Retention rates among New york city methadone patients: A response to bayer and koenigsberg

In a recent article in this journal, Bayer and Koenigsberg (1981) documented a sharp decline in patient retention rates for New York City methadone programs over the period 1964 to 1976. A decline in retention is clearly a cause for concern given the considerable evidence showing time in treatment to be associated with positive treatment outcomes, both during treatment and post-treatment (e.g., Simpson, Savage, and Sells, 1978). The problem becomes of even greater seriousness given the recent increase in heroin availability and activity in New York City (New York State, 1981).