Commentary on Canadian study on timing of methadone take‐homes

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that initiating take‐home dosing of methadone after treatment induction was associated with a reduction in treatment dropouts, as well as a reduction in deaths, compared to no take‐homes. The study, “Timing of Initiation of Methadone Take‐Home Dosing,” authored by Belal Hossain, M.D., and colleagues, controlled for confounding factors. Completion of induction was defined as two weeks with no change in daily dose, which translated to about four weeks after methadone induction for most patients.