P-114 - Characteristics of the onset of opioid dependence influence the process of dependence

Abstract

Introduction and objectives In alcohol dependence are distinguished two types of course of illness in relation to age of onset of dependence. Aims An assessment of differences between opiate addicts with early and late age of onset of dependence. Methods 242 opiate dependent patients, treated with methadone, were asked about: length of dependence, dosage of methadone, HIV infection, effects of methadone on interviewed subjects and the age of onset of opiate dependence. Results In our sample 140 (58%) subjects developed opiate dependence below the age of 19, and 102 (42%) subjects developed dependence above the age of 18. Comparison of the patients with the onset of opiate dependence above the age of 18 with the patients with the onset of opiate dependence blow the age of 19 revealed that in the group with younger age of onset of opiate dependence there were statistically significant more women (40 vs. 23%), the patients were younger (35 vs. 38 years old), had longer time of dependence (19 vs. 16 years), had shorter time of well-being after taking a dose of methadone (12 vs. 15 hours). Conclusion Our research may suggest, in accordance with findings in alcohol dependence that subjects with early age of onset of opiate dependence differ in the course of dependence with the patients with late age of onset of opiate dependence.