Diacetylmorphine versus methadone for the treatment of opioid addiction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies in Europe have suggested that injectable diacetylmorphine, the active ingredient in heroin, can be an effective adjunctive treatment for chronic, relapsing opioid dependence.

Methods

In an open-label, phase 3, randomized, controlled trial in Canada, we compared injectable diacetylmorphine with oral methadone maintenance therapy in patients with opioid dependence that was refractory to treatment. Long-term users of injectable heroin who had not benefited from at least two previous attempts at treatment for addiction (including at least one methadone treatment) were randomly assigned to receive methadone (111 patients) or diacetylmorphine (115 patients). The primary outcomes, assessed at 12 months, were retention in addiction treatment or drug-free status an

SUBMITTER: Oviedo-Joekes E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5127701 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature