Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare the changes in primary (heroin use-related) and secondary (depressive symptoms and quality of life, QOL) outcome indicators of 3-month methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) between heroin users with and without HIV infection.MethodsA total of 242 intravenous heroin-dependent individuals (30 with and 212 without HIV infection) receiving MMT were recruited. Primary (severity of heroin dependence, harm caused by heroin use and current heroin use) and secondary (depressive symptoms and QOL) outcome indicators were determined before and after receiving 3-month MMT. Changes in primary and secondary outcome indicators between the two groups were compared using mixed-model analysis.ResultsHeroin users both with and without HIV infection showed significant improvement in three primary outcome indicators after 3-month MMT, and there was no difference in the changes of these primary outcome indicators between the two groups. However, improvements in depressive symptoms and the physical domain of QOL among HIV-infected heroin users were poorer than in those without HIV infection.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicated that heroin users with HIV infection did improve in the primary but not the secondary outcomes after 3-month MMT.
Highlights
Heroin dependence is associated with poor physical and mental health, unemployment and criminal activity and has a chronic, relapsing course [1,2]
This study aimed to examine the changes in primary and secondary outcome indicators during 3-month maintenance treatment (MMT) in heroin users with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
There were no significant differences in sex, age and duration of education between participants with and without HIV infection
Summary
Heroin dependence is associated with poor physical and mental health, unemployment and criminal activity and has a chronic, relapsing course [1,2]. A recent study in Taiwan found that the economic cost of heroin dependence is huge, equal to 1.07 times the average gross domestic product per capita in Taiwan [3]. Another major problem associated with heroin use is the spread. The aim of this study was to compare the changes in primary (heroin use-related) and secondary (depressive symptoms and quality of life, QOL) outcome indicators of 3-month methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) between heroin users with and without HIV infection
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