EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT FOR HEROIN DEPENDENT PATIENTS

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for heroin dependent patients in Yunnan Province. Methods: MMT combined with group counseling activities was implemented among heroin dependent patients. One year later, an evaluation was conducted on the effectiveness of MMT with a self-designed questionnaire. The result was compared with that of 37 current heroin users in the community. Results: After implementing the project for one year, the relapse rate in MMT group decreased from 100.0% to 64.4%. The rate of using heroin 3 times a day decreased from 50.0% before MMT to zero, and the rate in the control was 43.2%; and the rate of criminal offences decreased 4.6%, and 15.3%lower than those of the control group. Compared with the control, the rate of injecting drug and never using condom reduced significantly too(P0.01). Conclusion: MMT in China can reduce the demand of drugs, injecting drug use, criminal offences and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.