Work Predictors of Lapse in Patients Under Treatment of Methadone Maintenance Therapy



Mehrdad R¹ ; Zarbafi B² ; Pouryaghoub G¹ ; Saraeei M¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Iranian Journal of Psychiatry Published:2015

Abstract

Background: Addiction to narcotics can cause serious problems and monetary losses. Therapeutic success can be predicted through identifying lapse risk factors. Objective: Determining Job Risk Factor of Lapse. Methods: This was a cross sectional study on 351 addicts visiting five methadone clinics. A Data collection sheet consisting of questions on demographic and job information was filled up through direct interviews. Information relating to lapse in the first month was analyzed. Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 40(12) years; of them, 74% were employed, of whom 34% had lapsed. A relationship was noticed between education qualification (secondary school compared with higher and lower education) and lapse (p =.04), and also between type of drug abuse (amphetamine) and lapse (p =.001). Conclusion: Lapse was more dependent on type of drug abused, and employment had a protective role, with no correlation with the type of job and other job conditions. Non- work factors mediated/suppressed the role of occupational conditions.