Previous participation in outpatient methadone program and residential treatment outcome: A research note from Hong Kong

Abstract

Methadone maintenance programs are good examples of harm-reduction efforts because heroin addicts stabilized on methadone have been found to be able to reduce illicit drug use and criminality and improve their life condition, even though they have not achieved abstinence. While excluding the criterion of abstinence allows the harm-reduction approach to distinguish itself from traditional treatment, little research attention has been paid to the relationship between methadone programs and abstinence-oriented treatment programs. This research note reports some of the findings of a study of 77 former male clients of SARDA, a voluntary residential treatment agency in Hong Kong, pertaining to such a relationship. Findings suggest that a client's previous participation in the Outpatient Methadone Program of the Department of Health could facilitate successful outcome in his subsequent participation in SARDA's treatment program and help him to continue his drug-free status in the post-SARDA treatment period. Conceptual and policy implications of the findings are discussed.