Reengineering Methadone Treatment Study of Patient-centered Methadone Treatment

Reengineering Methadone Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a change in the rules and staff roles in methadone treatment programs will result in greater lengths of stay in treatment and lower rates of heroin and cocaine use, crime and HIV-risk behavior as compared to methadone treatment as usual.

Early drop-out and premature discharge from methadone treatment is common in the United States and may be associated with drug use and its associated problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel approach to the organization methadone treatment in which the patient rules and staff roles of the clinic will be modified for study participants as compared to patients receiving standard methadone treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• opiate dependence
• newly admitted to methadone treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy