The parameters of methadone treatment may be systematically manipulated so as to determine their contributions to treatment outcome. This proposal will examine a variety of such behavioral and pharmacological parameters within the context of both methadone maintenance and methadone detoxification. The purpose of this project is three-fold. First, to evaluate contingency management procedures that could be utilized in the clinical management of methadone maintenance patients. Second, because many opiate abusers are unwilling to participate in a long-term methadone maintenance program, we propose to examine various parameters of ambulatory methadone detoxification, in order to determine if ambulatory detoxification can be a viable and efficacious treatment alternative. Finally, the technologies and knowledge-base resulting from this research will be rapidly disseminated on a local, regional, national, and international basis in order to further the battle against i.v. drug abuse and the spread of HIV infection. The specific contingency management procedures to be evaluated included reinforcing drug free urines with take-home privileges, reinforcing attending skills training classes with take-home privileges, and reinforcing meeting treatment plan objectives with take-home privileges. The dose and duration parameters of ambulatory methadone detoxification will be examined in clients who do not wish to participate in methadone maintenance treatment. The additional benefits of adding a contingency management program during ambulatory detoxification will, also, be evaluated. These studies will provide important information about the relative efficacy of contingency management procedures within the methadone treatment setting, and of the general utility and optimal parameters for ambulatory methadone detoxification. Included in the study designs will be multiple outcome measures so as to determine relative efficacy along different dimensions (e.g. drug use behaviors, employment status, psychiatric status, and global indices found in the Addiction Severity Index). An extended follow-up will also be included in the design of the detoxification protocols to ensure comprehensive information on subjects'post-treatment functioning. These data will provide for the evaluation of both the transient and the enduring benefits of treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects (R18)
Project #
5R18DA006096-04
Application #
2118412
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRCD (08))
Project Start
1989-09-30
Project End
1994-08-31
Budget Start
1992-09-01
Budget End
1993-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Allegheny University of Health Sciences
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19129
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Husband, S D; Iguchi, M Y (1995) Comparison of MMPI-2 and MMPI clinical scales and high-point scores among methadone maintenance clients. J Pers Assess 64:371-5
Belding, M A; Iguchi, M Y; Lamb, R J et al. (1995) Stages and processes of change among polydrug users in methadone maintenance treatment. Drug Alcohol Depend 39:45-53
Iguchi, M Y; Handelsman, L; Bickel, W K et al. (1993) Benzodiazepine and sedative use/abuse by methadone maintenance clients. Drug Alcohol Depend 32:257-66