Retention and associated factors for drug users in methadone maintenance treatment programs

Ample evidences suggest that methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is effective to reduce and/or eliminate the use of heroin as well as to reduce the transmission of HIV among heroin users. Longer retention in MMT is the best single predictor of positive post-treatment outcomes. But patient retention varies in different countries and different areas, which indicates that patient retention is affected by varies factors. This paper reviews MMT programs in the world, focusing on retention and associated factors such as methadone dosage, clinic orientation, treatment charge, social/family supports, drug/alcohol abuse during treatment.