TY - JOUR
T1 - Heroin on trial
T2 - Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials of diamorphine-prescribing as treatment for refractory heroin addiction
AU - Strang, John
AU - Groshkova, Teodora
AU - Uchtenhagen, Ambros
AU - Van Den Brink, Wim
AU - Haasen, Christian
AU - Schechter, Martin T.
AU - Lintzeris, Nick
AU - Bell, James
AU - Pirona, Alessandro
AU - Oviedo-Joekes, Eugenia
AU - Simon, Roland
AU - Metrebian, Nicola
PY - 2015/7/1
Y1 - 2015/7/1
N2 - Background: Supervised injectable heroin (SIH) treatment has emerged over the past 15 years as an intensive treatment for entrenched heroin users who have not responded to standard treatments such as oral methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or residential rehabilitation. Aims: To synthesise published findings for treatment with SIH for refractory heroin-dependence through systematic review and meta-analysis, and to examine the political and scientific response to these findings. Method: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of SIH treatment were identified through database searching, and random effects pooled efficacy was estimated for SIH treatment. Methodological quality was assessed according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results: Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across the trials, SIH treatment improved treatment outcome, i.e. greater reduction in the use of illicit 'street' heroin in patients receiving SIH treatment compared with control groups (most often receiving MMT). Conclusions: SIH is found to be an effective way of treating heroin dependence refractory to standard treatment. SIH may be less safe than MMT and therefore requires more clinical attention to manage greater safety issues. This intensive intervention is for a patient population previously considered unresponsive to treatment. Inclusion of this low-volume, high-intensity treatment can now improve the impact of comprehensive healthcare provision.
AB - Background: Supervised injectable heroin (SIH) treatment has emerged over the past 15 years as an intensive treatment for entrenched heroin users who have not responded to standard treatments such as oral methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or residential rehabilitation. Aims: To synthesise published findings for treatment with SIH for refractory heroin-dependence through systematic review and meta-analysis, and to examine the political and scientific response to these findings. Method: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of SIH treatment were identified through database searching, and random effects pooled efficacy was estimated for SIH treatment. Methodological quality was assessed according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results: Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across the trials, SIH treatment improved treatment outcome, i.e. greater reduction in the use of illicit 'street' heroin in patients receiving SIH treatment compared with control groups (most often receiving MMT). Conclusions: SIH is found to be an effective way of treating heroin dependence refractory to standard treatment. SIH may be less safe than MMT and therefore requires more clinical attention to manage greater safety issues. This intensive intervention is for a patient population previously considered unresponsive to treatment. Inclusion of this low-volume, high-intensity treatment can now improve the impact of comprehensive healthcare provision.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937211897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149195
DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149195
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84937211897
SN - 0007-1250
VL - 207
SP - 5
EP - 14
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 1
ER -
