HARCP Archives

Browse by article

Browse by volume

Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2002, 04, 1 (pages: 37 - 46)

Treatment characteristics and retention in methadone maintenance: High and stable retention rates in a Swedish two-phase programme

Gunne L., Gronbladh L., Ohlund L.

Summary: From 1967 to 1990, the Swedish methadone maintenance programme treated 345 heroin addicts, using a two-phase treatment model described in this paper. The retention rates remained remarkably stable throughout these 23 years, when measured as 1-year and as 3-year retention of newly admitted patients (mean 1-year retention was 86%, mean 3-year retention 73%) and 1-year retention of all patients in treatment (mean 89%). It is hypothesized that these high and stable retention rates might be associated with the high rates of social and vocational rehabilitation (between 71% and 81%) achieved during these years in the Swedish programme