Pharmacogenetic study of methadone treatment for heroin addiction

Aim: This study determined if gene variants in the GABA receptor delta subunit ( GABRD) are associated with treatment response and dose in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for heroin addiction. Materials & methods: A total of 286 MMT patients were recruited and divided into response and nonresponse groups based on retention time in therapy. A total of 177 responders were classified into low dose and high dose subgroups according to the stabilized methadone dose. Four (single nucleotide polymorphisms) SNPs (rs13303344, rs4481796, rs2376805 and rs2229110) in GABRD were genotyped using the TaqMan SNP assay. Logistic regression was used to assess the genetic effects of the SNPs in MMT. Results: No significant associations were observed between the SNPs and treatment response or dose, except the frequency of haplotype ACGC at the four SNPs significantly differed between responders and nonresponders. Conclusion: The results indicated that GABRD variants may play a small role in modulating methadone treatment response.

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PRESENT STATUS OF METHADONE TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTION

Southern Medical Journal ◽

10.1097/00007611-197501000-00002 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Edward C. Senay

Keyword(s):

Present Status ◽

Methadone Treatment ◽

Heroin Addiction

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Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Methadone Treatment Services for Heroin Addicts: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x14500372 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (03) ◽

pp. 569-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Yuan-Yu Chan ◽

Wan-Yu Lo ◽

Tsai-Chung Li ◽

Lih-Jong Shen ◽

Szu-Nian Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Short Form ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Methadone Treatment ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Opiate Dependence ◽

Heroin Addiction ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

Heroin Addicts

Scant scientific evidence supports the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of opiate dependence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture for heroin addicts on methadone maintenance by measuring the daily consumption of methadone, variations in the 36-item Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, and heroin craving. Sixty heroin addicts were randomly assigned to true acupuncture (electroacupuncture at the Hegu [LI4] and Zusanli [ST36] acupoints, as well as acupuncture at the Ear Shenmen) or sham acupuncture (minimal acupuncture at the Hegu and Zusanli acupoints without electrical stimulation and superficial acupuncture at the Ear Shenmen), twice weekly for 4 weeks. From week 2 onwards, the daily dose of methadone was reduced by a significantly greater amount with true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture. True acupuncture was also associated with a greater improvement in sleep latency at follow-up. All adverse events were mild in severity. Acupuncture appears to be a useful adjunct to methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in heroin addiction.

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Linkage to methadone treatment from acute opiate detoxification treatment

Journal of Opioid Management ◽

10.5055/jom.2006.0050 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 341 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nickolas D. Zaller, PhD ◽

Portia Thurmond, MPH ◽

Jon Brett, PhD ◽

James C. Carleton, MS ◽

Josiah D. Rich, MD, MPH

Keyword(s):

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Methadone Treatment ◽

Pilot Project ◽

The State ◽

Heroin Addiction ◽

Treatment Services ◽

Abuse Treatment

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a safe pharmacological treatment strategy for addiction to heroin and other opiates; however, linking individuals to MMT is often challenging. We present results from a pilot project (Project VISTA) funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment that helps heroin-dependent injection drug users (IDUs) transition from acute heroin detoxification to MMT. Participants are referred to Project VISTA by the state detoxification center, and Project VISTA facilitates entry into an MMT program, providing full financial support for up to 24 weeks. In addition, Project VISTA provides case management and referral to ancillary services such as housing, other medical care, and mental health treatment. From May 2005 to May 2006, 60 individuals were enrolled in Project VISTA. A total of 41 participants (69.5 percent) remained in treatment for at least 24 weeks, with a mean number of weeks in treatment of 31. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed on all participants, and the incidence of individuals being discharged from treatment was 2 percent per week. Project VISTA, in cooperation with the state detoxification center and a Providence-based MMT program, has created a model that provides continuity of treatment services to high-risk, HIV-negative IDUs. Our model demonstrates that through facilitating the transition from an opiate detoxification program into an MMT program, individuals with chronic heroin addiction can successfully access and engage in treatment.

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Methadone Maintenance Therapy in Vietnam: An Overview and Scaling-Up Plan

Advances in Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/732484 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Tam T. M. Nguyen ◽

Long T. Nguyen ◽

Manh D. Pham ◽

Hoang H. Vu ◽

Kevin P. Mulvey

Keyword(s):

Drug Users ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Methadone Treatment ◽

Scaling Up ◽

Injecting Drug Users ◽

Heroin Addiction ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

Positive Treatment ◽

The Government

Vietnam is among the countries with the highest rate of HIV transmission through injecting drug users. HIV prevalence among injecting drug users is 20% and up to 50% in many provinces. An estimated number of drug users in the country by the end of 2011 were 171,000 in which the most common is heroin (85%). Detoxification at home, community, and in rehabilitation centers have been the main modalities for managing heroin addiction until Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) was piloted in 2008. Recent reports have demonstrated positive treatment outcomes. Incidence of HIV was found remarkably low among patients on MMT. Treatment has significantly improved the quality of life as well as stability for society. The government has granted the Ministry of Health (MoH) to expand Methadone treatment to at least 30 provinces to provide treatment for more than 80,000 drug users by 2015. The Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and MOH have outlined the role and responsibility of key departments at the central and local levels in implementing and maintaining MMT treatment. This paper will describe the achievements of the MMT pilot program and the scaling-up plan as well as strategies to ensure quality and sustainability and to overcome the challenges in the coming years.

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Methadone Treatment in Irish General Practice: Voices of Service Users

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700017171 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 147-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Linda Latham

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Methadone Treatment ◽

Treatment Protocol ◽

Phenomenological Approach ◽

Psychological Research ◽

Heroin Addiction ◽

Service Users ◽

General Practices ◽

Insight Into

AbstractThis study sets out to make a meaningful and useful contribution to the discussion surrounding the treatment of heroin addiction in Ireland. The study took place in nine urban general practices in Dublin city. Twenty five service users were interviewed in-depth. A phenomenological approach drawing on the psychological research methods of Colazzi for data analysis informed this study. Four themes emerged from the data: Service users' the significance of methadone for the service user; service users' understanding of the Methadone Treatment Protocol and the experience of addiction and its effect on families.This paper reports on the experiences of service users receiving methadone treatment in urban general practice in Dublin and in so doing highlights the influence of the GP in supporting recovery. It explores the theme - Service User's Experience of attending general practice for methadone treatment. These accounts provide insight into the harm reduction policy of methadone maintenance and highlight how - from the service users' experience - the implementation is falling short.

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