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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 1999, 01, 2 (pages: 7 - 13)

Alcohol, benzodiazepines and other drugs use in heroin addicts treated with methadone. Polyabuse or undermedication?

Maremmani I., Shinderman M. S.

Summary: The authors, on the basis of their clinical experience suggest that polydrug abuse in heroin addicts could be correlated with a condition of opiate dependence improperly compensated by street heroin or by substitutive treatment dosages. Thus the search for an appropriate methadone dosage is crucial not only because it enhances patient's retention rate within the treatment group, so allowing an improvement in social rehabilitation, but also because it reduces the risk of polydrug abuse.