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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2015, 17, 1 (pages: 79 - 90)

Outcomes of buprenorphine-naloxone maintenance therapy: One-year follow up study from Turkey

Mutlu E., and Bilici R.

Summary: This study examined the outcome and predictors of the effectiveness of outpatient buprenorphine/naloxone treatment, a combination used in the treatment of opioid dependence (OD) that has recently become available in Turkey. 76 patients on opioid maintenance treatment were recruited from an OD treatment programme at the substance dependence treatment clinic (AMATEM) in Istanbul. At the end of the first year, 56.6% of patients were still in treatment and were not using heroin or other opioids. Individuals participating in the psychotherapy programme were found to benefit significantly more from treatment than individuals who were not. Having higher income and having no relatives with substance abuse problems were factors associated with more positive outcomes. Participants who had legal problems related to substance use and who had polysubstance use also had better treatment outcomes than patients who did not. These results support the effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance therapy in a Turkish population. The authors believe that the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment would increase further through the addition of a comprehensive approach including psychosocial support. This study is one of the first studies that has investigated the effectiveness of opioid dependence treatment in Turkey, as the medication has only become available very recently, and the data obtained by us reflect the earliest results.