A study of methadone take-home changes cautions against attributing every pandemic-period drug-test change to the policy itself.
The investigators compared tests from 613 patients in one urban treatment program during July 2019 and July 2020. Benzodiazepine and some other positive tests increased overall in the later year. Models also examined take-home categories and their interaction with year, seeking to separate those associations from the wider period effect.
This was an observational comparison in one program during an unusual year. Take-home eligibility was not random, and drug testing reflects assay coverage and detection windows. A positive test does not by itself establish misuse, intoxication, or a policy-caused exposure.
For a policy or treatment opinion, distinguish a calendar trend from the effect attributed to a specific rule. Patient selection, pandemic disruptions, and treatment changes can coexist. The study does not establish that providing more take-home methadone caused an individual’s benzodiazepine use or adverse event.
Source reviewed: Did drug use increase following COVID 19 relaxation of methadone take out regulations 2020 was a com (PMC8343384). Forensic applications above are interpretive analysis of the supplied paper.
Related reading: Ecopipam Interaction Study Found Lower Midazolam Exposure Alongside Other Pathway Effects; Home Medication Study Found High Mean Adherence Alongside Individual Medication Problems.