Addiction Medicine: Should methadone or buprenorphine maintenance be the preferred treatment for opioid dependency?

Background

Drug addiction is a worldwide issue that can affect anyone from any background. Substance misusers face a variety of physical, mental and social problems and it is vital that they access support services to help them with their addiction.

Aims

The report aimed to investigate drug addiction. In particular drug addiction to heroin was researched and two treatments, buprenorphine and methadone substitution, were compared.

Method

Data was collected on heroin addiction, and methadone and buprenorphine substitute treatments from online databases in order to conduct a structured review of the literature. Placements were also undertaken at drug treatment centres across Liverpool to gain a wider understanding of the subject area.

Results

Several papers were found relating to a comparison of methadone and buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin addiction. These papers were then quality assessed and those selected were critically appraised.

Conclusion

The report found that both buprenorphine and methadone were effective in the treatment of heroin addiction. In some studies it was found that methadone had greater rates of retention than buprenorphine treatment, however more patients had negative views towards methadone so were more inclined to use buprenorphine.