{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T10:40:02Z","timestamp":1789987202281,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2014,12,8]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2015,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been implemented in China since 2004 and has expanded into a nationwide programme. This study aims to evaluate changes in social functioning, family relations and drug-related criminal behaviour among MMT clients in China.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Systematic review and meta-analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Both English and Chinese literature databases, including PubMed, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Journals Database (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data, were comprehensively searched over the period 2004\u20132014 for studied indicators. Study selection, quality assessment and data extraction were conducted according to the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) Statement. Meta-analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Biostat software.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Thirty-eight articles were included in this review (1 in English and 37 in Chinese). The self-reported arrest rate decreased from 13.1% (95% CI 9.1% to 18.5%) at baseline to 3.4% (95% CI 1.5% to 7.7%) and 4.3% (95% CI 1.6% to 11.4%) after 6 and 12\u2005months of MMT intervention, respectively. The rate of drug selling decreased from 7.6% (95% CI 3.8% to 14.8%) at baseline to 1.9% (95% CI 0.6% to 6.2%) and 3.0% (95% CI 1.0% to 8.9%) after 6 and 12\u2005months of intervention, respectively. Similarly, the rates of selling sex for drugs and drug-related crime decreased from 5.3% (95% CI 2.4% to 11.1%) and 9.9% (95% CI 6.8% to 14.2%) at baseline to 1.1% (95% CI 0.5% to 2.3%) and 3.4% (95% CI 2.5% to 4.5%) at 6\u2005months, then to 0.8% (95% CI 0.3% to 1.9%) and 3.4% (95% CI 0.8% to 13.1%) at 12\u2005months after treatment initiation, respectively. In contrast, the rate of employment of clients and the proportion of clients having a good relationship with their family increased substantially from 26.4% (95% CI 22.9% to 30.1%) and 37.9% (95% CI 32.0% to 44.2%) to 41.6% (95% CI 36.6% to 48.0%) and 59.6% (95% CI 48.1% to 70.2%) at 6\u2005months, then to 59.8% (95% CI 52.4% to 66.8%) and 75.0% (95% CI 69.0% to 80.2%) at 12\u2005months after treatment initiation, respectively.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>MMT has significantly reduced criminal activity, and improved employment rate and social well-being, of clients of the MMT programme. MMT is an effective measure to help drug users to resume societal and familial functions in China.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2014-005997","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,1,9]],"date-time":"2015-01-09T01:51:52Z","timestamp":1420768312000},"page":"e005997","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":93,"title":["Methadone maintenance treatment programme reduces criminal activity and improves social well-being of drug users in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Hua-Min","family":"Sun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiao-Yan","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eric P F","family":"Chow","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia"},{"name":"Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yun","family":"Xian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yi-Hua","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tian","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xun","family":"Zhuang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lei","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China"},{"name":"The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,1,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-12-130"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2012.05.028"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1196\/annals.1316.055"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7517-3-4"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.5","first-page":"S170","article-title":"HIV prevention among injecting drug users: responses in developing and transitional countries","volume":"113","author":"Ball","year":"1998","journal-title":"Public Health Rep"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09652149639655"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.7","first-page":"1","article-title":"The effectiveness of needle exchange programs: a review of the science and policy","volume":"1","author":"Ttrathdee","year":"2001","journal-title":"AIDScience"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.194.6.646"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ajp.105.12.909"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.10","unstructured":"Parrino MW . State methadone treatment guidelines. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. 1993."},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.11","first-page":"25","article-title":"Evaluation of pilot methadone maintenance therapy in Georgia (Caucasus)","volume":"160","author":"Gambashidze","year":"2008","journal-title":"Georgian Med News"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11136-011-9963-y"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.13","unstructured":"Ball JC , Ross A . The effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment: patients, programs, services, and outcome. New York: Springer-Verlag Publishing, 1991."},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.1978.tb16775.x","article-title":"Long-term outcome of patients treated with methadone maintenance","volume":"311","author":"Dole","year":"1978","journal-title":"Ann N Y Acad Sci"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a112012","article-title":"An epidemiologic evaluation of long-term methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction","volume":"100","author":"Gearing","year":"1974","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.16","first-page":"55","article-title":"Selected in-treatment outcomes of long-term methadone maintenance treatment patients in New York State","volume":"68","author":"Appel","year":"2001","journal-title":"Mt Sinai J Med"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02190738"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.286.14.1724"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.19","first-page":"107","article-title":"Methadone treatment protects against HIV infection: two decades of experience in the Bronx, New York City","volume":"113","author":"Hartel","year":"1998","journal-title":"Public Health Reports"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0893-164X.11.4.261"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.21","first-page":"215","article-title":"A point in time: the impact of expanded methadone maintenance treatment on citywide crime and public health in New York City 1971\u20131973","volume":"53","author":"Joseph","year":"1995","journal-title":"Arch public health"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.22","first-page":"347","article-title":"Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT): a review of historical and clinical issues","volume":"67","author":"Joseph","year":"2000","journal-title":"Mt Sinai J Med"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7517-4-5","article-title":"Substitution treatment for opioid addicts in Germany","volume":"4","author":"Michels","year":"2007","journal-title":"Harm Reduct J"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S103","DOI":"10.1097\/01.aids.0000304704.71917.64","article-title":"Effectiveness of first eight methadone maintenance treatment clinics in China","volume":"21","author":"Pang","year":"2007","journal-title":"AIDS"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(98)05356-2"},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.26","unstructured":"Wu Z . Landmark government methadone maintenance program in mainland China. 15th International AIDS Conference; 2004."},{"key":"2025121600591189000_5.1.e005997.27","unstructured":"Wu Z . Methadone maintenance program in mainland China: from pilot to scale-up. 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