Is methadone maintenance provided by private practitioners effective?

Objectives: Involvement of private practitioners in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) enhances its availability. However, effectiveness of such treatments is still debated. Methods: A retrospective case register analysis comparing the retention of private practices with that of specialised institutions. All methadone maintenance treatment starting between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates to test for different retention times; Cox-regression procedure to control for baseline differences between the two populations. Results: Even after controlling for distinct patient characteristics, MMT by private practitioners resulted in a longer retention time. Conclusion: Our findings favour the involvement of private practitioners. Providing better professional and financial support may enhance their participation.