A Methadone Maintenance Treatment Outcome Study in Three Provinces in China

A Methadone Maintenance Treatment Outcome Study in Three Provinces in China: Comparative Evaluation of the Impact of an Intensive Health Care Provider Training Program

The primary goal of this PHE is to determine the effectiveness of a tailored education program for MMT service providers. It was to be evaluated through methadone dose levels prescribed to new patients after training completion. The effects of methadone dose, with and without the inclusion of additional counseling services, would be measured through MMT retention and illicit opioid use.

Methadone treatment has became one of main actions taken in China to control the spread of HIV among drug users. However，the average methadone dose used is relatively low. An intensive methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) provider training on methadone dosage may be effective in increasing the methadone dose levels prescribed to new patients. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored education program for MMT service providers using subsequent methadone dose prescribed to new patients. The effects of methadone dose, with and without the inclusion of additional psychosocial services, will then be measured through MMT retention and illicit opioid use.

Inclusion Criteria:

• client participants will include both men and women who are opiate-dependent drug users who started MMT not more than one month prior to enrollment in the study
• 18 years of age or older
• residing in the study areas