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Title: Twelve-Step Program Aids Addicts On Methadone Maintenance

URL: http://kapis.wkap.nl/oasis.htm/343823

Substance Abuse 22 (4):247-256, December 2001. "Methadone Anonymous: A 12-Step Program for Methadone Maintained Heroin Addicts"
12/19/2001 09:27:46 AM
By Anne MacLennan

Participation in a 12-step Methadone Anonymous program is of added value to heroin addicts who are already on professional methadone maintenance treatment. Such programs should be further investigated, suggest the authors of a study of Methadone Anonymous (MA), a new 12-step fellowship developed for heroin addicts already being maintained on methadone. Participants in the study were 53 members of MA who completed a survey assessing various factors related to both MA and use of a methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP). These factors included subjects' entry to a MMTP, drug use, participation in MA, beliefs concerning the effectiveness of MMTP and of MA and level of social cohesiveness. Among findings were that the length of time in MA is linked with a decreased use of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. Clients themselves rated components of MA to be significantly more useful to them in their recovery than are components of MMTP treatment. Affiliation to five MA members known best by the respondents was found to be significantly greater than affiliation to non-MA members. Length of time in the 12-step program was positively linked with MA affiliation, and social affiliation and endorsement of 12-step principles were also positively correlated. The authors suggest MA has benefits not available in professionally driven methadone maintenance treatment, and the approach needs to be studied further as a useful addition to resources available to addicts. Stephen M. Gilman and colleagues from the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, New York, United States did this work.

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