Past Issues
Relationship of Monetary Subsidy and
Treatment Compliance in Heroin Addicts
Following Methadone Maintenance Therapy:
The Experience of Hsinchu and Miaoli Areas
Pan-Yen Lin, Ming-Lun Liu, Peng-Chin Wang, Ming Chang
Objective: Monetary subsidy is one of the factors to affect the sustainability
of addicts to receive methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). This study was conducted
to explore the impact on the participants’ drug compliance with different
subsidies on MMT. Methods: From January to September 2010, we included 323
patients on MMT from Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in this study. Data for statistical
analysis only included 296 patients because 27 patients were transferred the
from district prosecutor’s offi ce due to deferred prosecution. We divided the participants
into three groups-the full subsidy, no subsidy, and the reimbursement
group. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review, and daily statistics
were uploaded from the Centers for Disease Control to calculate the number
of patients that attended, and their drug compliance during MMT. Results: The results
of the study showed that the drug compliance between the reimbursement
group and the non-reimbursement (full subsidy and no subsidy) group was statistically
signifi cant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that reimbursement
was related with high drug compliance in drug addicts.
of addicts to receive methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). This study was conducted
to explore the impact on the participants’ drug compliance with different
subsidies on MMT. Methods: From January to September 2010, we included 323
patients on MMT from Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in this study. Data for statistical
analysis only included 296 patients because 27 patients were transferred the
from district prosecutor’s offi ce due to deferred prosecution. We divided the participants
into three groups-the full subsidy, no subsidy, and the reimbursement
group. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review, and daily statistics
were uploaded from the Centers for Disease Control to calculate the number
of patients that attended, and their drug compliance during MMT. Results: The results
of the study showed that the drug compliance between the reimbursement
group and the non-reimbursement (full subsidy and no subsidy) group was statistically
signifi cant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that reimbursement
was related with high drug compliance in drug addicts.
| Key Word | methadone maintenance therapy, drug compliance, subsidy, reimbursement |
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