Sublingual buprenorphine and methadone maintenance treatment: a three-year follow-up of quality of life assessment.

This study was conducted to compare long-term outcome effects on the quality of life (QOL) of oral methadone with sublingual buprenorphine maintenance treatment. The QOL status of opioid-dependent patients was assessed using the German version ("Berlin Quality of Life Profile") of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Physical symptoms were measured using the Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OWS).

[Current consumer conditions among opioid addicts--implications for maintenance-treatment programmes provided by ambulatory drug treatment centers and physicians].

Background: Anonymous evaluation of the current conditions of drug scene and drug consumption, entrance age, personal motives for drug consumption and satisfaction among opioid-dependent clients with treatments available within an ambulant maintenance treatment setting.

Methods: The questionnaire for the study was based on representative studies and covered 112 questions regarding drug consumption. In addition, an instrument of the "Hessische Landesstelle gegen die Suchtgefahren", which measures satisfaction of opioid clients regarding public drug-treatment centers, was used.