The impact of treatment on 3 years' outcome for heroin dependence: findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS)

  1. Maree Teesson1,*,
  2. Katherine Mills1,2,
  3. Joanne Ross1,
  4. Shane Darke1,
  5. Anna Williamson3,
  6. Alys Havard1

Article first published online: 8 NOV 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02029.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 103, Issue 1, pages 80–88, January 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Teesson, M., Mills, K., Ross, J., Darke, S., Williamson, A. and Havard, A. (2008), The impact of treatment on 3 years' outcome for heroin dependence: findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Addiction, 103: 80–88. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02029.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia,

  2. 2

    Centre for Mental Health Studies, University of Newcastle, Australia and

  3. 3

    Sax Institute, University of Sydney, Australia

*Maree Teesson, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia. E-mail: m.teesson@unsw.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 DEC 2007
  2. Article first published online: 8 NOV 2007
  3. Submitted 19 February 2007; initial review completed 14 June 2007; final version accepted 11 September 2007

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Keywords:

  • Criminality;
  • health problems;
  • heroin dependence;
  • injection risk;
  • prospective cohort study;
  • treatment outcome

ABSTRACT

Aim  To examine the impact of treatment for heroin dependence on drug use, injection-related risk-taking, health problems, criminality and general physical and mental health over 3 years among heroin-dependent Australians.

Design  Longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Participants  A total of 615 heroin users enrolled in the Australian Treatment Outcome Study; 94.5% of the sample completed at least one follow-up interview over 36-month follow-up.

Findings  The proportion who reported using heroin in the preceding month continued to decrease significantly from baseline to 24-month follow-up (99% versus 35%), with this rate remaining stable to 36-month follow-up. The reduction in heroin use was accompanied by reductions in other drug use. There were also substantial reductions in risk-taking, crime, injection-related health problems and improvements in general physical and mental health. Positive outcomes were associated with more time in maintenance therapies and residential rehabilitation and fewer treatment episodes. Time spent in detoxification was not associated with positive outcomes. Major depression was also associated consistently with poorer outcome.

Conclusions  At 3 years, there were impressive reductions in drug use, criminality, psychopathology and injection-related health problems following treatment exposure.

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