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Journal of Psychology and Cognition | Volume 4
May 13-14, 2019 | Prague, Czech Republic
Addiction Research and Therapy
2
nd
International Conference on
J Psychol Cognition, Volume 4
Notes:
Looking for a solution to a global crisis: Stigmatization of Methadone Maintenance
Therapy
Arash Ghodousi
Islamic Azad University, Iran
M
ethadone maintenance therapy (MMT) starts since
1964 as a medical response to the post-World War II
heroin epidemic in New York City. Methadone maintenance
reduces and/or eliminates the use of heroin, reduces the
death rates and criminality associated with heroin use allows
patients to improve their health and social productivity and
reduce the transmission of infectious diseases associated
with heroin injection, such as hepatitis and HIV. The principal
effects of methadone maintenance are to relieve narcotic
craving, suppress the abstinence syndrome, and block the
euphoric effects associated with heroin. However, stigma,
discrimination and bias directed at the programs and the
patients have negative effect on delivery of services. Even
now, there is not better therapy for many of heroin addict
patients. Patients usually reported experiencing stigma and
discrimination including blame/judgment, shame, disclosure
and the fear of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
transmission by others. Unemployed patients were more
likely to experience discrimination. Those who were taking
an antiretroviral were more likely to disclose their health
status. In addition, a higher likelihood of being blamed/
judged and shamed was associated with those who suffered
from anxiety/depression. They reported that stigma resulted
in lower self-esteem, relationship conflicts, reluctance to
initiate, access, or continue MMT and distrust toward the
health care system. Stigma and discrimination lead toward
reduce the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the
number of patents that wants to start MMT Voluntarily and
unemployment of patients under methadone treatment as
well. Public awareness campaigns, education of health care
workers, family therapy, and community meetings were
cited as potential stigma-reduction strategies. Professional
community leadership is necessary to educate the general
public if these society problems are to be overcome.
Speaker Biography
Arash Ghodousi has completed his specialty in Forensic Medicine and
clinical toxicology from Tehran University of Medical science in 2003
and certified in addiction treatment from Iranian National Centre for
Addiction Studies (INCAS) in 2005. Now, he is associate professor and
Deputy of medical sciences in Isfahan Branch of Islamic Azad University
and has a private clinic for addiction treatment.
e:
ghodousi@khuisf.ac.ir