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Abstract
An archival records study was conducted on an estimated 25% (n = 60) of a randomly selected sample of 232 discharged patients at a methadone maintenance program within the state of Maryland. The researcher selected the files of discharged patients, who left the program for various reasons, within a 1-year period. Of the 60 records studied, methadone patients were using other substances such as opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and marijuana. It was revealed that 53% of the discharged patients were using opiates, 37% of the discharged patients were using cocaine, 37% of the discharged patients were using benzodiazepines, and 25% percent of the discharged patients were smoking marijuana. Although none of the randomly selected discharged patient files showed the use of alcohol, active patients in the clinic are drinking alcoholic beverages regularly and are on daily breathalyzers to monitor the potential for overdose. Of the files reviewed the data were insufficient to report in 3% of the discharge patients’ files.