La heroína puesta a prueba

En este estudio publicado en la Revista Británica de Psiquiatría, se encontró que la heroína inyectada bajo supervisión constituía una manera efectiva para tratar la dependencia a la heroína resistente al tratamiento estándar, particularmente para poblaciones de pacientes previamente consideradas como resistentes al tratamiento. Más información, en inglés, está disponible abajo.

Suscríbase a las Alertas mensuales del IDPC para recibir información sobre cuestiones relacionadas con políticas sobre drogas.

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.

Six randomised controlled trials (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).

In this study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, supervised injectable heroin was 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.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.