INVESTIGATION OF AFFECTING FACTORS ON PERSIS-TENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS UNDER METHADONE MAINTENANCE THERAPY IN ADDIC-TION THERAPY CENTERS, YAZD-IRAN

Background and Aim : Drug addiction is one of the current world’s hygienic, mental and social problems. There are different treatments for this illness. MMT (Methadone Maintenance Therapy) is considered as a standard and acceptable therapy for addiction; and there are many affecting factors regarding gaining success in this type of treatment. In this study, we investigated some of these factors. One of the most important issues in MMT is to keeping up patient on his/her treatment till complete abstinence; therefore it is recommended that the patient does not leave his/ her therapy without discretion of the therapist. Methods : In this study, 230 patients, who began MMT, and admitted to addiction treatment centers of Yazd province were included. Information obtained in the SPSS software were feed to computer and required indicators were obtained and Chi-square test and Survival analysis methods, and Log-rank and Kaplan – Meier curves were used for conclusions.Results : . In this study, the survival rate in the first, third, and sixth months were evaluated as 93.9%, 63.48%, and 28.36% respectively. It was found that following parameters are important in rate of survival during treatment: family support, gender, dose of methadone and concomitant use of morphine during treatment. Moreover factors like level of education, marital status, age and concomitant use of methamphetamine during treatment can be effective in this regard.Conclusion : As mentioned earlier MMT treatment is considered as a standard and reliable therapy for addiction treatment and there are many affecting factors regarding successful implementation of this approach. In this study, we examined a number of these components. One of the most important issues in methadone maintenance treatment is that the patient will stay in treatment till complete abstinence and do not exit it suddenly without discretion of the therapist. Male gender, family support, amount of morphine consumption, and positive urine test of methadone are significantly related with survival in treatment. Age, education, marital status and positive urine test of methamphetamine are also among factors affecting in the treatment.

Keywords:

MMT , Addiction , Persistence in the Treatment , Yazd