Characteristics of heroin addicts entering methadone maintenance treatment: quality of life and gender.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information on MMP patient's characteristics, particularly those related with Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and gender.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Data were collected on socio-demographic, toxicological variables, HIV risk behaviors, and HRQoL through the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP).


METHODS
Over a 30-month period (1996--1999) Barcelona's Municipal Drug Care Centres recruited 586 patients.


RESULTS
Mean age of patients was 31 years, 70% were males and 25% were HIV-infected. Rates of unemployment, criminal records and low educational level were high. Most poly-drug users used cocaine. NHP mean score was related with poly-drug use, educational level and HIV status. Consistent condom use was related with HIV status. Females' route of administration was less likely to be injection, even though they were more frequently HIV-positive and manifested contemporary poorer general health.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients QoL was poor. Nowadays harm reduction health strategies would need to face cocaine use, and sexual risk behaviors mainly among females and sexual partners.
Institut Municipal d'Investigació Medica, Barcelona, Spain.
Elisabet
E
Puigdollers
Antònia
A
Domingo-Salvany
M Teresa
MT
Brugal
Marta
M
Torrens
Joan
J
Alvarós
Claudio
C
Castillo
Núria
N
Magrí
Sílvia
S
Martín
Josep M
JM
Vázquez
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010343:Patient Admission; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone