An evaluation of community methadone services in Victoria, Australia: results of a client survey

One hundred and ninety-five metropolitan clients enrolled in the community-based methadone programme in Victoria, Australia were surveyed in order to evaluate client perspectives of methadone treatment delivered from primary health care settings. Results indicated that the average daily methadone do...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol review 1999-12, Vol.18 (4), p.417-423
Main Author: Ezard, Nick Lintzeris, Peta Odgers, Glenda Koutroulis, Peter Muhleisen, Amanda Lanagan, Nadine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Child Custody
client perspectives
Clients
community pharmacies
Community Relations
Costs
delivery of health care
Drug addicts
Drug dosages
Drug stores
Females
general practice
Government (Administrative Body)
Heroin
Interviews
Literature Reviews
Males
Medical Services
Methadone
Narcotics
Perceptions
Pharmacy
Physicians
Polls & surveys
Primary care
Primary Health Care
Progress Monitoring
Questionnaires
Treatment
Urine
Victoria
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Summary:One hundred and ninety-five metropolitan clients enrolled in the community-based methadone programme in Victoria, Australia were surveyed in order to evaluate client perspectives of methadone treatment delivered from primary health care settings. Results indicated that the average daily methadone dose was 41 mg, ranging from 7 mg to 140 mg. The majority of clients were satisfied with the programme and the services delivered by dispensing pharmacies and prescribing doctors. Most clients were found to have reduced their heroin use and criminal activity since commencing methadone. A number of concerns about the programme were identified, however, including the high proportion of weekly income spent on methadone-related activities and a high use of tranquillizers by clients on higher methadone doses. In general the community-based methadone programme was found to be an acceptable methadone of service delivery to metropolitan clients in Victoria, Australia.
ISSN:0959-5236
1465-3362
DOI:10.1080/09595239996284