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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2022, 24, N1 (pages: 53 - 63)

Characteristics of foreign drug addicts assisted by Addiction Centre in Naples, Italy

Curcio F., Asturaro E., Bandiera F., Barretta V., Fontebasso M., Gautiero G., Rutigliano M.A., Girasole D., Marguccio E., Marsella E., Mazzella C., Nicotra F., Pianese P., Preziuso M., Procida M., Spalice A., Scialò L., and Topa M.

Summary: Italian Addiction Services give assistance to foreign addicts and often represent their first level healthcare. The aim of the study is to become aware of the psychosocial behaviours of foreign subjects assisted by the Ser.D. (public services for pathological addictions for the National Health System) and assess the prevalence of correlated diseases. Are carried out medical history checks, medical and psychological clinical evaluations and tox screen. Test to assess a substance abuse and HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV markers and HCV genotype analysis are carried on. In total 682 ongoing subjects have been enlisted of which 594 (87.2%) males and 88 (12.8 %) females. The characteristics of the geographical area of origin have been assessed, sociodemographic analysis and the type of dependency were carried out, psychological diseases, infectious diseases related to addiction and treatments for opioid dependence are examined. Psychopathologies in migrant subjects are more focused on depressive and anxious manifestations. Available data on examined viral infections in migrants showed that in almost all ethnic groups the estimated prevalence is higher than the general population. The data shown in the study highlight the difficulty of grasping and curing the psychopathology of migrants caused by the phenomenon of acculturation, which is often connected with stress associated with depression and anxiety. The infectious aspects, apparently independent from/of the psychic dimension, must be considered interconnected with each other. Therefore, Drug Addiction Centres can play an important role in the control of the health of foreign subjects and in the protection of Public Health.