title: Type of opioid dependence among patients seeking opioid substitution treatment: are there differences in background and severity of problems?
abstract: The study explores differences and similarities in background and problem severity among those seeking Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST), comparing those who primarily had misused "opiates", e.g. heroin, morphine and opium, with those who primarily had misused other opioids.
  
  
  
  Patients (n = 127) assessed for possible admittance in OST are compared based on the Addiction Severity Index. Two groups based on primary type of opioid misused are compared (opiates vs. other opioids).
  
  
  
  In the global severity ratings there were no significant differences between the groups other than tautological artefacts concerning heroin. There were few specific differences between the groups. The opiate group more often had Hepatitis C and more often had legal problems related to financing their misuse. Injection of drugs was the main method of administration in both groups, i.e. 90 % for mostly opiates vs. 75 % for mostly other opioids. A great majority in both groups, 96 % vs. 91 %, had misused most other types of drugs. Both groups were found to have severe problems in all areas investigated.
  
  
  
  The study demonstrates great similarities in problem severity among those seeking OST, both those who primarily had misused opiates and those who primarily had misused other opioids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dependency, Psychiatric Clinic, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden. Bodil.Monwell@rjl.se.|Jönköping University, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping, Sweden. Bodil.Monwell@rjl.se.|Psychiatric Clinic, County Hospital Ryhov, SE-551 85, Jönköping, Sweden. Bodil.Monwell@rjl.se.
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monwell
authors.affiliation: Jönköping University, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping, Sweden.|Psychiatric Clinic, County Hospital Ryhov, SE-551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bülow
authors.affiliation: Jönköping University, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerdner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids
keywords: Opiates; Opioid Substitution Treatment; Opioid-related disorders; Opioids