Extraneous Drug Use in Methadone‐supported Patients

Weekly urine specimens were collected and analysed from 231 patients receiving daily oral methadone support from the Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Authority over all or part of an eight-week period. Patients were assigned to three dosage groups. The study revealed that patients receiving 80 mg or more of methadone per day had significantly higher levels of extraneous drugs than patients receiving lower daily doses. The levels of extraneous drugs were found to be low compared to the findings of researchers elsewhere. Possible factors contributing to the increased usage of extraneous drugs are suggested, and disadvantages of high methadone dosage are indicated.