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Attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone among opioid-dependent individuals
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone among opioid-dependent individuals

Robert P Schwartz, Sharon M Kelly, Kevin E O'Grady, Shannon Gwin Mitchell, James A Peterson, Heather Schacht Reisinger, Michael H Agar and Barry S Brown
The American journal on addictions, Vol.17(5), pp.396-401
09/2008
DOI: 10.1080/10550490802268835
PMCID: PMC2814176
PMID: 18770082
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2814176View
Open Access

Abstract

Attitudes and beliefs about drug abuse treatment have long been known to shape response to that treatment. Two major pharmacological alternatives are available for opioid dependence: methadone, which has been available for the past 40 years, and buprenorphine, a recently introduced medication. This mixed-methods study examined the attitudes of opioid-dependent individuals toward methadone and buprenorphine. A total of 195 participants (n = 140 who were enrolling in one of six Baltimore area methadone programs and n = 55 who were out-of-treatment) were administered the Attitudes toward Methadone and toward Buprenorphine Scales, and a subset (n = 46) received an ethnographic interview. The in-treatment group had significantly more positive attitudes toward methadone than did the out-of-treatment group (p < .001), while they did not differ in their attitudes toward buprenorphine. Both groups had significantly more positive attitudes toward buprenorphine than methadone. Addressing these attitudes may increase treatment entry and retention.
 Attitude to Health Humans Methadone - therapeutic use Male Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation Young Adult Buprenorphine - therapeutic use Narcotic Antagonists - therapeutic use Adolescent Adult Female Surveys and Questionnaires

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