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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Type of opioid dependence among patients seeking opioid substitution treatment: are there differences in background and severity of problems?

Authors: Bodil Monwell, Per Bülow, Arne Gerdner

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The study explores differences and similarities in background and problem severity among those seeking Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST), comparing those who primarily had misused "opiates", e.g. heroin, morphine and opium, with those who primarily had misused other opioids.

Methods

Patients (n = 127) assessed for possible admittance in OST are compared based on the Addiction Severity Index. Two groups based on primary type of opioid misused are compared (opiates vs. other opioids).

Results

In the global severity ratings there were no significant differences between the groups other than tautological artefacts concerning heroin. There were few specific differences between the groups. The opiate group more often had Hepatitis C and more often had legal problems related to financing their misuse. Injection of drugs was the main method of administration in both groups, i.e. 90 % for mostly opiates vs. 75 % for mostly other opioids. A great majority in both groups, 96 % vs. 91 %, had misused most other types of drugs. Both groups were found to have severe problems in all areas investigated.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates great similarities in problem severity among those seeking OST, both those who primarily had misused opiates and those who primarily had misused other opioids.
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Metadata
Title
Type of opioid dependence among patients seeking opioid substitution treatment: are there differences in background and severity of problems?
Authors
Bodil Monwell
Per Bülow
Arne Gerdner
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-016-0066-1

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