TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment as harm reduction, defunding as harm maximization
T2 - The case of methadone maintenance
AU - Rosenbaum, Marsha
AU - Washbum, Allyson
AU - Knight, Kelly
AU - Kelley, Margaret
AU - Irwin, Jeanette
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Despite numerous research studies demonstrating the efficacy of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in general and the value of retention in particular, the increasing defunding of this modality has compromised its potential. From 1990 to 1995 the lead author conducted a longitudinal research project to determine the impact of the cost of treatment on 233 San Francisco Bay Area study participants seeking, enrolled in, or defunded from MMT. This paper reports on selected findings from that study. Using variables of drug use, crime, gender and HIV risk, qualitative and quantitative results comparing those seeking treatment with those enrolled in treatment indicated that MMT functioned as a harm-reduction tool. When clients were defunded, however, drug use, crime and HIV risk increased and harm was maximized.
AB - Despite numerous research studies demonstrating the efficacy of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in general and the value of retention in particular, the increasing defunding of this modality has compromised its potential. From 1990 to 1995 the lead author conducted a longitudinal research project to determine the impact of the cost of treatment on 233 San Francisco Bay Area study participants seeking, enrolled in, or defunded from MMT. This paper reports on selected findings from that study. Using variables of drug use, crime, gender and HIV risk, qualitative and quantitative results comparing those seeking treatment with those enrolled in treatment indicated that MMT functioned as a harm-reduction tool. When clients were defunded, however, drug use, crime and HIV risk increased and harm was maximized.
KW - Defunding
KW - Drug policy
KW - Harm maximization
KW - Harm reduction
KW - Methadone maintenance treatment
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U2 - 10.1080/02791072.1996.10472485
DO - 10.1080/02791072.1996.10472485
M3 - Article
C2 - 8895109
AN - SCOPUS:0029816925
SN - 0279-1072
VL - 28
SP - 241
EP - 249
JO - Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
JF - Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
IS - 3
ER -