Evolución de la gravedad de la adicción a los dos años de tratamiento en pacientes heroinómanos

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the evolution of the severity of addiction (after two years) in a sample of heroin addicts and to discover the effect on the evolution of remaining in contact or not with the treatment centre. Patients and Method: From September 1998 – December 1999, we evaluated 100 heroin addicts who had previously (two years before) requested treatment in a Drug Addiction Centre (Mieres - Asturias). The evaluation was made using an "ad hoc" protocol and the European version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI). Results and Conclusions: At baseline, 31 patients were assigned to a Methadone Maintenance Programme (MMP) and 69 patients to naltrexone treatment or a drug free program (DFP). After two years, 75 patients were contacted (3 had died). Follow-up was made with 72. The severity of addiction at baseline was similar in those patients assigned to both programs (differences were only found in the medical area, greater severity in MMP; p= .017). After two years, we observed that those patients who had received treatment and had maintained contact with the centre had improved their severity of addiction in almost all areas except in those less related to the specific treatment of the dependence: medical and legal areas.