Methadone maintenance therapy in residential therapeutic community settings: challenges and promise

J Psychoactive Drugs. 2007 Sep;39(3):203-10. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2007.10400606.

Abstract

The therapeutic community (TC) and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have individually demonstrated consistent positive outcomes yet rarely have been combined. This article describes how a well-established residential therapeutic community integrated methadone maintenance treatment into its activities. Practical recommendations regarding how to incorporate MMT in a residential program are provided including topics for staff (training, coordination with the methadone service provider agency), patients (education, confronting stigma about methadone maintenance), and potential therapeutic activities (methadone group therapy). The implementation of these staff, patient, and therapeutic adaptations can assist residential substance abuse treatment programs in integrating these two addiction treatment modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Counseling
  • Health Personnel / education
  • Health Personnel / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Methadone / therapeutic use*
  • Narcotics / therapeutic use*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Patient Education as Topic / organization & administration
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Psychotherapy, Group / organization & administration
  • Residential Treatment / organization & administration*
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers*
  • Therapeutic Community*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Methadone