Opioid substitution treatment and heroin dependent adolescents: reductions in heroin use and treatment retention over twelve months.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid dependence is a major health concern across the world and does also occur in adolescents. While opioid substitution treatment (OST) has been thoroughly evaluated in adult populations, very few studies have examined its use in adolescents. There are concerns that OST is underutilised in adolescents with heroin dependence. We sought to measure changes in drug use among adolescents receiving OST and also to examine treatment attrition during the first 12 months of this treatment.

Methods

We included all heroin dependent patients aged under 18.5 years commencing OST at one outpatient multidisciplinary adolescent addiction treatment service in Dublin, Ireland. Psycho-social needs were also addressed during treatment. Drug use was monitored by twice weekly urine

SUBMITTER: Smyth BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5936020 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature