A new technical report published by NDARC provides unique and detailed insights into pharmaceutical opioid use in diverse clinical populations.
The report summarises and compares the data collected across two time periods from two groups who use pharmaceutical opioids - those seeking treatment for pharmaceutical opioid dependence (POUT cohort) and those who inject drugs regularly (PWID cohort).
Both cohorts reported high levels of mental and physical health co-morbidity, with a general pattern of more severe physical and mental health problems among the treatment cohort. Substance use was generally stable over the two interviews in both cohorts, with those newer in treatment reporting greater reduction in opioid use in the POUT cohort, and a reduction in oxycodone injection in the PWID cohort.
These studies represent the first Australian studies to examine pharmaceutical opioid use in detail in diverse clinical populations. Findings highlight complexities in treatment presentations with multiple co-morbid health conditions and significant numbers reporting current chronic pain amongst both cohorts. Ongoing monitoring of harms in these cohorts is essential - both cohorts displayed complex clinical profiles. Despite low levels of illicit drug use and injection among the treatment cohort participants, this cohort typically displayed more severe clinical profiles. Despite this, the treatment cohort reported high levels of retention and low levels of substance use at the follow-up interview, and reported generally positive treatment experiences. Mental health interventions for both these cohorts are warranted.
To read the full report, visit https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/understanding-health-and-service-needs-diverse-populations-pharmaceutical-opioid-users.