Citation

Kastelic A, Zaman R, Pregelj P, Segrec N. Heroin Addict. Relat. Clin. Probl. 2019; 21(2): 27-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association, Publisher Pacini Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is any association between receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MAT) with the duration of substance abuse.

METHODS: Data were collected using selfrating questionnaires in Slovenia from 1997 to 2007.

RESULTS: Of the 2,853 patients included, 2,494 provided valid data (87%; cases where data were missing: 359; 13%). Of those 2,494, 2,075 (83%) patients were assigned to the group with no previous history of overdose, 356 (14%) to the group with at least one previous overdose, without involving any suicide attempt, and 63 (3%) to the group of patients with previous suicide attempt(s) by overdose. Using multivariate logistic regression, the two risk factors associated with suicide attempts by overdose were: age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09) and age at first PAS use (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.77-0.96), while the three risk factors associated with overdose without suicide attempts were: age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06), age at initial PAS use (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91-0.99) and unemployment (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.23-2.55).

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that it is not the years of PAS usage, but the patient's age at first use that was an important risk factor associated both with suicide attempts by overdose and the finding of overdose without any suicide attempts. We suggest that special attention should be directed to suicidal behaviour with a primary focus on patients with heroin addiction, in particular to cases of non-fatal overdose and those of suicide attempts by overdose among individuals with heroin addiction who initiated drug misuse at an early age. © 2019, Brodarski Institute. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; Overdose; Suicide attempt; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; Suicidal behaviour; drug overdose; unemployment; substance abuse; major clinical study; questionnaire; priority journal; drug misuse; DSM-IV; heroin dependence; Article; Drug addiction; medical procedures; medication assisted treatment for opioid dependence; Medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence