Changes in short-term prognosis-a comparison between Swedish amphetamine and opiate abusers

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Drug usage patterns in Sweden have significantly changed over the past 15 years.
• A notable decline in amphetamine use and a concurrent rise in opiate abuse have been observed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolving drug usage patterns among patients at a Swedish drug dependence treatment clinic.
• To compare the characteristics and short-term prognosis of amphetamine versus opiate abusers.

Main Methods:

• Yearly cohorts of drug abusers were followed up between 1970 and 1975.
• Data collected included drug of abuse, age, intensity of use, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Opiate abusers were younger and used drugs more intensively than amphetamine abusers.
• Amphetamine abusers demonstrated improved short-term prognosis (27% drug-free in 1970 to 44% in 1974).
• Opiate abusers showed a declining short-term prognosis (11% drug-free in 1970 to 3% in 1974).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a significant shift in drug abuse trends towards opiates.
• Treatment outcomes suggest a poorer short-term prognosis for opiate abuse compared to amphetamine abuse.
• The stage of the drug-taking career appears more critical for short-term outcomes than the specific drug used.