Pretreatment source of income and response to methadone maintenance: a follow-up study.

The authors assessed the relationship between source of pretreatment income and response to treatment at 6-month follow-up in 165 male veterans admitted to a methadone maintenance treatment program. Subjects were grouped according to whether the majority of their pretreatment income was based on job earnings, public assistance, or criminal activity. Significant improvements in drug use, legal status, and psychological functioning were found in the employed group. The group supported by criminal activity showed the most significant and pervasive improvements, especially in the areas of drug use and family, legal, and employment problems. The group receiving public assistance showed no significant improvements on any of the 16 criterion measures, including drug use.