Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM): clinical, research, and policy issues of a new pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM): clinical, research, and policy issues of a new pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction.

J Psychoactive Drugs. 1995 Jul-Sep;27(3):239-47. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96116341
Prendergast ML; Grella C; Perry SM; Anglin MD; UCLA Drug Abuse Research Center 90024, USA.

Abstract: A number of issues are relevant to the development and use of levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) as a treatment alternative to methadone. A brief history of methadone maintenance treatment is provided and variants of standard methadone treatment are discussed. The history and current status of LAAm are discussed, as well as its advantages over methadone. In addition, relevant clinical, research, and policy issues are addressed. LAAm has advantages over methadone specifically with regard to thrice-weekly dosing, potential to reduce HIV/AIDS risk, possible cost savings, and possible improved clinic-community relations. The effective and cost-effective implementation of LAAM as a new treatment for opioid addiction requires attention to a number of issues: (1) LAAM as an HIV prevention measure through its potential risk-reduction effects, (2) the sue of LAAM with specific high-risk subgroups, (3) causes of differential rates of treatment dropout and their amenability to intervention, (4) the role fo patient choice in long-term maintenance treatment, (5) the impact of LAAM on clinic operations, (6) the potential for LAAM as a take-home medication, and (7) the costs of implementing and sustaining LAAM maintenance services.
Keywords: Heroin Dependence/*REHABILITATION Human Legislation, Drug Methadyl Acetate/*THERAPEUTIC USE Narcotics/*THERAPEUTIC USE Public Policy Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United States JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL

KWDheroindependence/KWDrehabilitationhumanlegislation,drugmethadylacetate/KWDtherapeuticusenarcotics/KWDtherapeuticusepublicpolicysupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDsKWDunitedstatesjournalarticlereviewreview,tutorial
960630
M9660709

Copyright © 1996 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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