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Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Older Methadone-Maintenance Patients

Received June 7, 2002; revised November 4, 2002, January 29, 2003; accepted February 11, 2003. From Hennepin County Medical Center. At the time of the study, Dr. Firoz was a Resident in the Department of Psychiatry, Regions Hospital and Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Mr. Carlson is Director, Addiction Medicine Program, Hennepin Faculty Associates, Minneapolis, MN. Send correspondence to Gregory Carlson, Director, Addiction Medicine Program, Hennepin Faculty Associates (D131), 914 S. Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404. e-mail: 102513.2744{at}compuserve.com
© 2004 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Objective: There are over 160,000 persons receiving methadone maintenance treatment in the United States. Surveys indicate that 5% to 6% of these patients are older than age 55. Authors hypothesized, from a survey of methadone programs, that methadone patients older than age 55 would have higher rates of medical and psychiatric problems and higher rates of unemployment, and would do less well in treatment, as compared with their younger counterparts. Methods: Authors reviewed 759 consecutive admissions to a Midwestern methadone-maintenance program. Results: It was unexpectedly found that patients older than age 55 (N=54) were not different from their younger counterparts in terms of medical and psychiatric problems or employment; they were more likely to be married, and did significantly better in treatment. Conclusions: Older methadone patients may, in fact, have fewer problems and do well in treatment. This finding has implications regarding allocation of resources for methadone programs serving these patients.

Key Words: Opiate Addiction • Methadone Maintenance • Outcome Studies

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				D. Rosen, M. L. Smith, and C. F. Reynolds III The Prevalence of Mental and Physical Health Disorders Among Older Methadone Patients Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, June 1, 2008; 16(6): 488 - 497. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]