OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of heroin users starting and following 4 and 8 months of maintenance treatment program using buprenorphine vs. methadone. METHODS: Participants received maintenance treatment with oral methadone or sublingual buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin dependence. Participants' QoL was measured using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire completed before treatment and at 1-, 4-, and 8-month follow-up. Baseline data from 304 heroin-dependent participants starting maintenance treatment, and 4-month and 8-month follow-up data for the 180 and 129 participants, respectively, retained in trial treatment are presented. RESULTS: For the participants retained in treatment, statistically significant improvements in QoL and all specific life domains were observed in 4 and 8 months. However, for users who were maintained on methadone, this improvement was observed during the first month of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the beneficial effects of the maintenance treatment programs using both buprenorphine and methadone with regard to satisfaction with QoL and all specific life domains among heroin-dependent outpatients, with methadone having an earlier onset than buprenorphine. Further studies are needed to identify the factors linked to these benefits and their time course.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of heroin users starting and following 4 and 8 months of maintenance treatment program using buprenorphine vs. methadone. METHODS:Participants received maintenance treatment with oral methadone or sublingual buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin dependence. Participants' QoL was measured using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire completed before treatment and at 1-, 4-, and 8-month follow-up. Baseline data from 304 heroin-dependent participants starting maintenance treatment, and 4-month and 8-month follow-up data for the 180 and 129 participants, respectively, retained in trial treatment are presented. RESULTS: For the participants retained in treatment, statistically significant improvements in QoL and all specific life domains were observed in 4 and 8 months. However, for users who were maintained on methadone, this improvement was observed during the first month of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the beneficial effects of the maintenance treatment programs using both buprenorphine and methadone with regard to satisfaction with QoL and all specific life domains among heroin-dependent outpatients, with methadone having an earlier onset than buprenorphine. Further studies are needed to identify the factors linked to these benefits and their time course.
Authors: Cheryl Teruya; Robert P Schwartz; Shannon Gwin Mitchell; Albert L Hasson; Christie Thomas; Samantha H Buoncristiani; Yih-Ing Hser; Katharina Wiest; Allan J Cohen; Naomi Glick; Petra Jacobs; Paul McLaughlin; Walter Ling Journal: J Psychoactive Drugs Date: 2014 Nov-Dec
Authors: Jeremy W Bray; Brandon Aden; Ashley A Eggman; Leah Hellerstein; Eve Wittenberg; Bohdan Nosyk; Judy C Stribling; Bruce R Schackman Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2017-02-10
Authors: B Nosyk; J W Bray; E Wittenberg; B Aden; A A Eggman; R D Weiss; J Potter; A Ang; Y-I Hser; W Ling; B R Schackman Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2015-10-25 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Dennis W Raisch; Heather M Campbell; David A Garnand; Mark A Jones; Mike R Sather; Rupali Naik; Walter Ling Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2011-10-11 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Stephen T Tiffany; Lawrence Friedman; Shelly F Greenfield; Deborah S Hasin; Ron Jackson Journal: Addiction Date: 2011-10-07 Impact factor: 6.526
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