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[Opiate users in methadone-assisted rehabilitation one year and two years after admission]
Edle Ravndal1, Grethe Lauritzen
1Statens institutt for alkohol- og narkotikaforskning, Oslo. er@sirus.no
Background:
Norway has recently established a nationwide system for methadone-assisted rehabilitation of opiate users, but few studies have been undertaken to investigate outcome.
Material And Methods:
75 opiate users in Oslo were interviewed at start of treatment and at follow-ups one and two years later in 1999-2002. The main instruments at all three points were EuropASI and SCL-25. MCMI-II was additionally used at the start.
Results:
Five patients (7%) died during the two-year observation period; 24 patients (34%) dropped out of treatment. A significant and stable reduction in the use of opiates, as well as for criminality and prostitution, was found. No changes in the use of other substances, economic status and employment status were found. Depressive symptoms increased significantly during the last year.
Interpretation:
The data indicate that the speed at which new patients started treatment came at the sacrifice of psychosocial rehabilitation.
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