ArticleSubstance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2011
There is no age limit for methadone: a retrospective cohort study.
Article in Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- Socio-demographic and toxicological findings from autoptic cases in a Northern Italy community (2017-2022).International journal of legal medicine · 2025Article
- Practitioner perspectives on working with older patients in opioid agonist treatment (OAT) in Norway: opportunities and challenges.Addiction science & clinical practice · 2024Article
- Feasibility, safety, and acceptability of intranasal heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland: protocol for a prospective multicentre observational cohort study.Addiction science & clinical practice · 2023Article
- Safety and feasibility of intranasal heroin-assisted treatment: 4-week preliminary findings from a Swiss multicentre observational study.Harm reduction journal · 2023Observational
- Rescue Analgesia for Opioid-Dependent Individuals on Opioid Agonist Treatment during Hospitalization: Adherence to Guideline Treatment.European addiction research · 2023Article
- Ageing and older people who use illicit opioids, cocaine or methamphetamine: a scoping review and literature map.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2022Article
- Nasal administration of diacetylmorphine improved the adherence in a patient receiving heroin-assisted treatment.Harm reduction journal · 2022Article
- Experiences with take-home dosing in heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic-Is an update of legal restrictions warranted?The International journal on drug policy · 2022Article
- «One prick and then it´s done»: a mixed-methods exploratory study on intramuscular injection in heroin-assisted treatment.Harm reduction journal · 2021Article
- Problematic Opioid Use Among Older Adults: Epidemiology, Adverse Outcomes and Treatment Considerations.Drugs & aging · 2021Review
- Functional evaluation of NKDrug and alcohol dependence · 2021Article
- Large and non-specific somatic disease burdens among ageing, long-term opioid maintenance treatment patients.Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy · 2020Article
- Novel remote electronic medication supply model for opioid-dependent outpatients with polypharmacy--first long-term case study.Harm reduction journal · 2017Article
- Health and social issues among older patients in opioid maintenance treatment in Norway.Nordisk alkohol- & narkotikatidskrift : NAT · 2017Article
- Police bribery and access to methadone maintenance therapy within the context of drug policy reform in Tijuana, Mexico.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2015Observational
- Association between methadone dose and concomitant cocaine use in methadone maintenance treatment: a register-based study.Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy · 2014Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundData from the US indicates that methadone-maintained populations are aging, with an increase of patients aged 50 or older. Data from European methadone populations is sparse. This retrospective cohort study sought to evaluate the age trends and related developments in the methadone population of Basel-City, Switzerland.
methodsThe study included methadone patients between April 1, 1995 and March 31, 2003. Anonymized data was taken from the methadone register of Basel-City. For analysis of age distributions, patient samples were split into four age categories from '20-29 years' to '50 years and over'. Cross-sectional comparisons were performed using patient samples of 1996 and 2003.
resultsAnalysis showed a significant increase in older patients between 1996 and 2003 (p < 0.001). During that period, the percentage of patients aged 50 and over rose almost tenfold, while the proportion of patients aged under 30 dropped significantly from 52.8% to 12.3%. The average methadone dose (p < 0.001) and the 1-year retention rate (p < 0.001) also increased significantly.
conclusionsFindings point to clear trends in aging of methadone patients in Basel-City which are comparable, although less pronounced, to developments among US methadone populations. Many unanswered questions on medical, psychosocial and health economic consequences remain as the needs of older patients have not yet been evaluated extensively. However, older methadone patients, just as any other patients, should be accorded treatment appropriate to their medical condition and needs. Particular attention should be paid to adequate solutions for persons in need of care.
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