Almost 3 million Americans have abused heroin. The most effective treatment for this concerning epidemic is opioid replacement therapy. Although, from a historical perspective, acceptance of this therapy has been slow, growing evidence supports its efficacy. There are 3 approved medications for opioid maintenance therapy: methadone hydrochloride, levomethadyl acetate, and buprenorphine hydrochl...

BACKGROUND Methadone may cause respiratory depression and fatalities. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines in methadone-treated patients for chronic pain or as maintenance therapy for opiate abuse is common. However, the exact contribution of benzodiazepines to methadone-induced respiratory toxicity remains debatable. METHODS We investigated the respiratory effects of the combination diazepam (...

BACKGROUND Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is a proven treatment strategy for opioid dependent patients. Although studies have demonstrated that MMT increases contact with the medical system and improves adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID), the effect of MMT discontinuation on ART discontinuation has not been well described. METHODS We ...

ate brief wellbeing measures could facilitate discussions about broader life needs to be addressed. Further, insights from the literature on subjective wellbeing may inform services and interventions to help people establish happier, more meaningful lives within which addiction holds less attraction.’ The increasing acceptance and availability of agonist maintenance treatment is well documented...

CONTEXT Methadone maintenance is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, yet its use is restricted to federally licensed narcotic treatment programs (NTPs). Office-based care of stabilized methadone maintenance patients is a promising alternative but no data are available from controlled trials regarding this type of program. OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility and efficacy of office...

Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is the most widely prescribed and most effective treatment for opioid dependence. Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid that is a potent blocker of the delayed rectifier potassium ion channel, which may result in QT interval prolongation (QTP) and increased risk of torsades de pointes (TdP) in susceptible individuals. MMT-associated TdP is rare; however...

Prescription opioid (PO) misuse is a major health concern across North America, and it is the primary cause of preventable death for the 18-35 year old demographic. Medication assisted therapy including methadone and buprenorphine, is the standard of care for patients with opioid-dependence. Moreover, both of these medications are recognized as essential medicines by World Health Organization. ...

BACKGROUND Randomized clinical trials of methadone maintenance have found that on average high daily doses are more effective for reducing heroin use, and clinical practice guidelines recommend 60 mg/d as a minimum dosage. Nevertheless, many clinicians report that some patients can be stably maintained on lower methadone dosages to optimal effect, and clinic dosing practices vary substantially....

BACKGROUND The prevalence of opioid abuse is increasing in North America. Opioid abuse during pregnancy can cause medical, obstetric and psychosocial complications. Neonates exposed to opioids in utero often develop the neonatal abstinence syndrome. Methadone maintenance therapy is the treatment of choice for maternal opioid dependency. There have been unsupported concerns that infants cared fo...