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Changes in non-opioid substitution treatment episodes for pharmaceutical opioids and heroin from 2002 to 2011

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 08:42 authored by Nielsen, S, Roxburgh, A, Raimondo BrunoRaimondo Bruno, Lintzeris, M, Jefferson, A, Degenhardt, L

Background: There has been a well-documented increase in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids (PO) worldwide. However, there has been little detailed examination of treatment demand, or the characteristics of those presenting for treatment, particularly for treatments other than opioid substitution.

Methods: Data from closed drug and alcohol treatment episodes from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS, representing non-opioid substitution treatment) in Australia for 2002–2003 to 2010–2011 were examined. In the four jurisdictions where detailed data were available, episodes where heroin was the principal drug of concern were compared to episodes for the four most frequently reported pharmaceutical opioids (morphine, codeine, fentanyl and oxycodone).

Results: In 2002–2003, most (93%) opioid treatment was related to heroin with seven percent of all opioid treatment episodes reporting a PO as the principal drug of concern. In 2010–2011, 20% of all opioid treatment episodes were attributed to POs. Distinct changes over time were observed for different opioids. There was an increase in the average age at the start of treatment for heroin and oxycodone episodes, and a reduction in the proportion of females for codeine episodes, with 67% in 2002–2003 compared with 44% in 2010–2011. Codeine and oxycodone episodes had the lowest current or past injection rates.

Conclusions: Clear differences were observed over time and between different opioids. Monitoring these emerging patterns will be important to inform treatment needs, particularly in light of different patterns of poly drug use, different routes of administration and changing demographic characteristics.

History

Publication title

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Volume

149

Pagination

212-219

ISSN

0376-8716

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd

Place of publication

Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial Estate Co, Clare, Ireland

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 Elsevier

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified

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