Evaluation of Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Heroin Users in Panzhihua

Objective To exanine the effect of the community-based methadone maintenance treatment(MMT)among heroin addicts for a period of 12 months.Methods Baseline survey and follow-up investigation after 12 months trentment were conduceted in 112 heroin addicts receiving MMT,and the baseline and follow up data were compared.Results The HIV antibody detection showed that 73 HIV negative individuals at entry remained negative after 12 months treatment,and the positive rate of urine test dropped from 100% at baseline to 25.89% after the treatment.The proportion of the injection related risk behaviors,such as drug injection,frequency of injection and syringe and needle sharing,also reduced significantly.The rate of consistent condom use inceeased from 26% to 45.4% in the past 12 months.MMT in general contributed to the restoration of family and social function.Conclusion As a result of 12 months treatment,MMT has achieved encouraging effect in terms of reducing risk behaviors and drug related crimes and improving or restoring individual,farmily and social functions,and so has made positive contribution to the prevention of HIV/AIDS spread via drug use and sex.