A Bridge to Treatment: The Therapeutic Workplace and Methadone Treatment
Opiate Dependence
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Opiate Dependence
Eligibility Criteria
Individuals were eligible if they were:
- at least 18 years old,
- reported injection drug use in the past 30 days,
- met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV criteria for opioid dependence,
- reported using heroin at least 21 out of the past 30 days,
- provided an opiate-positive urine sample,
- showed visible signs of injection drug use (i.e., track marks),
- reported not receiving substance abuse treatment in the past 30 days,
- lived in Baltimore,
- and were unemployed.
Participants were excluded if they
- had current severe psychiatric disorders or chronic medical conditions that would interfere with their ability to participate in the workplace,
- reported current suicidal or homicidal ideation,
- had physical limitations that would prevent them from using a keyboard,
- had medical insurance coverage (as this would disqualify them from receiving interim methadone treatment),
- were pregnant or breastfeeding,
- or were currently considered a prisoner.
Eligible participants were invited to participate in a 4-week induction. Participants who attended the workplace for at least five minutes on two out of five workdays in the last week of induction were randomly assigned to one of three conditions and were invited to attend the workplace for an additional 26 weeks
Sites / Locations
- Center for Learning and Health, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus, 5200 Eastern Ave., Suite W142
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
No Intervention
Experimental
Experimental
Usual Care Control
Methadone Contingency Group
Methadone & Abstinence Contingency
Participants in this group were offered employment in the Therapeutic Workplace without urinalysis testing or the methadone treatment requirement. They were offered the methadone treatment but were not required to join in order to gain access to the workplace.
Participants in this group were allowed to work and earn wages as long as they enrolled in the methadone treatment and continued to take does of methadone consistently (employment-based reinforcement).
Participants in this group were able to access work if they enrolled in the methadone treatment and consistently took their medication, but they also received a decrease in base pay if they test positive for opiates or cocaine on the drug screens (employment-based reinforcement).