Managing illicit drug use. A practical guide

Drugs
A Wodak

Abstract

Illicit drug use is spreading, especially in the developing world, but has begun to stabilise in most developed countries. The phenomenon of illicit drug use is still poorly understood, with responses in most countries influenced largely by cultural factors. A range of psychosocial and pharmacotherapeutic treatments is available; of these, methadone maintenance treatment for heroin dependence has the most evidence of benefit. A large body of literature--including some well designed studies--indicates that methadone reduces heroin use, mortality, criminal activity and risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methadone is more likely to be effective if higher doses, longer durations of treatment and more realistic goals are set. However, research findings which would improve outcomes considerably are often not implemented. Methadone maintenance programmes, which attract and retain more illicit drug users than other treatment modalities, are now being made more available in many countries in recognition of their therapeutic effectiveness and utility in reducing the spread of HIV infection among people injecting heroin. HIV infection is now recognised in many countries to be the most serious complication of illicit dru...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 7, 1999·Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics·G M Peterson
Jul 26, 2002·Australian Dental Journal·A Titsas, M M Ferguson
Sep 1, 1994·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·A Wodak
Jan 13, 2006·Journal of Psychopharmacology·G GerraA Zaimovic
Apr 9, 2008·Acta Physiologica Hungarica·S Fürst, S Hosztafi
Jul 27, 2000·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·K A SevarinoT R Kosten

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