Involuntary discharge from medication-assisted treatment for people with heroin addiction – patients’ experiences and interpretations:

[摘要] AimsTo examine what happens to patients who have been involuntarily discharged from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone or buprenorphine in Malmö, Sweden.Material And MethodA total of 35 people, with a long history of heroin addiction, were interviewed, including ten women. Most interviewees were recruited among visitors with discharge experiences at the local needle exchange programme. The article focuses on these informants’ experiences and interpretations of being discharged.ResultsDischarge had little legitimacy and was perceived as unfair. Several of the interviewees went back to heroin abuse while others tried to create their own maintenance programmes by buying methadone or buprenorphine on the black market. Many resorted to crime or prostitution to make ends meet.ConclusionsAccording to National Board of Health and Welfare regulations, discharge and a three-month exclusion from all MAT is an appropriate response to violation of rules. Exclusion nevertheless led to harsh consequences...

[学科分类] 生物化学/生物物理

[关键词] heroin addiction;methadone treatment;buprenorphine treatment;involuntary discharge;disciplining