In the United States, there are more than 1,200 methadone maintenance treatment programs, with an estimated staff of 20,000, serving more than 200,000 patients annually. And the international use of methadone maintenance treatment is increasing. Currently Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom offer methadone maintenance treatment programs, and China, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, and Spain are considering or launching programs. Many countries are looking to the U.S. to understand how to successfully implement methadone maintenance treatment programs.

To date, there has been no comprehensive, user-friendly professional reference book on methadone maintenance treatment programs in the United States. This book fills the gap and offers insights into:

• the effectiveness of methadone
• the characteristics of successful methadone treatment
programs (budgets, services, staff, etc.)
• regulation and accreditation issues

The information presented is based on a study of nearly 150 methadone maintenance treatment programs programs in 15 states.