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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2010, 12, 3 (pages: 9 - 19)

Treatment practices and perceived challenges for European physicians treating opioid dependence

Bacha J., Reast S., Pearlstone A.

Summary: This survey investigated the current practices and challenges of physicians treating opioid dependence in Germany, France, Italy and the UK. Doses favoured in Europe appeared to conflict with recommended best practice, with low mean methadone and buprenorphine maintenance doses reported (44.3 and 9.5 mg, respectively). Mean time to buprenorphine maintenance doses was longer than recommended at 14.4 days. Respondents also rated diversion and misuse management as their most difficult challenge in treating opioid dependence. These data suggest that prescribing practices are likely to increase this problem, as well as impeding treatment success by decreasing compliance and retention.