Drug and Alcohol Findings home page in a new window EFFECTIVENESS BANK BULLETIN 19 September 2012

The entries below are our accounts of documents collected by Drug and Alcohol Findings as relevant to improving outcomes from drug or alcohol interventions in the UK. The original documents were not published by Findings; click on the Titles to obtain copies. Free reprints may also be available from the authors. If displayed, click prepared e-mail to adapt the pre-prepared e-mail message or compose your own message. The Summary is intended to convey the findings and views expressed in the document. Below may be a commentary from Drug and Alcohol Findings.


Contents

First two items offer authoritative guidance, first on the harm reduction benefits of prescribing the heroin substitute methadone to opiate-addicted patients, and then on the clinical use of the main alternative medication, buprenorphine, specifically as combined with naloxone to deter misuse by injection. Methadone is the preferred of the two in UK guidance, but the balance could be shifting as concern grows over methadone-related deaths, and its once valued power to retain is seen as a hindrance to treatment exit. Then two counselling/therapy approaches, one which surprisingly had no impact, another which probably did work. In both cases, the explanation may be the common factors which transcend what the counsellor does in terms of specific approaches and have more to do with how they do it – thing like optimism, structure, caring, concern – and not least, the impetus from the patient.

Cochrane review confirms methadone maintenance prevents spread of HIV ...

Canadian guidelines on prescribing buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid dependence ...

Brief intervention makes no difference to heart disease risk ...

Arranging an abstinence-promoting social life aids Spanish cocaine users ...