Research on Methadone Maintenance Treatment
In: International journal of the addictions, Band 5, Heft 3, S. 359-373
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In: International journal of the addictions, Band 5, Heft 3, S. 359-373
In: Journal of drug issues: JDI, Band 9, Heft 2, S. 205-211
ISSN: 1945-1369
This study is concerned with the domain of applicability of randomized clinical trials. For evaluation of well-defined treatments of acute diseases over limited periods of time, the randomized trial technique is unquestionably the best. However, in the field of chronic diseases (as illustrated by drug addiction) the physician's responsibility extends over periods of years, and his judgements involve consideration of many contingent factors which vary in the course of the disease. In this domain, randomized clinical trials, however ambitious in design, give only partial guidance. Observational data therefore must be used if treatment is to be optimized for individual patients. Two randomized trials in the treatment of narcotics addiction — one testing methadone and the other naltrexone — are reviewed, with comments on their conclusions and limitations.