Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Its Psychosocial Effects on Individuals
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St. Catherine University SOPHIA Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers School of Social Work 5-2014 Methadone Maintenance Treatment and its Psychosocial Effects on Individuals Fatai Adeshina Popoola St. Catherine University Follow this and additional works at: https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Popoola, Fatai Adeshina. (2014). Methadone Maintenance Treatment and its Psychosocial Effects on Individuals. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/378 This Clinical research paper is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Social Work at SOPHIA. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers by an authorized administrator of SOPHIA. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Methadone Maintenance Treatment and its Psychosocial Effects on Individuals by Fatai Adeshina Popoola (BEd\ Political Science, LADC) Proposal for a Clinical Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of the School of Social Work St. Catherine University and the University of St. Thomas St. Paul, Minnesota in Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Work Committee Members Rajean P. Moone Ph.D., LNHA, (Chair) Rashad Hameed, MA, LADC Neerja Singh, Ph.D., LICSW The Clinical Research Project is a graduation requirement for MSW students at St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas School of Social Work in St Paul, Minnesota and is conducted within a nine-month time frame to demonstrate facility with basic social research methods. Students must independently conceptualize a research problem, formulate a research design that is approved by a research committee and the university Institutional Review Board, implement the project, and publicly present the findings of the study. This project is neither a Master’s thesis nor a dissertation. II Abstract Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) was introduced into the United States in the 1960s to counter the surge of heroin addiction. Since then, MMT’s effectiveness in combating heroin addiction and weaning people off methadone itself continues to be questioned. This study examined the psychosocial impact of methadone as a harm reduction approach on individuals that have embraced the program. In this study, the structure and operations of methadone clinics, the differences between methadone and other pharmacological treatments for opioid dependence, as well as the stigma associated with the program were examined. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors, an addiction medicine physician, and social workers with extensive experience in the area of MMT were conducted for data analysis and interpretation of facts. Findings from this research reveal that despite the stigma and controversies surrounding methadone maintenance treatment, it is still considered the most effective treatment for opioid addiction. Therefore, these findings will provide useful information about methadone to the general public; and equip clinical social workers the basic knowledge needed in working with clients on the MMT program. III Acknowledgement The success of this research paper and the entire program would not have been achieved without the support of numerous people. First and foremost, a big appreciation to my wife Olufunke Popoola and my beautiful children Olatade and Adetayo for enduring my absence throughout the period of long search for a formidable career. I will also like to acknowledge my colleagues at Colonial Management LP, Jamie Lehman, Trisha, Adam Lee, Colleeen Russell and most especially Frank Joe Zigmund the Program Director for their flexibility, encouragement and the belief in what ought to be common good for people struggling with opioid addiction. My journey into the field of human services allowed me to come in contact with Mr Rashad Hameed and Dr Neerja Singh both of Ramsey County Boys Totem Town. They have both been sources of inspiration and have given objective views as committee members, to make this research a success. My sincere appreciation also goes to Rajean Paul Moone the committee chair for this study. His dedication, patience, intellectual guidance, and thorough review of this project contributed in no small measure to the desired outcome of this work. The successful navigation through the graduate school met with many challenges that would not have been surpassed without sincere assistance and guidance from some faculty members at the University of St Thomas/ Saint Catherine University School of Social Work; Kathleen A. Caron (my advisor), Jane F. Hurley Johncox, Stacy M Husebo and George Baboila. IV Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ iii Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................. 2 Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 5 The Beginning .............................................................................................................. 5 Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT): A Holistic Approach to Addiction Treatment ... 6 Stigmatization of MMT .................................................................................................11 The Psychosocial Effects of Methadone ..........................................................................13 Conceptual Framework .....................................................................................................15 What is Methadone? .....................................................................................................15 Addiction: A Chronic Problem .......................................................................................17 Harm Reduction Approach ............................................................................................19 Methods ..........................................................................................................................22 Research Design ...........................................................................................................22 Sample ........................................................................................................................22 Protection of Human Subjects ........................................................................................23 Data Collection Instrument and Process ..........................................................................24 Data Analysis Plan .......................................................................................................25 Strengths and Limitations of the Design ..........................................................................26 Results and Findings ........................................................................................................27 Stigma ........................................................................................................................27 Is addiction a disease? ...................................................................................................28 Co-Occurring Disorder ..................................................................................................31 Methadone Maintenance Treatment ................................................................................32 Holistic Approach ........................................................................................................33 Ethical Consideration ....................................................................................................34 Discussion ......................................................................................................................36 Implications for social work practice ..............................................................................38 Implications for policy ..................................................................................................40 Implications for research, strengths and limitations ...........................................................42 References ......................................................................................................................45 V Appendices .....................................................................................................................49 Appendix A Unsigned Consent Form ..............................................................................49 Appendix B Interview Questions ....................................................................................51 Appendix C Demographic Questionnaire .........................................................................54 Running Head: METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT 1 CHAPTER Introduction Addiction has been defined as the loss of ability to control or stop the use, obsession with use, and continued use of illicit drugs and alcohol, despite the negative consequences and adverse effects (Inaba & Cohen, 2007). Addiction does not include only illicit drugs; it can also mean addiction to food, internet,