influence+of+methadone

__ **Factors that Influence the Effectiveness of Methadone Treatment** __

Methadone maintenance treatment is a comprehensive treatment and prevention strategy use to address opioid dependence and its consequences. Methadone maintenance treatment is a very important harm reduction strategy used effectively to reduce the use of other opioids, the use of other substances, criminal activity and the rate of mortality. It has also being found to reduce injection-related risk behaviour, transmission of hepatitis C virus, prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood borne diseases as well as needle sharing.

The major factors that influence the effectiveness of methadone treatment are Individual related and program related factors. With individual factors, many people in treatment have been faced with circumstances that create significant obstacles to success in treatment for the majority of inner-city patients. Lack of education, job skills, child care, unemployment, and poverty continue to have a major impact on socially productive behaviour and treatment response. Other factors which relates to individual related factors includes age, relationship related factors, employment, mental health, criminal history, drug use behaviour, treatment readiness or motivation and therapeutic involvement.

Program factors have been associated with improved treatment outcomes, primarily improvements in client/patient retention in treatment. Effort to keep clients in treatment is a very important factor as well as longer time spent in treatment relates positively to treatment outcomes. Other factors that influence methadone treatment in the program related factors are maintenance orientation, client/patient centred approach, accessibility, medical care, counselling, other substance use treatment, mental health services, disease prevention and education, drug use, physical, social, and legal concerns as well as the use of one or more therapeutic drugs, significally affect the outcome of methadone maintenance treatment as well as the experience and approach of those administering services.