Roche Aoife, McCabe Sara, Smyth Bobby P
Drug Treatment Centre Board, Trinity Court, Dublin, Ireland.
Eur Addict Res. 2008;14(4):219-25. doi: 10.1159/000149631. Epub 2008 Aug 4.
The current study looked at illicit methadone use in a group of young people attending a Dublin clinic for treatment of opiate dependence. A structured questionnaire was designed and administered to eligible participants (aged 25 years or under on treatment for opiate dependence). Of the total number of participants (n = 81), 73% reported illicit methadone use before treatment entry and the main reason for use was to manage opiate withdrawals. During treatment 55% reported illicit methadone use and failure to get to the clinic was the main reason given. Some participants reported use for hedonic effects (33% prior to treatment and 12% in treatment). Despite strict controls, most participants reported that illicit methadone was readily available at low cost (EUR 23 per 80 mg). Despite legislative and administrative efforts to curtail methadone diversion in Ireland, we found that it is widespread. Although it is generally used to self-medicate withdrawal symptoms in established opiate addicts, the extent of its use raises concerns as a risk for opiate overdose in the community.
当前的研究调查了一群在都柏林一家诊所接受阿片类药物依赖治疗的年轻人中非法使用美沙酮的情况。设计并向符合条件的参与者（年龄在25岁及以下，正在接受阿片类药物依赖治疗）发放了一份结构化问卷。在所有参与者（n = 81）中，73%的人报告在开始治疗前有过非法使用美沙酮的情况，使用的主要原因是应对阿片类药物戒断反应。在治疗期间，55%的人报告有过非法使用美沙酮的情况，给出的主要原因是未能前往诊所。一些参与者报告使用美沙酮是为了获得享乐效果（治疗前为33%，治疗期间为12%）。尽管有严格管控，但大多数参与者报告称非法美沙酮很容易以低成本获得（每80毫克23欧元）。尽管爱尔兰在立法和行政方面努力减少美沙酮的转移，但我们发现其使用非常普遍。虽然它通常被用于已确诊的阿片类成瘾者自我治疗戒断症状，但它的使用范围引发了人们对社区中阿片类药物过量风险的担忧。
