Staff concerns in heroin-assisted treatment centres

[en] Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is a solution for improving the condition of treatmentresistant heroin addicts. Since 1994, six randomized controlled trials have concluded that HAT is more efficacious than oral methadone for severe heroin addicts.We visited seven HAT treatment centres in four countries in order to observe diacetylmorphine (DAM) administration and to study the main concerns of the staff. Nurses were concerned by the risk taken if a previously intoxicated patient received his dose of DAM. Another concern was the smuggling of DAM doses. The HAT centres face a dilemma: treating patients while at the same time allowing their risky street habits in the centre.

Disciplines :

Public health, health care sciences & services

Author, co-author :

Demaret, Isabelle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale

Lemaître, André ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Institut des sciences humaines et sociales > Criminologie

ANSSEAU, Marc ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale

Language :

English

Title :

Staff concerns in heroin-assisted treatment centres

Publication date :

2012

Journal title :

Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

ISSN :

1351-0126

eISSN :

1365-2850

Publisher :

Blackwell Publishing

Volume :

Pages :

563-567

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Name of the research project :

Suivi et évaluation scientifique du projet TADAM (un traitement assisté par diacétylmorphine)

Funders :

SPF Santé - Service Public Fédéral Santé publique. Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement

Commentary :

Accessible summary • For some heron addicts, heroin-assisted treatment is more efficacious than methadone treatment. • Seven European countries have implemented outpatient centres where patients self-administer pharmaceutical heroin under close supervision. • Nurses deliver pharmaceutical heroin and supervise administration. The two main concerns are overdosing and smuggling. • Nurses are convinced of the utility of this treatment for severe heroin addicts.

Available on ORBi :

since 22 September 2011

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