NCJ Number
196929
Journal
Addiction Volume: 97 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 993-1001
Editor(s)
Susan Savva
Date Published
August 2002
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study attempted to quantify the possible differences in overdose mortality rates within different time-periods during or following discontinuation of methadone maintenance treatment and the potential influence of patient characteristics and prior treatment experience of both current and former methadone clients in Amsterdam.
Abstract
The daily regular use of methadone is presumed safe. However, the risk of overdose may be expected to be higher during periods of transition, such as after re-entering or discontinuing methadone treatment. This study described the incidence of overdose mortality in relation to time after re-entering or leaving treatment. The population sample studied consisted of methadone clients in treatment in Amsterdam and former methadone clients who left treatment after less than 1 year between the years 1986 to 1998. Study findings indicated that mortality rates were low both during and after methadone treatment, due presumably to the low prevalence of injecting heroin use. A modest increase was seen in overdose mortality rates during the first 2 weeks after re-entering treatment. Possible explanations for the increased risk were the accumulation of methadone during the first period, inadequate assessment of tolerance of known clients and concurrent period of stress, instability, and extreme drug use at the time of treatment demand. References