The Illicit Use and Diversion of Methadone on the Street as Related by Hospitalized Addicts

Weppner, Robert S.; Stephens, Richard C.

doi:10.1177/002204267300300107

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…With the exception of methadone, which was being diverted from treatment programs by methadone maintenance patients [52,55,56], research on the sources and mechanisms of diversion was virtually nonexistent in the scientific literature at that time. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was much in the popular literature about the overuse of prescription drugs, but their widespread availability and use was generally attributed to overproduction by the pharmaceutical industry and overprescribing by physicians.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Prescription Drug Diversion Among Drug-Involved Club- and Street-Based Populations

et al. 2007

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While doctor shoppers, physicians and the Internet receive much of the attention regarding diversion, the data reported in this paper suggest that there are numerous active street markets involving patients, Medicaid recipients and pharmacies as well. In addition, there are other data which suggest that the contributions of residential burglaries, pharmacy robberies and thefts, and "sneak thefts" to the diversion problem may be understated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Prescription Drug Diversion Among Drug-Involved Club- and Street-Based Populations

et al. 2007

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“…The main source of diverted methadone appears to be other drug users in treatment [24,25] , either through sales of take-home medication or in the USA 'spit-backs' have been used (medication held in the mouth instead of being swallowed and spit into a container after leaving the clinic) [26] . In the UK, where methadone prescribing has been less regulated, it is possible to obtain methadone by 'multiple scripting' (acquiring a prescription from more than one drug treatment service) or 'overscripting' (obtaining a larger dose of the drug than needed by exaggerating one's habit) [24] .…”

Section: Sources Of Illicit Methadone Supplymentioning

confidence: 99%

Illicit Methadone Use and Abuse in Young People Accessing Treatment for Opiate Dependence

Roche

McCabe

Smyth³

2008

Eur Addict Res

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The current study looked at illicit methadone use in a group of young people attending a Dublin clinic for treatment of opiate dependence. A structured questionnaire was designed and administered to eligible participants (aged 25 years or under on treatment for opiate dependence). Of the total number of participants (n = 81), 73% reported illicit methadone use before treatment entry and the main reason for use was to manage opiate withdrawals. During treatment 55% reported illicit methadone use and failure to get to the clinic was the main reason given. Some participants reported use for hedonic effects (33% prior to treatment and 12% in treatment). Despite strict controls, most participants reported that illicit methadone was readily available at low cost (EUR 23 per 80 mg). Despite legislative and administrative efforts to curtail methadone diversion in Ireland, we found that it is widespread. Although it is generally used to self-medicate withdrawal symptoms in established opiate addicts, the extent of its use raises concerns as a risk for opiate overdose in the community.

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“…Non-prescribed methadone use has not been the subject of such specific study, perhaps because of the lesser scope for methadone diversion in the regulated dispensing systems in effect in most countries. Thus it has more generally been examined in the context of use by addicts who are not currently in treatment [21] with the primary clinical concern involving the most appropriate responses to diversion [22,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of non‐prescribed methadone and other illicit drugs during methadone maintenance treatment

Best¹,

Harris²,

Gossop³

et al. 2000

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Patterns of illicit and non-prescribed drug use among a cohort of 100 patients in methadone maintenance treatment were tracked over a 6-month period. While there were no statistically significant changes in alcohol or heroin use, there were significant increases in the frequency of crack cocaine and cannabis use. Use of non-prescribed methadone had also increased. Twenty-one percent reported non-prescribed methadone use at follow-up who had not done so at the first interview, with increases also in the mean quantities used. Non-prescribed methadone use at the second interview was strongly associated with the amounts of both methadone and diazepam prescribed at each of the data collecting points. [Best D, Harris J, Gossop M, Farrell M, Finch E, Noble A, Strang J. Use of nonprescribed methadone and other illicit drugs during methadone maintenance treatment. Drug Alcohol Rev 2000; 1:9 16]

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The Illicit Use and Diversion of Methadone on the Street as Related by Hospitalized Addicts

Cited by 12 publications

References 3 publications

Mechanisms of Prescription Drug Diversion Among Drug-Involved Club- and Street-Based Populations

Mechanisms of Prescription Drug Diversion Among Drug-Involved Club- and Street-Based Populations

Illicit Methadone Use and Abuse in Young People Accessing Treatment for Opiate Dependence

Use of non‐prescribed methadone and other illicit drugs during methadone maintenance treatment

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