Opioid Dependence as a Chronic Disease: The Interrelationships Between Length of Stay, Methadone Dose, and Age on Treatment Outcome at an Urban Opioid Treatment Program

ABSTRACT

Data looking at the impact of length of stay in treatment, methadone dose, and age for treatment of opiate dependence have been evaluated separately, but the relative impact of these variables has not been examined. For this report, regression analyses of length of stay, methadone dose, and age were compiled to determine the relative effect of each variable on opiate toxicology results, which was the primary outcome measure. Regression analysis yielded statistical significance for length of stay (P < .001) and methadone dose (P < .05) but not for age. Comparing length of stay in treatment, methadone dose, and age to opiate toxicology results indicated that length of stay was the most important factor. These comparisons impact treatment strategies for opiate dependence, particularly when using a chronic disease model as a strategy for delivering care.

KEYWORDS:

• Length of stay
• methadone dose
• age
• opioid/opiate
• chronic diseases

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Erratum