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Differences in drug consumption, comorbidity and health service use of opioid addicts across six European urban regions (TREAT-project)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

V. Reissner ,
A. Kokkevi ,
F. Schifano ,
R. Room ,
J. Storbjörk ,
R. Stohler ,
L. DiFuria ,
J. Rehm ,
M. Geyer  and
F. Hölscher
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V. Reissner
Affiliation:
Addiction Research Group at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147Essen, Germany
A. Kokkevi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI), Eginition Hospital, 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens, Greece
F. Schifano
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy, University of Hertfordshire, HatfieldAL10 9AB, United Kingdom
R. Room
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden School of Population Health, University of Melbourne; and AER Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre, 54-62 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
J. Storbjörk
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs, Stockholm University, Sveaplan, 10691Stockholm, Sweden
R. Stohler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Zurich (PUK), Selnaustrasse 9, 8002Zurich, Switzerland
L. DiFuria
Affiliation:
Servizio per le Tossicodipendenze 1, Sert no. 1, Via Dei Colli 4, 35100Padova, Italy
J. Rehm
Affiliation:
ISGF Addiction and Health Research Institute, Konradstrasse 32, 8031Zurich, Switzerland
M. Geyer
Affiliation:
Addiction Research Group at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147Essen, Germany
F. Hölscher
Affiliation:
Addiction Research Group at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147Essen, Germany
N. Scherbaum*
Affiliation:
Addiction Research Group at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147Essen, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +0201 7227 180; fax: +0201 7227 254. E-mail address: norbert.scherbaum@uni-due.de (N. Scherbaum).
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Abstract

Objectives

This comparative study investigated consumption patterns, comorbidity and treatment utilization of opioid addicts in six European cities (Athens, Essen, London, Padua, Stockholm, Zurich).

Subjects and methods

Data were collected by structured face-to-face interviews. The representative sample comprises 599 addicts (100 patients per centre, 99 in London) at the start of a treatment episode.

Results

Patients were dependent on opioids for about 10 years. Regional differences were significant regarding the patients’ drug consumption pattern and their method of heroin administration (up to a fourth of the patients in Essen, London and Zurich usually smoke heroin). Concomitant use of benzodiazepines, cannabis and alcohol was common in all regions with the German and English samples showing the highest level of polydrug use. The prevalence of major depression was high in all regions (50%). Stockholm and London patients worry most about their physical health. Differences in the amount of needle sharing and especially in the use of public health service were prominent between the sites. Opioid addiction was a long-term disorder associated with a high burden of comorbidity and social problems in all cities.

Conclusion

The results of the study show significant interregional differences of opioid addicts which might require different treatment strategies in European countries to handle the problem.

Keywords

Opioid addictionConsumption patternsComorbidityHealth service useEuropeTREAT
Type
Original articles
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , August 2012 , pp. 455 - 462
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2012

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