Self-detoxification from opioid drugs (2006)

ENGLISH :
Aim: To explore the process of self-detoxification from opioid drugs in a sample of patients attending a UK-based drug treatment service. Background: Detoxification is an essential first step in moving from dependence on opioids to abstinence. Although waiting times for treatment in the UK have recently been decreasing, clinical services are unlikely to be able to treat everyone with substance misuse problems. Therefore it is surprising that users' attempts at self-detoxification have received relatively little research attention.Method: Ninety eight patients attending an outpatient opioid detoxification service in Birmingham completed a structured questionnaire that elicited a description of their previous attempts to stop using opioid drugs. Results: Information was collected about the reasons for attempting self-detoxification, reasons for deciding not to access a treatment service, the psychological and physical strategies employed, and the factors involved in relapse back to drug use. The sample had instigated a median number of 2.5 self-detoxification episodes lasting more than 24 hours, with a median time to relapse of 10 days. Those completing the medically assisted programme had attempted self-detoxification on less occasions than non-completers, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Self-detoxification attempts by opioid users are a potentially useful area of research, and the implications of this study for clinical practice are discussed. (Author' s abstract)