Life activities and life quality of heroin addicts in and out of methadone treatment

Abstract

The focus of the present study was the daily life activities and self-perceived health and life quality of heroin addicts both in and out of methadone treatment, based on 219 addicts followed for 8 months after treatment entry. The majority of outcome evaluations of methadone treatment have focused on the "hard" outcome criteria of drug use levels, criminal activities, and employment. The present study, in contrast, addressed how heroin addicts live on a daily basis, and whether being chemically supported on methadone was associated with changes in daily life activities and perceived quality of life. A six-dimensional measurement model of daily life activities, perceived health, and life quality was established. Substantial changes on the dimensions in a positive direction were found in the 2 months just following treatment entry. Changes in daily life activities (e.g., spending more time with the family, attending to the home) may be early indicators of the impact of methadone treatment that precede changes on the usual "hard" criteria (e.g., obtaining legal employment).