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You have found 20 entries. Sorted by the main topic addressed, the list shows in orange the type of entry, year the original document was published (or if one of our own documents, the year last updated), and the type of file you will download when you click on the title. In blue is the document’s title followed by a brief description.

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STUDY 2010 HTM file
The National Drug Related Deaths Database (Scotland) report 2009

New database offering in-depth information on drug deaths in Scotland reveals that 60% of cases had been in contact with drug treatment services, nearly 40% in the past six months, suggesting that there had been chances to intervene which for these patients had been insufficient to avoid death.

IN PRACTICE 2004 PDF file 418Kb
Giving the silent majority a voice

Constrained by guidelines and standards, a UK prescribing service could do little to respond to user survey feedback.

STUDY 2004 PDF file 105Kb
British GPs as effective as specialist methadone clinics

A two-year follow-up of opiate dependent patients sampled by the national English NTORS study showed that experienced or supported GPs can provide methadone maintenance treatment at least as effectively as specialist clinics.

STUDY 2004 PDF file 106Kb
Methadone programme loosens up, increases capacity, patients do just as well

Canadian study documents what happens when you 'deregulate' methadone prescribing and permit greater patient choice in treatment and treatment goals. Result: room for more patients, less conflict and no decrease in effectiveness.

STUDY 2006 PDF file 114Kb
Low threshold methadone extends life expectancy in Barcelona

Largely due to the expansion of low threshold oral methadone maintenance programmes, in the '90s the life expectancy of heroin users entering treatment in Barcelona increased by 21 years. Protecting against overdose was the main way methadone saved lives.

NOTES 2010 PDF file 239Kb
Preventing unauthorised use of medications prescribed for the treatment of opiate addiction

Detailed and fully referenced notes on preventing the diversion of maintenance medications like methadone on to the illicit market, with an emphasis on the pros and cons of supervised consumption.

DOCUMENT 2009 HTM file
Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence

Unequivocal backing from UN agencies for methadone and other forms of long term maintenance treatments as the prime modality for the treatment of dependence on heroin and allied drugs. In contrast say the experts, detoxification results in poor long term outcomes.

STUDY 2011 HTM file
Methadone prescribing under supervised consumption on premises: a Scottish clinician's perspective on prescribing practice

Survey responses from clinicians prescribing methadone at Scottish addiction treatment clinics show how the requirement that patients be observed taking the medication involves striking a balance between safety, individualising treatment, and attracting and retaining patients.

STUDY 2010 HTM file
A survey of community drug team prescribing policies and client views

Contrary to national guidelines, in the mid-2000s in England and Wales, prescribed doses of the heroin substitute methadone were generally low, and often even new patients were not required to take it under supervision at the pharmacy. Patients in Essex also generally favoured low doses and opposed supervised consumption.

STUDY 2012 HTM file
A pilot randomised controlled trial of brief versus twice weekly versus standard supervised consumption in patients on opiate maintenance treatment

What happens when opiate-addicted patients are suddenly no longer required to take their methadone under supervision but can take it away from the pharmacy? In Scotland this was tried in the first UK randomised trial; patients stayed longer in treatment and there was no dramatic escalation in heroin use.


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