Community based heroin addicts who turn to experimental treatment rather than conventional care.
In this paper we report on a community based sample of heroin addicts not in addiction treatment who responded to the offer of experimental treatment (buprenorphine) for heroin addition. Comparison to a sample of methadone maintenance clients from the same geographic area reveals that on average the community sample began heroin use later, attained a higher level of education, and were most likely to have had a significant cohabitation relationship. The methadone maintenance sample, on the other hand, reported significantly greater regular use of drugs of abuse other than heroin. Each group may represent a different subgroup drawn from the heterogeneous heroin-addicted population. Implications for improved recruitment into treatment and enhanced treatment design are drawn from these findings.
Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, USA.
J
J
Michaels
M
M
Galanter
R
R
Resnick
M
M
Marmor
H
H
Lifshutz
R
R
Perrone
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone