[Replacement therapy as a method to promote social and professional re-adaptation].

Aim: The aim of this work is to assess the impact of replacement therapy on social and professional re-adaptation of people addicted to opioids.
Material and Methods: This study covered 82 patients (52 male, 30 female; mean age of 39.9 years) addicted to opioids and treated with methadone. An analysis of medical records served as a research method.
Results: Participation in the methadone programme influenced taking up a job by 47.5% of addicted; improving the legal situation, i. e., reduction of the number of criminal cases for 42.7% of addicted; and the feeling of positive impact on social re-adaptation by 96.3% of addicted.
Conclusions: Replacement therapy with methadone fosters professional activation, reduces criminality and gives a feeling of social re-adaptation for people addicted to opioids.
(© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)