Heroin-assisted treatment for opioid dependence randomised controlled trial
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Heroin-assisted treatment for opioid dependence randomised controlled trial. / Haasen, Christian; Verthein, Uwe; Degkwitz, Peter; Berger, Jürgen; Krausz, Michael; Naber, Dieter.
In: BRIT J PSYCHIAT, Vol. 191, 07.2007, p. 55-62.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Heroin-assisted treatment for opioid dependence randomised controlled trial
AU - Haasen, Christian
AU - Verthein, Uwe
AU - Degkwitz, Peter
AU - Berger, Jürgen
AU - Krausz, Michael
AU - Naber, Dieter
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - BACKGROUND: Heroin-assisted treatment has been found to be effective for people with severe opioid dependence who are not interested in or do poorly on methadone maintenance. AIMS: To study heroin-assisted treatment in people on methadone who continue intravenous heroin and in those who are heroin dependent but currently not in treatment. METHOD: In an open-label multicentre randomised controlled trial, 1015 people with heroin dependence received a variable dose of injectable heroin (n=515) or oral methadone (n=500) for 12 months. Two response criteria, improvement of physical and/or mental health and decrease in illicit drug use, were evaluated in an intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Retention was higher in the heroin (67.2%) than in the methadone group (40.0%) and the heroin group showed a significantly greater response on both primary outcome measures. More serious adverse events were found in the heroin group, and were mainly associated with intravenous use. CONCLUSIONS: Heroin-assisted treatment is more effective for people with opioid dependence who continue intravenous heroin while on methadone maintenance or who are not enrolled in treatment. Despite a higher risk, it should be considered for treatment resistance under medical supervision.
AB - BACKGROUND: Heroin-assisted treatment has been found to be effective for people with severe opioid dependence who are not interested in or do poorly on methadone maintenance. AIMS: To study heroin-assisted treatment in people on methadone who continue intravenous heroin and in those who are heroin dependent but currently not in treatment. METHOD: In an open-label multicentre randomised controlled trial, 1015 people with heroin dependence received a variable dose of injectable heroin (n=515) or oral methadone (n=500) for 12 months. Two response criteria, improvement of physical and/or mental health and decrease in illicit drug use, were evaluated in an intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Retention was higher in the heroin (67.2%) than in the methadone group (40.0%) and the heroin group showed a significantly greater response on both primary outcome measures. More serious adverse events were found in the heroin group, and were mainly associated with intravenous use. CONCLUSIONS: Heroin-assisted treatment is more effective for people with opioid dependence who continue intravenous heroin while on methadone maintenance or who are not enrolled in treatment. Despite a higher risk, it should be considered for treatment resistance under medical supervision.
KW - Adult
KW - Algorithms
KW - Female
KW - Heroin
KW - Humans
KW - Injections, Intravenous
KW - Logistic Models
KW - Male
KW - Methadone
KW - Narcotics
KW - Opioid-Related Disorders
KW - Psychotherapy
KW - Treatment Outcome
KW - Journal Article
KW - Multicenter Study
KW - Randomized Controlled Trial
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.026112
DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.026112
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 17602126
VL - 191
SP - 55
EP - 62
JO - BRIT J PSYCHIAT
JF - BRIT J PSYCHIAT
SN - 0007-1250
ER -
