Prevalence of Participation in Methadone Programs

The authors' study of the two-year prevalence of participation during five successive years in a particular methadone maintenance system disclosed no evidence of worsening of results for first admissions as time went on. Although the admission criteria differed somewhat, the rate of retention after ambulatory induction was higher than that for inpatient induction. The authors point out the need for a statistical index that considers retention of patients in any treatment facility rather than only in one particular program or modality of treatment.