Medical prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: two randomised controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether supervised medical prescription of heroin can successfully treat addicts who do not sufficiently benefit from methadone maintenance treatment.


METHODS
Two open label randomised controlled trials.


METHODS
Methadone maintenance programmes in six cities in the Netherlands.


METHODS
549 heroin addicts.


METHODS
Inhalable heroin (n = 375) or injectable heroin (n = 174) prescribed over 12 months. Heroin (maximum 1000 mg per day) plus methadone (maximum 150 mg per day) compared with methadone alone (maximum 150 mg per day). Psychosocial treatment was offered throughout.


METHODS
Dichotomous, multidomain response index, including validated indicators of physical health, mental status, and social functioning.


RESULTS
Adherence was excellent with 12 month outcome data available for 94% of the randomised participants. With intention to treat analysis, 12 month treatment with heroin plus methadone was significantly more effective than treatment with methadone alone in the trial of inhalable heroin (response rate 49.7% v 26.9%; difference 22.8%, 95% confidence interval 11.0% to 34.6%) and in the trial of injectable heroin (55.5% v 31.2%; difference 24.3%, 9.6% to 39.0%). Discontinuation of the coprescribed heroin resulted in a rapid deterioration in 82% (94/115) of those who responded to the coprescribed heroin. The incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Supervised coprescription of heroin is feasible, more effective, and probably as safe as methadone alone in reducing the many physical, mental, and social problems of treatment resistant heroin addicts.
van den Brink
Wim
W
Central Committee on the Treatment of Heroin Addicts (CCBH), Stratenum, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, Netherlands. w.vandenbrink@amc.uva.nl
Hendriks
Vincent M
VM
Blanken
Peter
P
Koeter
Maarten W J
MW
van Zwieten
Barbara J
BJ
van Ree
Jan M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D003932:Heroin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance
D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone