Levo-Alpha-Acetylmethadol (LAAM): Clinical, Research, and Policy Issues of a New Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Addiction

Abstract

A number of issues are relevant to the development and use of levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) as a treatment alternative to methadone. A brief history of methadone maintenance treatment is provided and variants of standard methadone treatment are discussed. The history and current status of LAAM are discussed, as well as its advantages over methadone. In addition, relevant clinical, research, and policy issues are addressed. LAAM has advantages over methadone specifically with regard to thrice-weekly dosing, potential to reduce HIV/AIDS risk, possible cost savings, and possible improved clinic-community relations. The effective and cost-effective implementation of LAAM as a new treatment for opioid addiction requires attention to a number of issues: (1) LAAM as an HIV prevention measure through its potential risk-reduction effects. (2) the use of LAAM with specific high-risk subgroups, (3) causes of differential rates of treatment dropout and their amenability to intervention, (4) the role of patient choice in long-term maintenance treatment. (5) the impact of LAAM on clinic operations, (6) the potential for LAAM as a take-home medication, and (7) the costs of implementing and sustaining LAAM maintenance services.

Keywords:

• clinical trials
• HIV risk behaviors
• injection drug use
• LAAM
• levo-alpha-acetylmethadol
• methadone maintenance treatment
• opioid addiction
• policy issues