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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Alcohol use problem among patients in methadone maintenance treatment in Taiwan



To examine the prevalence rate and predictors of alcohol use problems among patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

This was a prospective follow-up study.

Study population included 438 patients who underwent more than 6 months of MMT.

Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected for each patient prior to treatment, and treatment-related variables were collected during treatment process. Hazardous drinking, alcohol abuse, and dependence were measured using a Chinese version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and by measuring breath alcohol concentration.

The prevalence rates of alcohol use problems, indicated by hazardous drinking are 31.4%. The protective predictors of alcohol use problems among MMT patients include an attendance rate of more than 90% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30–0.97) and being older than 36 years (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.27–0.86), and alcohol drinking problem at intake of study is a risk factor (OR = 5.30, 95% CI = 2.87–9.76).

High attendance rate, which is regarded as a component of clinical policy and a key component of therapeutic context, should be incorporated with brief interventions to lower alcohol use problems among MMT patients.


 
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