Drs. Adinoff and Schuster Reply
The greatest incremental growth in methadone distribution in recent years is associated with use of the drug as an analgesic and its distribution through pharmacies. In fact, the distribution of solid methadone formulations (tablets and diskettes), primarily through pharmacies, has surpassed distribution of the liquid formulations that are the mainstay of dispensing in OTPs [opioid treatment programs]. From 1998 through 2002, the volume of methadone distributed through pharmacies increased five-fold, whereas the volume distributed through OTPs increased only 1.5-fold. In 2002 alone, pharmacies accounted for 88 percent of all purchases of methadone tablets (DEA, 2003)….Examination of the data available to the National Assessment participants indicates that OTPs and the 2001 regulatory changes did not have a significant effect on rates of methadone-associated mortality….In the cases in which the sources of methadone associated with deaths could be traced, OTPs did not appear to be involved (1) .
Footnotes
References
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Export Citations
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.
View Options
View options
PDF/EPUB
View PDF/EPUBGet Access
Login options
Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.
Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens loginNot a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).