE PROGRAM IS REPORTED IN THIS STUDY OF 257 HONG KONG ADDICTS.
Abstract
THE 91 INMATES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEME AND THE 166 INMATES IN THE DETOXIFICATION SCHEME REPRESENT 21 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ADMISSION INTO THE PRISON DEPARTMENT'S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS BETWEEN AUGUST 1976, AND FEBRUARY 1977. ON ADMISSION, INMATES WERE ASKED IF THEY HAD EVER PARTICIPATED IN EITHER OF THE TREATMENT SCHEMES. PARTICIPANTS WERE INTERVIEWED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE AFTERCARE OFFICER USING APPROPRIATE QUESTIONNAIRES. FROM THE FINDINGS, IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE SCHEME HAS ATTRACTED THE 21 TO 30-YEAR AGE GROUP WHO HAD MODERATELY SERIOUS HISTORIES OF DRUG ADDICTION. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION BY ADDICTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 41-TO 60-YEARS. THEREFORE, THE GROUP'S MEAN AGE WAS 37.47 YEARS. THE MAJORITY DID NOT STAY IN THE PROGRAM BEYOND THE FOURTH MONTH, AND HEROIN USE AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS WAS COMMON. COMPARED WITH THE MAINTENANCE SCHEME PARTICIPANTS, PARTICIPANTS IN THE DETOXIFICATION SCHEME WERE SOMEWHAT YOUNGER, HAVING A MEAN AGE OF 31.13 YEARS. THE AVERAGE STAY IN THIS PROGRAM WAS 2.17 MONTHS. DRUG ABUSE DURING TREATMENT WAS EXTENSIVE, WITH 49.4 PERCENT BEING HEROIN USERS. FINDINGS REVEAL THAT VERY PROBABLY A NUMBER OF ADDICTS USED THE PROGRAMS FOR FALLACIOUS PURPOSES. THEREFORE, STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT SUCH PROGRAMS CONCENTRATE ON ADDICTS SINCERELY INTERESTED IN ENDING THEIR ADDICTION. THIS CAN BE DONE BY REMOVING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REVERTED TO DRUG USE. REFERENCE NOTES, STATISTICAL TABLES, AND QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED. (KCP).