title: Factors associated with buprenorphine compared to amphetamine abuse among clients seeking treatment in Finland.
abstract: Abuse of prescription opioids is becoming increasingly widespread. This study compared the social, health and treatment-related factors associated with buprenorphine and amphetamine abuse in Finland. Structured clinical interviews were conducted with clients seeking treatment for buprenorphine (n=670) or amphetamine (n=557) abuse in Helsinki from January 2001 to August 2008. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for factors associated with buprenorphine compared to amphetamine abuse. In multivariate analyses, buprenorphine abuse was associated with male gender (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.17-2.09), daily abuse (OR 5.45, 95% CI 4.14-7.18), no drug free months during the last year (OR 1.68, 95%CI 1.23-2.29), and inversely associated with increasing age (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.97 per year) and psychotic symptoms (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.24-0.45). Despite more intense abuse patterns, clients seeking treatment for buprenorphine abuse shared similar characteristics to amphetamine clients. These characteristics were different to characteristics of those who abuse prescription opioids in North America. This is important for developing and targeting intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: hanna.uosukainen@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uosukainen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilomäki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauhanen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Addiction Psychiatry Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.affiliation: Helsinki Deaconess Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Föhr
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tiihonen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia; Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: J Simon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine
keywords: Buprenorphine; Mental disorders; Socioeconomic factors; Substance abuse; Treatment seeking