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Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Stimmel, B; Hanbury, R; Sturiano, V; Korts, D; Jackson, G; Cohen, M
Published in: Am J Med
November 1982

A randomized controlled trial of 625 addicts on methadone maintenance identified 105 (17 percent) as active alcoholics, 47 (8 percent) as inactive alcoholics, and 473 (75 percent) as nonalcoholics. Subjects were followed for up to 29 months (mean 53.7 weeks) to assess the influence of alcoholism on the rehabilitative process. During the study, alcohol consumption significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) in active alcoholics. Indexes of productive activity on entry or during follow-up revealed no significant differences between active alcoholics and other patients with the exception of alcohol-related hospitalizations (p less than 0.001). Behavioral indexes consistently improved with treatment in all patients, being greatest among active alcoholics (p less than 0.01). During the study, 28 (7 percent) of 399 nonalcoholics were recategorized as active alcoholics, and remission from alcoholism was noted in 28 (27 percent) of patients who were initially classified as alcoholic. These findings suggest that alcoholism does not significantly affect rehabilitation from narcotic use and therefore should not be cause for detoxification from methadone maintenance.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Med

DOI

ISSN

0002-9343

Publication Date

November 1982

Volume

73

Issue

5

Start / End Page

631 / 636

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Methadone
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Heroin Dependence
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Drinking Behavior
  • Alcoholism
 

Citation

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MLA
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Stimmel, B., Hanbury, R., Sturiano, V., Korts, D., Jackson, G., & Cohen, M. (1982). Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial. Am J Med, 73(5), 631–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(82)90402-8
Stimmel, B., R. Hanbury, V. Sturiano, D. Korts, G. Jackson, and M. Cohen. “Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial.Am J Med 73, no. 5 (November 1982): 631–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(82)90402-8.
Stimmel B, Hanbury R, Sturiano V, Korts D, Jackson G, Cohen M. Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial. Am J Med. 1982 Nov;73(5):631–6.
Stimmel, B., et al. “Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial.Am J Med, vol. 73, no. 5, Nov. 1982, pp. 631–36. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0002-9343(82)90402-8.
Stimmel B, Hanbury R, Sturiano V, Korts D, Jackson G, Cohen M. Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial. Am J Med. 1982 Nov;73(5):631–636.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Med

DOI

ISSN

0002-9343

Publication Date

November 1982

Volume

73

Issue

5

Start / End Page

631 / 636

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Methadone
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Heroin Dependence
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Drinking Behavior
  • Alcoholism