A comprehensive guide to the use of drug substitution in the treatment of opiate dependence, this handbook provides an up-to-date account of treatment research and practice in this growing area. As well as answering questions about the status of this class of interventions in terms of their demonstrated effectiveness, it also includes detailed discussions of assessment issues, appropriate dosage regimes, the role of ancillary social and psychosocial services, the use of opiate replacement therapy in prisons, optimal treatment during pregnancy, and the cost-effectiveness of this form of treatment. The 1980s and 1990s have witnessed a worldwide epidemic of heroin addiction, and countries around the world have moved to put in place opiate replacement therapy programs to deal with this problem. While most of these programs use methadone as a substitute drug of choice, most recently, buprenorphine, LAAM (levo acetyl methadol), and heroin have been employed for this purpose. This book will be of interest to medical practitioners, drug and alcohol treatment personnel, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in the management of opiate dependence.
