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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2014, 16, 4 (pages: 15 - 24)

Is it possible to treat heroin addicts with severe comorbid benzodiazepines addiction combining enhanced methadone maintenance and clonazepam maintenance treatments?

Maremmani A.G.I., Bacciardi S., Rugani F., Rovai L., Massimetti E., Gazzarrini D., Dell'Osso L., Pani P.P., Pacini M., and Maremmani I.

Summary: Objective. The aim of this naturalistic (observational) controlled cohort study was to compare the long-term outcomes of treatment-resistant heroin addicts with (HA+BDZ) and without (HA-BDZ) comorbid benzodiazepine (BDZ) severe addiction. Method. 63 HA-BDZ and 14 HA+BDZ patients were monitored prospectively along an enhanced methadone maintenance treatment programme (MMTP). HA+BDZ patients were treated, also, with clonazepam maintenance treatment (CMT). Results. Survival-in-treatment rates were no different in HA+BDZ and HA-BDZ patients. HA+BDZ patients showed better outcome results than HA-BDZ patients. HA+BDZ patients needed a higher methadone dosage in the stabilization phase. Conclusions. This study supports the possibility to use methadone maintenance and clonazepam maintenance combination in heroin-addicted patients with comorbid severe BDZ dependence.