Differences in the implementation methadone programme to European countries

• Main Author: Ivanović Nevena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medicinsko društvo za racionalnu terapiju Republike Srbije 2016-01-01
• Series: Racionalna Terapija
• Subjects: methadone; maintenance treatment; opioid dependence; review
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1821-0538/2016/1821-05381602015I.pdf

Methadone therapy is recommended by the World Health Organization as the primary model of treatment of opiate addicts. Methadone maintenance treatment relieves many of the withdrawal symptoms that addicts experience and reduce the health and social risks. We searched the literature about the implementation and the characteristics of methadone programs in the medical database Medline. We analyzed published studies about the characteristics of methadone treatment in several countries. Methadone maintenance program is highly developed in Switzerland where from 1989 to 2000 increased the number of patients, 5000 to 18000. In France, methadone and buprenorphine programs start in 1996. In Ireland, at the end of 2009 registered 8,551 patients on methadone program compared to 5,965 patients at the end of 2002. In New York, results show that 71.9% of users of methadone programs abused methadone intravenously and 64.7% of patients sales. In many centers in Spain and Ireland, the criteria for involuntary interruption of treatment is violence and abuse of these substances. Patients believe that employees should give them all informations about side effects. Patients also suggested that clinics should extend working time. Employees believe that full-time during 365 days a year cause mistakes. In Ireland, the problem is significant difference among different parts of the country. Studies showed that patients was dissatisfaction when they have to pay therapy by themselves or they are unduly long time methadone user at clinic.