Entry Into Comprehensive Methadone Treatment Via Interim Maintenance

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Opiate Dependence
• Interventions: Behavioral: Interim; Behavioral: Comprehensive; Behavioral: Restored

• Registration Number: NCT00712036
• Lead Sponsor: Friends Research Institute, Inc.

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to determine whether one of three levels of counseling intensity will be associated with better treatment outcomes when combined with methadone maintenance treatment for heroin-addicted adults drawn from a methadone treatment program waiting list.

Detailed Description

Waiting lists for methadone treatment programs persist, and new and more effective approaches for expanding treatment access and improving outcomes for heroin dependent individuals are needed. Recently completed research demonstrated that so-called "Interim Methadone Maintenance" (i.e., methadone with crisis counseling only, for individuals on waiting lists) was associated with greater entry into methadone treatment, less self-reported heroin and cocaine use, lower rates of opioid-positive drug tests, and lower rates of self-reported crime. The present study will build on this work by comparing three levels of counseling provided with methadone treatment: 1)"Interim" Methadone Treatment; 2) "Comprehensive" Methadone Treatment (which is the name for the usual amount of counseling provided, i.e., about once per week) and; 3)"Restored" Methadone Treatment in which the counselors will have a lower case load and will be able to provide more attention to their patients.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-06
• Study First Submitted: 2008-07-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-07-08
• Study First Posted: 2008-07-09
• Primary Completion: 2011-01
• Study Completion: 2011-01
• Status Verified: 2015-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-01-08
• Last Update Posted: 2015-01-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 230

Inclusion Criteria

• adult
• meets criteria for methadone maintenance
• unable to gain admission to methadone program within 14 days

Exclusion Criteria

• pregnant
• acute medical or psychiatric illness

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Interim	Interim	Methadone maintenance for up to 4 months with emergency counseling only for individuals on program waiting lists.
Comprehensive	Comprehensive	Methadone Treatment provided with counseling as usual.
Restored	Restored	Methadone Treatment with counseling provided by a clinician with a lower caseload than counseling as usual.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Opioid positive drug tests	4 and 12 months post-baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
HIV risk behavior	4 and 12 months post-baseline
Treatment Retention	4 and 12 months post-baselin
Cost-benefit	12 months post-baseline
Cocaine positive tests	4 and 12 months post-baseline

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Friends Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States