Attitudes Toward Buprenorphine and Methadone Among Opioid‐Dependent Individuals
- 10 September 2008
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in The American Journal on Addictions
- Vol. 17 (5), 396-401
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10550490802268835
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.Keywords
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