The Andalusian trial on heroin-assisted treatment: a 2 year follow-up

In 2003, a randomised controlled trial comparing injected diacetylmorphine and oral methadone was carried out in Andalusia, Spain. The subsequent follow-up study evaluated the health and drug use status of participants, 2 years after the completion of the trial.

This follow-up cohort study was carried out between March and August 2006. Data collected included information on socio-demographics, drug use, health and health-related quality of life. We compared data collected before randomisation and at 2 years for the following three groups: those currently on heroin-assisted treatment (C-HAT), those who have discontinued HAT (D-HAT), and those who have never received HAT (N-HAT).

From the total 62 randomised participants in 2003, 54 (87%) were interviewed for this study. Participants were distributed as follow: C-HAT 44.4% (24), N-HAT 22.2% (12) and D-HAT 33.3% (18). Illicit heroin use had a statistically significant decrease in the three groups from baseline to 2 years post trial. Mean days of heroin use were 2.42 (SD = 3.02); 6.56 (SD = 9.48) and 13.92 (SD = 12.59) for the C-HAT, D-HAT and N-HAT groups, respectively. Those currently on HAT were the only group that sustained at 2 years, their marked improvement in health after 9 months of treatment during the trial period.

Patients who received HAT showed better outcomes compared with those not on HAT. The results of this study strengthen the evidence showing that HAT can improve and stabilise the health of long-term heroin users with severe comorbidities and high mortality.