AIMS: (i) To describe the course of physical health among the ATOS cohort over 24 months; and (ii) to examine the effects of treatment, drug use patterns and social and psychological factors on health status over 24 months. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort. SETTING: Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 615 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). FINDINGS: The general health of the cohort improved significantly over 24 months. Significant predictors of poor health over 24 months were: being older, being female, past month heroin, other opiate and tobacco use, past month unemployment and current major depression. Spending a greater proportion of time in residential rehabilitation (RR) was associated with better health over 24 months. No other treatment factors demonstrated a significant, independent relationship with health. CONCLUSIONS: The physical health of dependent heroin users is affected by drug use and psychosocial problems. RR treatment appears to be particularly beneficial to the health of heroin users, suggesting the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving health among this group.
AIMS: (i) To describe the course of physical health among the ATOS cohort over 24 months; and (ii) to examine the effects of treatment, drug use patterns and social and psychological factors on health status over 24 months. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort. SETTING: Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 615 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). FINDINGS: The general health of the cohort improved significantly over 24 months. Significant predictors of poor health over 24 months were: being older, being female, past month heroin, other opiate and tobacco use, past month unemployment and current major depression. Spending a greater proportion of time in residential rehabilitation (RR) was associated with better health over 24 months. No other treatment factors demonstrated a significant, independent relationship with health. CONCLUSIONS: The physical health of dependent heroin users is affected by drug use and psychosocial problems. RR treatment appears to be particularly beneficial to the health of heroin users, suggesting the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving health among this group.
Authors: Michael W Otto; Bridget A Hearon; R Kathryn McHugh; Amanda W Calkins; Elizabeth Pratt; Heather W Murray; Steven A Safren; Mark H Pollack Journal: J Psychoactive Drugs Date: 2014 Nov-Dec
Authors: Jeremy W Bray; Brandon Aden; Ashley A Eggman; Leah Hellerstein; Eve Wittenberg; Bohdan Nosyk; Judy C Stribling; Bruce R Schackman Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2017-02-10