Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare quality of life for drug addicts in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics, communities, and compulsory detoxification institutions (CDI).
Methods: Drug addicts were surveyed by self-administrated quality of life instrument for drug addicts. Linear regression was used to compare quality of life scores for drug addicts in three groups.
Results: 211, 143 and 171 participants were recruited from methadone clinics, communities and compulsory detoxification institutions respectively in Sichuan Province. The differences of quality of life scores in three groups are statistical significantly. Outpatients in MMT clinics have highest quality of life scores, while drug addicts in communities have lowest scores. In addition, the results indicates drug addicts in MMT have better mental health, family relationships & social support, living condition, and satisfaction with life than those in CDI, and clients in MMT and CDI have high scores than those in community in the six dimensions of quality of life.
Conclusion: Methadone maintenance treatment and compulsory detoxification might he benefit to quality of life for drug addicts, and MMT contribute to it much more. It suggested MMT should he promoted in China quickly.