Residential Treatment Modifications: Adjunctive Services to Accommodate Clients on Methadone

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This article describes therapeutic community (TC) services modified to support methadone residents and their service utilization in a study of TC patients (N = 231) receiving versus not receiving methadone. Methods: Service utilization data are reported from providers (i.e., methadone support group counselor, acupuncturist, and consulting psychiatrist) for 12 months after admission. Descriptive statistics are used to report methadone residents use of methadone support group and acupuncture services. Pearson chi-square tests are used to compare methadone and non-methadone participants use of psychiatrist services. Additionally, such tests were used to compare both groups DSM-IV diagnoses. Results: Ninety-seven percent of methadone patients attended at least one methadone support group; 52% used acupuncture services. Proportionally more non-methadone residents used psychiatric services (p < .05). Conclusion and Scientific Significance: Services tailored to methadone residents were accessed by this group. However, while 32% of all participants met diagnostic criteria for a current psychiatric disorder, only 22% received onsite psychiatric care, which questions whether integrated care is being provided adequately for participants with co-occurring disorders.

Keywords:

• Residential treatment
• therapeutic communities
• opioid replacement therapy
• methadone
• drug abuse treatment