title: Measuring the impact of psychoactive substance on health-related quality of life: an update.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of publications dealing with measurement of the quality of life and health in the area of drug dependence has increased in recent years. Its main application is as an indicator of the effectiveness of intervention in harm reduction, although there are also comparative and methodological studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature was reviewed to identify studies on abuse or substance dependence and HRQoL. The bibliographic sources used for the review are PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Additional articles were identified from references to relevant articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  111 articles were identified. The HRQoL of people who abuse or are dependent on substances is lower than the general population. The presence of physical and psychiatric comorbidity also affects patients dependent on opiates, and substitution programs improve HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of HRQoL in the area of drug dependence is a suitable complement for finding out the deterioration caused by substance use, abuse or dependence. It is also a useful indicator for evaluating therapeutic results in this population.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Andaluza para Atención e Incorporación Social, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, EU, Spain. pacogonzalez@comcadiz.com
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Saiz
authors.forename: Oscar Lozano
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Ioseba Iraurgi
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation