International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 229-233, May 2010

Feasibility of buprenorphine and methadone maintenance programmes among users of home made opioids in Ukraine

  • Michael Schaub

      Affiliations

    • Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Konradstrasse 32, 8031 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +41 44 448 11 65; fax: +41 44 448 11 71.
    • ,
  • Victor Chtenguelov

      Affiliations

    • Ukrainian Institute for Public Health Policy, Kiev, Ukraine
    • ,
  • Emilis Subata

      Affiliations

    • University Medical Faculty, Vilnius, Lithuania
    • ,
  • Gundo Weiler

      Affiliations

    • WHO Country Office in Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
    • ,
  • Ambros Uchtenhagen

      Affiliations

    • Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Konradstrasse 32, 8031 Zurich, Switzerland

Received 24 July 2009; received in revised form 5 October 2009; accepted 16 October 2009. published online 19 November 2009.

Abstract 

Background

Opioid substitution therapy (OST) in the Ukraine was not provided until 2004. Methadone maintenance therapy only became available in May 2008. Injecting drug users in Ukraine are predominantly injecting self-made opioid solution (‘Shirka’). A feasibility study on buprenorphine and methadone maintenance treatment was conducted in 2008.

Methods

A total of 331 opioid dependent patients were given buprenorphine (n=191) or methadone (n=140) as a substitute, and a survey of substance use, HIV transmission risks, and legal and social status was conducted at baseline and at six months follow-up.

Results

Illegal substance use, illegal activities, incomes and HIV related transmission risks were highly reduced, whereas employment rates and psychiatric problems improved. Retention was comparatively high among the patients in buprenorphine (84.8%) and in methadone maintenance treatment (85.0%) after six months of treatment.

Conclusion

These data show the successful implementation of OST in the Ukraine among drug users who were predominantly injectors of self-made opioid solutions. Continuing scale-up of OST in the Ukraine is therefore both feasible and highly recommended.

Keywords: Opioid substitution therapy, Buprenorphine, Methadone, Ukraine, Injection drug use

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PII: S0955-3959(09)00131-5

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.10.005

International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 229-233, May 2010

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