Increased Somatic Morbidity in the First Year after Leaving Opioid Maintenance Treatment: Results from a Norwegian Cohort Study

Background/Aims: Some patients on opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) leave treatment temporarily or permanently. This study investigated whether patients interrupting their OMT differed from non-interrupters in sociodemographic and drug-use characteristics and examined acute/sub-acute somatic morbidity among the interrupters, prior to, during, and after OMT.

Methods:
Cohort design.

Observation Period:
5 years prior to, up to first 5 years during, and up to 5 years after interruption of OMT.

Participants:
The sample (n = 200) comprised 51 OMT interrupters and 149 non-interrupters. Data on patient characteristics were obtained from interviews and OMT register information. Data on somatic morbidity were gathered from hospital records.

Measurements:
Key patient characteristics among OMT interrupters and non-interrupters. Incidence rates of acute and sub-acute somatic disease incidents leading to hospital treatment (drug-related/non-drug-related/injuries) prior to/during/after OMT.

Results:
nterrupters and non-interrupters did not differ in sociodemographic characteristics, while longer duration of amphetamine and benzodiazepine dependence predicted OMT interruption. Interrupters scored significantly higher on drug-taking and overdose during OMT but still had a significant 41% reduction in drug-related treatment, episodes. After interruption of treatment, such episodes increased markedly and were 3.6 times more frequent during the first post-OMT year compared to the pre-OMT period (p < 0.001). This increase was highest during the first months after OMT interruption. 2–5 years after interruption there was no significant increase.

Conclusions:
Increased somatic morbidity was found among OMT interrupters during the first year after OMT, and especially during the immediate post-treatment period. 

Link til artikkel

  • Forfattere: Skeie I., Brekke M., Clausen T., Gossop M., Lindbaek M., Reinertsen E., Thoresen M., Waal H.
  • Publisert: Eur Addict Res 2013;19:194–201
Publisert 1. feb. 2013 11:16