Heroin-dependent inmates' experiences with buprenorphine or methadone maintenance.

ABSTRACT: Methadone and buprenorphine are both efficacious treatments for opioid dependency, but they also have different pharmacological properties and clinical delivery methods that can affect their acceptability to patients. This study was intended to increase our knowledge of heroin-dependent individuals' perceptions of methadone vs. buprenorphine maintenance based on actual experiences with each. The study sample consists of heroin-dependent men at the Rikers Island jail in New York City who were voluntarily randomly assigned to methadone or buprenorphine maintenance in jail. Methadone patients were more likely to report feeling uncomfortable the first few days, having side/withdrawal effects during treatment, and being concerned about continued dependency on medication after release. In contra

SUBMITTER: Awgu E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3527632 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature