Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40120813›Full record

ArticleJournal of substance use and addiction treatment2025

"It's more than just the act of not using. It's a feeling of finally completing something.": Person-centered definitions of successful treatment outcomes from patients and staff at a methadone treatment program in Baltimore City.

Valerie D Bradley, Mary B Kleinman, Morgan S Anvari, Tolulope M Abidogun, C J Seitz-Brown, Annabelle M Belcher, Thomas O Cole, Aaron D Greenblatt, Jessica F Magidson

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Valerie D BradleyDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, USA. Electronic address: vbradley@umd.edu.
Mary B KleinmanDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, USA.
Morgan S AnvariDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, USA.
Tolulope M AbidogunCollege of Public Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
C J Seitz-BrownDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, USA.
Annabelle M BelcherDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Thomas O ColeDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Aaron D GreenblattDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jessica F MagidsonDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, USA; Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR), University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, USA.

Funding

The influence of neighborhood factors and social determinants of health on OUD treatment outcomesR33DA057747 · NIDA · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · PI MAGIDSON, JESSICA F · 2022 to 2024
$2.6M
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Methadone Treatment Retention and Adherence in an Underserved, Minority Population with OUDR61AT010799 · NCCIH · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · PI MAGIDSON, JESSICA F · 2019 to 2020
$1.2M
NCCIH NIH HHS R61 AT010799NIDA NIH HHS R33 DA057747
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSuccessful outcomes in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment are traditionally defined by retention in care, substance use cessation, and relapse prevention. However, these metrics may overlook important, person-centered aspects of success, especially for marginalized populations facing significant inequities in care. With overdose-related deaths disproportionately affecting racially minoritized groups, understanding a more inclusive definition of success in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment is essential for improving clinical treatment, research, and policy. This study explores how patients and staff define successful treatment outcomes and how those definitions align or differ at an outpatient methadone treatment program in Baltimore City.

methodsWe conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups with 32 participants, including patients, clinical staff, and peer recovery specialists (PRSs) at a methadone treatment program serving primarily low-income, racially minoritized individuals with OUD. The sample was 59 % male, average age 48.7, and 66 % Black or African American. Semi-structured interview guides prompted patients (n = 20) and clinical staff/PRSs (n = 12) to describe successful treatment experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and contextualized within the Health Equity Implementation Framework to propose influences on equitable methadone treatment that optimize treatment outcomes.

resultsFive key themes emerged in defining person-centered successful treatment outcomes: (1) improvements in general health, (2) productivity and accomplishment, (3) social improvements, (4) substance use changes, and (5) treatment engagement. Patients and staff agreed on two-thirds of subthemes but showed notable differences. Patients emphasized experiential and social aspects of recovery, such as increased activities, supporting others, and resisting substance use influences. Staff focused on sustained behavioral change and long-term recovery milestones, including substance use behaviors, self-worth, community involvement, and treatment planning.

conclusionPerson-centered definitions of success in methadone treatment encompass a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related factors. While patients and staff agreed on overall themes, their perspectives diverged on several subthemes. Incorporating diverse patient perspectives in defining methadone treatment success, particularly from marginalized groups, is essential for improving research, policy, and clinical practices to enhance patient experiences and outcomes in methadone treatment.

Indexed as

MethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersAdultBaltimoreFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient-Centered CareQualitative ResearchTreatment OutcomeMethadoneMethadone treatmentOpioid use disorderPerson-centeredTreatment outcomesTreatment success

Identifiers

PMID40120813
PMCPMC13048447

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.