An evaluation of community methadone services in Victoria, Australia: results of a client survey

One hundred and ninety-five metropolitan clients enrolled in the community-based methadone programme in Victoria, Australia were surveyed in order to evaluate client perspectives of methadone treatment delivered from primary health care settings. Results indicated that the average daily methadone dose was 41 mg, ranging from 7 mg to 140 mg. The majority of clients were satisfied with the programme and the services delivered by dispensing pharmacies and prescribing doctors. Most clients were found to have reduced their heroin use and criminal activity since commencing methadone. A number of concerns about the programme were identified, however, including the high proportion of weekly income spent on methadone-related activities and a high use of tranquillizers by clients on higher methadone doses. In general the community-based methadone programme was found to be an acceptable methadone of service delivery to metropolitan clients in Victoria, Australia.