The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) was administered to 229 lower-socioeconomic, methadone maintenance (MM) patients. Valid profiles were obtained from 160 subjects (70%). These indicated that the psychometric characteristics of the PAI were similar to those for the original standardization samples, except that internal consistency for the drug scale and three of seven nonclinical scales were only marginal. Comparisons of the PAI data with data obtained from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and the Addiction Severity Index generally provided support for concurrent validity. The group's scores were found to differ significantly from those of a normative standardization sample on all scales, from those of a clinical standardization sample on a number of scales, and from a sample of drug dependent patients on just several scales. Few differences were found between the men and women MM subjects. On the other hand, Latino subjects, particularly the men, reported more symptomatology than African Americans.

Objectives Although persons who inject drugs have high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, few receive treatment mostly because of lack of knowledge about the infection and its treatment. We assessed the level of HCV-related knowledge and willingness to participate in HCV treatment among methadone-maintained patients. Methods A 30-item survey covering HCV-related knowledge and willingness to engage in HCV-related education and treatment was developed and completed by 320 methadone-maintained patients. Results Respondents’ mean age was 53 ± 8.7 years, 59.5% were male, 55.1% were African American, and 38.3% were Hispanic. The mean duration of methadone maintenance was 7 ± 6.7 years. In the preceding 6 months, 6.9% of patients reported injection drug use, whereas 37.3% used noninjection drugs. Hepatitis C virus seropositivity was self-reported by 46.3% of patients. The majority of patients (78%) expressed willingness to participate in HCV-related education and to receive HCV treatment. Most patients (54.7%) correctly answered 5 or more of 7 questions assessing HCV knowledge. Hepatitis C virus–seropositive individuals and prior attendees at HCV-related educational activities demonstrated a higher level of HCV-related knowledge (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Younger patients (P = 0.014), those willing to attend an HCV-related educational activity (P < 0.001), and those with higher–HCV-related knowledge (P = 0.029) were more accepting of HCV treatment. Fear of medication-related side effects was the most common reason for treatment avoidance. Conclusions The majority of patients reported willingness to receive HCV-related education and treatment. Treatment willingness was significantly associated with previous attendance at an HCV educational activity and a higher level of HCV-related knowledge.