Objective: To explore the change and impact factors of craving for heroin in patients after 6 month methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).
Methods: The questionnaire of craving for heroin was used to measure the level of craving for heroin when patients just entered the study and were treated for 6 months. The influence of MMT on craving in patients were analyzed.
Results: The total score and score for other factors decreased except the factor "self-control" after MMT. The craving for high dose patients decreased significantly after 6 month treatment (P<0.05). The degree of craving for heroin in males and females all decreased after MMT, but no significant difference was shown (P>0.05). The craving degree for heroin in patients with long drug use was higher than that of patients with short drug use. After the treatment, the improvement of craving was more significant for the long drug users.
Conclusion: MMT can decline the craving for heroin in drug users. Dosage for methadone and gender may be the risk factors of craving change.