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Australian Longitudinal Study of Heroin Dependence: A 11 year prospective cohort study of mortality, abstinence, criminality and psychiatric comorbidity among heroin users

image - 1345436441 Atos Square
Tags:
Date Commenced:
10/2011
Project Supporters:

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant|APP1024411

Drug Type:
Project Members: 
image - Kath Mills Sq
Associate Professor Katherine Mills
Casual Academic
image - 1314150220 Joanne Ross 06
Dr Joanne Ross
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
image - Lucy Burns Square 0
Honorary Associate Professor
Ph 02 9385 0258
image - Sonja Memedovic
Dr Sonja Memedovic
Lecturer
Project Main Description: 

Heroin dependence is remarkably persistent, and in many cases it is a lifelong condition with a high mortality rate. Yet, the natural history of heroin dependence has rarely been studied. The Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) is a landmark Australian cohort study examining outcomes from heroin dependence in over 40 research publications over three years (2001-2004;  NHMRC 300454). The 11 year prospective cohort study will re-contact and re-interview the 615 individuals who participated in the initial 3 year cohort study.

Project Collaborators: External: 

Associate Professor Michael Lynskey
Kings College London

Aims: 

To conduct the longest and most comprehensive prospective follow-up of heroin users in Australia. 

Design and Method: 

Eleven year follow-up interviews examining mortality, abstinence, criminality, psychopathology and suicidal behaviour will be conducted with individuals in the ATOS cohort.

Progress/Update: 

Professor Maree Teesson and colleagues completed data collection for the 11-year follow-up of the NHMRC funded Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Despite having no contact with participants in the intervening eight years, the 11-year follow-up rate was 70%, exceeding the previous 3-year follow-up rate. ATOS was a landmark study, examining the long-term predictors of criminality, remission, psychopathology and mortality.  Data analyses are still underway, and findings have been presented at two international and three national conferences in 2013-14, and at three national symposia in 2014. 

Output: 

Papers

Teesson M, Marel C, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M, Memedovic S, White S, Mills K.L. (2015) Long-term mortality, remission, criminality and psychiatric comorbidity of heroin dependence: 11 year findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study, Addiction, 110(6): 986-93.

Darke S, Marel C, Ross J, Mills K.L, Slade T, Teesson M. (in press) Health service ultization amongst heroin users: 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study cohort. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment.

Darke S, Marel C, Mills K.L, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. (2014) Patterns and correlates of non-fatal overdose at 11-year follow-up: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 144: 148-152.

Marel, C., Mills, K. L., Darke, S., Ross, J., Slade, T., Burns, L., & Teesson, M. (2013). Static and dynamic predictors of criminal involvement among people with heroin dependence: Findings from a 3-year longitudinal study. Drug and alcohol dependence133(2), 600-606.

Darke S, Marel C, Mills K.L, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. (2014) Patterns and correlates of non-fatal overdose at 11-year follow-up: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 144: 148-152.

Under review:

Darke S, Marel C, Ross J, Mills K.L, Slade T, Teesson M. Patterns and correlates of health service utilisation amongst heroin users: 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study cohort. Submitted to Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment.

Darke S, Ross J, Marel C, Mills K, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. Patterns and correlates of attempted suicide over 11-years: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. Submitted to Psychiatry Research.

Darke S, Slade T, Ross J, Marel C, Mills K.L, Teesson M. Patterns and correlates of alcohol use amongst heroin users: 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study cohort. Submitted to Drug and Alcohol Review.

Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Ross J, Burns L, Teesson M. Can we predict retention in longitudinal studies of substance use? Findings from the Australian treatment Outcome Study. Revised and Resubmitted to Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Memedovic S, Slade T, Ross J, Darke S, Mills K, Marel C, Burns L, Lynskey M, Teesson M. Rumination subtypes and problematic substance use among long-term illicit drug users. Submitted to Addiction.

Teesson M, Marel C, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Mills K. Long-term outcomes of heroin dependence: 11-year findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Revised and resubmitted to Addiction.

Presentations:

Ross J, Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Slade T, White J, Memedovic S, Lynskey M, Burns L. (2014) Eleven year findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): Outcomes & trajectories. Paper presented at the Society for Mental Health Research annual conference, 3-5 December, Adelaide Australia

Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, White J, Memedovic S, Lynskey M, Burns L. (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of heroin use. Paper presented at the Natural history of heroin dependence Symposium, Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) annual conference: 9-12 November, Adelaide Australia

Mills K.L, Marel C, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. (2014)The long-term impact of PTSD on recovery from heroin dependence. Paper presented at the Natural history of heroin dependence Symposium, Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) annual conference: 9-12 November, Adelaide Australia

Darke S, Marel C, Mills K.L, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. (2014) Patterns and correlates of non-fatal heroin overdose over 11 years: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. Paper presented at the Natural history of heroin dependence Symposium, Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) annual conference: 9-12 November, Adelaide Australia

Teesson M, Marel C, Darke S, Slade T, Ross J, Burns L, Mills K.L (2014) Long-term outcomes of heroin use and mental health: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. Paper presented at the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) annual conference: 9-12 November, Adelaide Australia 

Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, White J, Memedovic S, Lynskey M, Burns L. (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of heroin use. Paper presented at the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association Conference, 14 October, Sydney Australia.

Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, White J, Memedovic S, Lynskey M, Burns L. (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of heroin use. Paper presented at the Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network Drug and Alcohol Symposium, 16 October, Sydney Australia.

Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K.L, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, White J, Memedovic S, Lynskey M, Burns L. (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of heroin use. Paper presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Annual Symposium, 8 September, Sydney Australia.

Teesson M, Marel C, Mills K, Slade T, Ross J, Burns L, Darke S (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of heroin use: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. Paper presented at the Trajectories of heroin use: Insights from longitudinal studies Symposium, College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Annual Meeting, 14-19 July, Puerto Rico

Memedovic S, Slade T, Ross J, Teesson M, Darke S, Mills M, Burns L, Lynskey M. (2012) Rumination, depression and substance use: Preliminary findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Paper presented at the Australasian Professional Society of Alcohol and other Drugs Scientific Conference, November, Melbourne, Australia.

White J, Teesson M, Darke S, Mills K, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M. (2012). The long term outcomes for females with heroin dependence: Preliminary findings from the 11 year follow up of ATOS. Paper presented at the Australasian Professional Society of Alcohol and other Drugs Scientific Conference, November, Melbourne, Australia.

Posters:

Marel C, Darke S, Mills K.L, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M, Teesson M (2014) Long-term patterns of heroin use and mental health: 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Poster presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Annual Symposium, 8 September

Marel C, Darke S, Mills K, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M, Teesson M (2014) Long-term patterns of heroin use and mental health: 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Poster presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Annual Meeting, 14-19 July, Puerto Rico

Marel C,Teesson M, Darke S, Mills K, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M.(2013) Long-term treatment outcomes for heroin dependence: Preliminary findings from the 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, Honolulu Hawaii, 31 July – 4 August.

Marel C, Mills K, Darke S, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Teesson M. (2013) Static and dynamic predictors of criminal involvement among people with heroin dependence: Findings from a 3-year study. Poster presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Annual Symposium, 4 September

Marel C, Darke S, Mills K, Ross J, Slade T, Burns L, Lynskey M, Teesson M. (2012) Long-term outcomes of treatment for heroin dependence – the Australian Treatment Outcome Study: Preliminary findings from the 11-year follow-up. Poster presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Annual Symposium, 28 August

S. Memedovic, J. Ross, T. Slade, S. Darke, K. Mills, L. Burns, M. Lynskey & M. Teesson, ‘Rumination and Substance Use: Findings from an Australian Longitudinal Study of Heroin Users’. Poster presented at the NDARC Annual Symposium, September 2013, Sydney, Australia.

J. White, M. Teesson, S. Darke, K. Mills, J. Ross, T. Slade, L. Burns & M. Lynskey,  ‘A preliminary examination of the long term outcomes for females with heroin dependence: Findings from the 11 year follow up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS)’. Poster presented at the NDARC Annual Symposium, September 2013, Sydney, Australia.

Marel, C., Teesson, M., Darke, S., Mills, K., Ross, J., Slade, T., Burns, L. Lynskey, M., Ewer, P., Memedovic, S., White, J. ‘Long-term outcomes of treatment for heroin dependence – the Australian Treatment Outcome Study: Preliminary findings from the 11-year follow-up’. Poster presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Centre Annual Symposium, August 2012, Sydney, Australia.

Benefits: 

This will allow a better understanding of the natural history of heroin users in terms of mortality, remission, criminality and psychiatric comorbidity. The long-term outcomes of the cohort will be examined using both sophisticated data linkage and detailed individual interviews.

The extension of this cohort will address three significant gaps in our knowledge:

  1. Does Australia have lower mortality rates from heroin dependence?
  2. What are the long-term remission rates from heroin dependence in Australia?
  3. What are the long-term health and social consequences of heroin dependence and what factors influence the heroin use trajectory?
Project Research Area: 
Drug Type: 
Project Status: 
Completed
Year Completed: 
2014