Reduction of the Frequency of Drug Use of Veterans Enrolled in an Outpatient Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program

Abstract

A 1-year course of methadone maintenance and psychotherapy in an outpatient VA Drug Dependence Treatment Center was shown to enable a significant proportion of patients (55%) to reduce their opiate drug use by at least half. A large majority (85%) were able to reduce their nonopiate drug use by half during the same period. Methadone was felt by the authors to be a moderately effective therapeutic modality which, when combined with psychotherapy and other measures, can effect a significant reduction of illicit drug use in a substantial number of patients.