Maintenance Dosage as a Critical Factor in Methadone Maintenance Treatment*

Abstract

This study concentrates on methadone dosage as a critical factor influencirtg abuse of other psychoactive drugs (including alcohol) by patients maintained on methadone. The study population were patients who remained on methadone for at least two years. The effects of dosage levet on a group of 46 patients (tow dosage n=27, x = 48.32; high dosage n = 19, x=S6.43) is reported. Signijicant increases (p <0.0I) were found in the abuse o/6ar6it«Tafes, ataractics, and akoholfoy the low dosage group. Dosage tevel had no significant relationship with heroin and amphetamine abuse. These results suggest that higher doses of methadone may provide the patients with a generalized central nervous system depressive effect.