TY - JOUR
T1 - Successful adherence to observed prophylaxis and treatment of tuberculosis among drug users in a methadone program
AU - Gourevitch, Marc N.
AU - Wasserman, William
AU - Panero, Maria S.
AU - Selwyn, Peter A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by HRSA/NIDA (#CSH-000127-04-0), NY State AIDS Institute (#814-2300C-6508), Centers for Disease Control (#U64/CCU200 714), NIDA (#RO1 DA04347-07) and the Aaron Diamond Foundation.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Incomplete antituberculous chemoprophylaxis and treatment are major causes of the resurgence of tuberculosis, often drug-resistant, among drug users. We offered directly observed antituberculous chemoprophylaxis (n = 102) or treatment (n = 12) to eligible methadone maintenance treatment patients. Methadone dosing was not contingent upon ingestion of antituberculous medication(s). No material incentives were provided. Ninety (88%) prophylaxis and 9 (75%) treatment patients were administered ≥ 5 weekly doses of antituberculous medications during ≥ 80% of 4740 patient-weeks. The majority of patients were HIV-seropositive. Active substance abuse was not associated with diminished adherence. Over 80% of patients completed or were still receiving therapy at the end of the study. Adherence to and completion of directly observed antituberculous therapy can thus be attained by drug users in treatment, despite ongoing drug misuse. Substance abuse treatment programs provide opportunities for enhanced compliance, and should thus be viewed as critical components of strategies to address the tuberculosis epidemic in drug users.
AB - Incomplete antituberculous chemoprophylaxis and treatment are major causes of the resurgence of tuberculosis, often drug-resistant, among drug users. We offered directly observed antituberculous chemoprophylaxis (n = 102) or treatment (n = 12) to eligible methadone maintenance treatment patients. Methadone dosing was not contingent upon ingestion of antituberculous medication(s). No material incentives were provided. Ninety (88%) prophylaxis and 9 (75%) treatment patients were administered ≥ 5 weekly doses of antituberculous medications during ≥ 80% of 4740 patient-weeks. The majority of patients were HIV-seropositive. Active substance abuse was not associated with diminished adherence. Over 80% of patients completed or were still receiving therapy at the end of the study. Adherence to and completion of directly observed antituberculous therapy can thus be attained by drug users in treatment, despite ongoing drug misuse. Substance abuse treatment programs provide opportunities for enhanced compliance, and should thus be viewed as critical components of strategies to address the tuberculosis epidemic in drug users.
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U2 - 10.1300/J069v15n01_07
DO - 10.1300/J069v15n01_07
M3 - Article
C2 - 8729149
AN - SCOPUS:0029876493
SN - 1055-0887
VL - 15
SP - 93
EP - 104
JO - Journal of Addictive Diseases
JF - Journal of Addictive Diseases
IS - 1
ER -