Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1994 Feb;84(2):207-10.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.2.207.

Providing medical care to methadone clinic patients: referral vs on-site care

A Umbricht-Schneiter  1 , D H Ginn, K M Pabst, G E Bigelow
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Providing medical care to methadone clinic patients: referral vs on-site care

A Umbricht-Schneiter et al. Am J Public Health. 1994 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Intravenous drug users are at high risk for medical illness, yet many are medically underserved. Most methadone treatment programs have insufficient resources to provide medical care. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of providing medical care at a methadone clinic site vs referral to another site.

Methods: Patients with any of four target medical conditions were randomized into an on-site group offered medical care at the methadone treatment clinic and a referred group offered medical care at a nearby clinic. Entry to treatment and use of medical services were analyzed.

Results: Of 161 intravenous drug users evaluated, 75 (47%) had one or more of the target medical conditions. Fifty-one were randomized. In the on-site group (n = 25), 92% received medical treatment; in the referred group (n = 26), only 35% received treatment.

Conclusions: Providing medical care at a methadone treatment program site is more effective than the usual referral procedure and is a valuable public health intervention.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • More on methadone treatment.
    Newman RG. Newman RG. Am J Public Health. 1994 Nov;84(11):1854. doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.11.1854-a. Am J Public Health. 1994. PMID: 7977939 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. JAMA. 1990 Jun 20;263(23):3173-6 - PubMed
    1. N J Med. 1990 May;87(5):413-5 - PubMed
    1. Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Jul;76(1):114-7 - PubMed
    1. Psychosomatics. 1990 Fall;31(4):426-33 - PubMed
    1. JAMA. 1989 Sep 22-29;262(12):1664-8 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources