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Abstract
The methadone maintenance approach to the treatment of chronic heroin addiction has become exceedingly popular. Evaluations of such programs, however, have been generally inadequate and are particularly remiss in delineating the profile and fate of the methadone dropout. The present report focuses on a group of chronic heroin abusers who: (1) previously had failed on a methadone program (2) subsequently were institutionalized in a correctional facility, and (3) were paroled to a community-based abstinence program. The study addresses itself to the following questions: What are some of the experiences (expectations, fears, drug effects, disappointments, etc) that ex-methadone patients retrospectively associate with their methadone participation? Do methadone dropouts differ on social-demographic and criminal history variables from addict-parolees who never participated in a methadone maintenance program ? What will be the adjustment course in an abstinence program of ex-methadone patients compared to a cohort of methadone-naive addicts?