Some drug addicts more likely to relapse than others: Study
But, the older the person with drug abuse issues, the more likely they will not relapse from treatment. "We can improve our tailoring of treatment to each patient if we know who among patients taking methadone treatment is at high risk for opioid relapse," said Dr. Zena Samaan, principal author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences of McMaster's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. "As well, health care providers can target more aggressive therapies to those at high risk." Canada and the U.S. are the world's highest consumers of prescription opioids which are common drugs for pain management. At least one study says one in six Canadians using prescription opioids . But these medications are also highly addicting and liable for abuse. Methadone maintenance treatment is the most common intervention for those with drug addiction, but relapse is common, with 46% of patients continuing to use illicit opioid