APPRECIATING THE USER'S PERSPECTIVE: LISTENING TO THE “METHADONIANS”

Abstract

Researchers have long neglected the user's perspective and experiences in assessing drug effects and drug use. With increased interest in Canada directed at prescribing heroin in place of methadone, researchers took the relatively unique approach of gathering data and information from methadone users to determine their views and experiences with methadone programs and alternative treatment choices. The results of that research portrayed very interesting and useful notions of users regarding methadone maintenance and the prescribing of heroin.

• User perspective
• Methadone
• Heroin

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Montagne

Michael Montagne, R.Ph., Ph.D., is Rombult Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy at MCPHS. He has taught and performed research for over 20 years on the social and historical aspects of drug use and drug discovery. He has co-authored books on drug development (Searching for Magic Bullets: Orphan Drugs, Consumer Activism, and Pharmaceutical Development, 1994 and Clinical Research in Pharmaceutical Development, 1996) and has studied drug use and drug advertising from a sociological perspective (“Drug Adver-tising and Promotion,” Journal of Drug Issues, Volume 22, Spring, 1992). He teaches courses on “Drugs and Society,” “Pharmaco-epidemiology,” and “Drug Education.” His current research focuses on the growing alternative therapy movement in the United States and on literacy issues in medication use.