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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2014, 16, 3 (pages: 41 - 48)

Why do heroin users refuse to participate in a heroin-assisted treatment trial?

Demaret I., Litran G., Magoga C., Deblire C., Dupont A., De Roubaix J., Lemaître A., and Ansseau M.

Summary: Background: Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) can improve the condition of heroin addicts resistant to other treatments. However, in a new HAT trial in Belgium fewer subjects than expected were included. Aim: Our research team explored the reasons given by heroin users explaining why they did not want to participate. Materials and methods: In 2011, during the trial recruitment, we interviewed heroin users (n=52) who were never met by the research team during the recruitment process of the trial. Results: Of those 52 heroin users, 25 were afraid of the limited length of the HAT and 11 feared becoming more dependent with HAT. Conclusion: A trial for a limited length of time can demotivate heroin users who could otherwise have benefited from this new program.