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Is treatment for alcoholism effective in persons on methadone maintenance?
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1983
Year
Substance UseActive AlcoholicsPharmacotherapyMental HealthDrug TreatmentMethadone MaintenanceHarm ReductionAddiction MedicineHealth SciencesControl GroupPsychiatryAddiction TreatmentBehavioral PharmacologyRehabilitationAlcohol DependenceSubstance AbuseAddictionSubstance AddictionMedicine
A randomized prospective study of 625 drug addicts on methadone maintenance revealed that 105 (17%) were active alcoholics, 47 (8%) were inactive alcoholics, and 473 (76%) were not alcoholics. The active alcoholics were randomly assigned to abstinence therapy, controlled drinking with behavior modification, or a control group receiving the usual clinic services. There were no differences between treatment and control groups at baseline and during follow-up of up to 2 1/2 years, and there was no relation between remission and treatment, suggesting that the effectiveness of currently employed specific interventions for alcoholism in active alcoholic addicts maintained on methadone cannot be demonstrated.