buprenorphine--naloxone-drug-combination and Marijuana-Abuse

To test if polysubstance use profiles and drug-related outcomes differ between those receiving and not receiving opioid substitution therapies (OST) among people who inject drugs (PWID).. An annual cross-sectional, sentinel sample of PWID across Australia.. Data came from 3 years (2011-13) of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).. A total of 2673 participants who injected drugs from the combined national IDRS samples of 2011 (n = 868), 2012 (n = 922) and 2013 (n = 883).. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to summarize participants' self-reported use of 18 types of substances, with the resulting polysubstance use profiles then associated with participant experience of a number of drug-related outcomes.. Polysubstance use profiles exhibiting a broad range of substance use were generally at increased risk of negative drug-related outcomes, whether or not participants were receiving OST, including thrombosis among OST receivers [odds ratio (OR) = 2.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.09-4.17], injecting with used needles among OST receivers and non-receivers, respectively (OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.50-5.13; OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.34-3.45) and violent criminal offences among OST receivers and non-receivers, respectively (OR =2.30, 95% CI = 1.16-4.58; OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.14-3.07). An important exception was non-fatal overdose which was related specifically to a class of PWID who were not receiving OST and used morphine frequently (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.06-3.17) CONCLUSION: Regardless of opioid substitution therapies usage, people who inject drugs who use a broad-range of substances experience greater levels of injecting-related injuries and poorer health outcomes and are more likely to engage in criminal activity than other groups of people who inject drugs.

Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Analgesics, Opioid; Australia; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Methadone; Middle Aged; Needle Sharing; Odds Ratio; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders; Thrombosis; Violence; Young Adult

conduct needs assessments and treatment compliance evaluations in MMT and Suboxone Substitution State Programs in Georgia (Republic of). 506 patients (2 females) were surveyed (92% on Methadone, 8% on Suboxone) from 6 Tbilisi and 4 regional State Programs in 2011 November. Mean age - 40±8,56 (22-65) year; 254 (51.4%) were in treatment for 1-3 year. Evaluation was carried out on the base of structured self-questionnaire that covers demographics, drug use history, general drug use trends, psychotherapeutic sessions' acceptance and open label question regarding treatment challenges and satisfaction. 305 (60.3%) attended individual and 57 (11.3%) group psychotherapy sessions with 50.79% attending once/month or rare. The main reason given for therapy non-attendance - no needs for it (29.48%); the main drugs before admission - heroin (80.04%), buprenorphine (53.49%); Main drugs used in Georgia nowadays - desomorphine ("crocodile"), alcohol and marihuana. Commonly used drugs by program patients (136 positive answers) - alcohol-13.62%, marihuana-10.39%, pregabalin - 8.17%, opioids- 6.62% (mostly-"crocodile"), home-made stimulants-6.23%, sedatives -5.45%. 55.4% are extremely satisfied with treatment, 82.4% - with program staff. Patients' main wishes- free of charge programs (46.4%) and provide take-home doses (22.07%). Methadone and Suboxone ST are being well accepted in Georgia and appear to be reducing illegal opioid use. However, the psychotherapeutic sessions' attendance is very low.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Female; Georgia (Republic); Government Programs; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Methadone; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Needs Assessment; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Patient Compliance; Patient Satisfaction; Psychotherapy; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult