Objective: To analyze the withdrawal in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and its related influencing factors in Hubei province. Methods: The patients receiving MMT in clinics in Hubei province were selected from June 2006 to December 2021. The general demographic data, drug abuse history, and MMT information were collected. The survival data of patients with MMT were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 26 716 patients receiving MMT were included in this study, and the gender ratio between men and women was 3.34∶1(20 557∶6 159). The duration of MMT was 0.01-15.72 years, and the median duration was 2.21 (95%CI: 2.16-2.26) years. At the end of the follow-up, the withdrawal proportion was 86.75% (23 175/26 716). MMT's 0-year, 2-year, 4-year, 9-year and 14-year cumulative probabilities appeared as 67.61%, 40.24%, 30.03%, 15.49% and 6.56%, respectively. Results from the Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that the factors of the withdrawal risk were higher in patients receiving MMT, including minority nationality (HR=1.66,95%CI:1.52-1.82), having jobs (HR=1.05, 95%CI:1.01-1.08), no history of compulsory isolation or detoxification (HR=1.04, 95%CI:1.01-1.09) and the enrollment in 2016-2021 (HR=1.46,95%CI:1.35-1.58). The factors of the withdrawal risk were lower in patients receiving MMT, including 60-year-olds or above (HR=0.56,95%CI:0.42-0.75), college degree or above education level (HR=0.83, 95%CI:0.75-0.91), outpatient services of other cities (HR=0.90, 95%CI:0.87-0.93), drug use for 20 years or more (HR=0.72, 95%CI:0.66-0.80), 90 mg or more per daily dosage (HR=0.73,95%CI:0.69-0.78) and the enrollment in 2011-2015 (HR=0.93,95%CI:0.89-0.97). Conclusions: The withdrawal proportions of patients receiving MMT were high in Hubei province. The withdrawal influencing factors were complex. The daily dose was an essential factor that can be intervened under the safe MMT condition, and a higher dose should be appropriately prescribed.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Ambulatory Care ; Cities

OBJECTIVE: To explore the epidemic situation of cannabis use among drug users with compulsory detained detoxification treatment in China. METHODS: Using the data from the Drug Abuse Population Estimation in the Key Cities of the Ministry of Public Security, we analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics and substance use of cannabis abusers with compulsory detained detoxification treatment in 55 provincial capital cities and key cities of China. Chi-square test, Fisher exact test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used to compare the prevalence of cannabis, heroin, synthetic and mixed drug use among patients with detoxification treatment, as well as the differences in polydrug use and areas among cannabis users. RESULTS: In the study, 25 366 drug users with compulsory detained detoxification treatment were recruited, of whom 2.2% (546/25 366) used cannabis in the previous year before the treatment. The proportion of males was 83.5%, and the proportion of ethnic minorities was 41.0%. Those who received junior high school education or above accounted for 30.8%, and the unemployed accounted for 44.1%. The average age was (33.3±8.2) years, the average age of beginning drug use was (24.8±7.7) years, and the average duration between the first drug abuse and first detoxification treatment was (5.4±4.6) years. The prevalence of cannabis use was higher among those drug users who were 35-year-old and younger, ethnic minorities, employees and residents in Xinjiang. Of the cannabis users, 91.4% used polydrug, 13.6% combined with heroin alone, 42.1% combined with synthetic drugs alone and 35.7% combined with both of heroin and synthetic drugs. Of the cannabis users, 49.6% came from 3 regions: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jiangsu Province and Shanghai City. The cannabis users in Xinjiang had a high proportion of ethnic minorities who received junior high school education and below. Moreover, 79.6% of them combined cannabis use with heroin. The cannabis users in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai areas had a higher proportion of ethnic Han who received better education (high school and above). Moreover, 92.7% of them combined cannabis use with methamphe-tamine. CONCLUSION The prevalence of cannabis use among the population with compulsory detained detoxification treatment is higher than that among drug users under surveillance, but there are obvious regional cluster effect and high possibility of polydrug abuse. Thus, it's important to strengthen the monitoring of cannabis use, to increase the control of cannabis and to formulate China's anti-cannabis policy among different population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cannabis ; China ; Drug Users ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; Humans ; Male ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the association between three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genes DRD2 (rs1800497, rs6275, and rs1799978) and the dosage used on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: From the methadone maintenance treatment centers, 257 MMT patients were recruited to participate in a case-control study and divided into two groups-control groups under low dosage (n=89) and case (n=168) group with high dosage. Quanto software was used to estimate the sample size as 180. Information related to social-demographic status, history on drug use and medication were collected. And DRD2 SNPs were genotyped to explore the relationship between polymorphism of DRD2 gene and the dosage of methadone maintenance treatment. Results: Distributions of DRD2 rs6275 between different groups were significantly different. Patients carrying TC genotype needed lower dose of methadone when compared to the patients that carrying CC genotype counterparts (OR=0.338, 95% CI: 0.115-0.986). Patients that carrying C allele at rs6275 needed lower methadone dose than those that carrying genotype TT (OR=0.352, 95% CI: 0.127-0.975). Distributions of genotypes, alles in the other two SNPs (rs1800497, rs1799978) were not significantly different between groups under different dosages. Conclusion: DRD2 rs6275 was associated with dosage of methadone used for the MMT patients. However, no significant associations were found between rs1800497, rs1799978 and the dosage of methadone.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Drug Dosage Calculations ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Opioid-Related Disorders/rehabilitation* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics* ; Receptors, Dopamine D2/genetics*

Objective: This study aimed to understand the herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection and related factors among female drug abusers in the women's compulsory drug rehabilitation center of Shandong province and to provide reference for the prevention and control of HSV-2 in these settings. Methods: We screened all of 451 female drug abusers in the women's compulsory drug rehabilitation centers in of Shandong province and conducted a study using both questionnaire investigation and serological tests for HSV-2, HIV and syphilis. We also used EpiData 3.1 software to establish a database and SPSS 20.0 software to conduct the χ(2) test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 451 female drug abusers were under study. We noticed that the rates for HSV-2 infection, HIV infection and syphilis infection appeared as 72.1% (325/451), 2.2% (10/451) and 33.5% (151/451) respectively. Results from univariate analysis showed that factors as: awareness on AIDS, having temporary sex partner after using the drug, having multiple sex partners after using the drug, providing commercial services or having temporary sex practice before being detained, with syphilis infection etc., were associated with HSV-2 infection. Data from the multivariate analysis showed that the OR (95%CI) value of HSV-2 infection was 2.90 (1.19-7.06) for those who providing commercial service, when comparing to those who did not. Compared to those who did not suffer from syphilis infection, the OR (95%CI) value of HSV-2 infection for those with syphilis infection was 2.75 (1.63-4.63). Conclusions: The rate of HSV-2 infection was high in the women's compulsory drug rehabilitation center of Shandong province. We should enhance measures and promote condom use to prevent from HSV-2 and other sexually transmitted diseases among them.
Drug Users ; Female ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Herpes Genitalis/epidemiology* ; Herpes Simplex/epidemiology* ; Herpesvirus 2, Human/isolation & purification* ; Humans ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Serologic Tests/methods* ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Substance-Related Disorders/rehabilitation* ; Syphilis/epidemiology*

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) greatly contributed to the successful outcomes of prevention and control on both AIDS and drug abuse in China. However, the features on drug abuse changed in the past decades, and the prevalence of new psychoactive substances abuse potentially somehow offset the achievement of MMT. This paper concised the information on research and surveys of this issue that targeting on the current situation, characteristics, related factors and relevant public health problem on new psychoactive substances abuse, among patients who have been on MMT, in China.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Prevalence ; Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects* ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To explore the reasons and factors associated with new psychoactive substances abuse among patients with access to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: A well-developed questionnaire and urine tests were used to collect information about demographic characteristics, condition of MMT and drug abuse, family and social support of MMT clients. A 1∶1 matched case-control study was conducted, and conditional logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with new psychoactive substances abuse. Results: A total of 212 (106 pairs) clients receiving MMT were recruited, and most of them were males (78.3%, 166/212), married or cohabitant (48.6%, 103/212) and unemployed (63.2%, 134/212). The average age of the clients was (45.1±7.2) years. The main types of abused new psychoactive substances were benzodiazepine (62.3%, 66/106) and methamphetamine (39.6%, 42/106). The proportion of abusing multi new psychoactive substances was 8.5% (9/106). Results from multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis indicated that using opioid drug during the past 6 months of MMT treatment might increase the risk of abusing new psychoactive substances (OR=3.25, 95%CI: 1.35-7.79), benzodiazepine (OR=3.25, 95%CI: 1.11- 9.47) and methamphetamine (OR=13.31, 95%CI: 1.12-158.01). Moreover, MMT for more than9 years reduced the risk of abuse of new psychoactive substances (OR=0.03, 95%CI: 0.01-0.21), benzodiazepine (OR=0.02, 95%CI: 0.00-0.36) and methamphetamine (OR=0.02, 95%CI: 0.00-0.69). Conclusion: Less new psychoactive substances abuse might be associated with longer duration of MMT treatment. And inappropriate support from family and friends might increase the risk of abusing new psychoactive substances in MMT clients, especially in clients who used opioid.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Drug Users/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Methamphetamine ; Middle Aged ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Prevalence ; Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects* ; Substance Abuse Detection/statistics & numerical data* ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection and explore the influence factors and their interaction on HIV/HCV co-infection of patient's access to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: A face to face interviews were conducted among 750 patients at two MMT clinics in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The questionnaires information included demographic characteristics, HIV and HCV infection status, history of drug abuse, urine test for morphine, high risk sex behaviors, needle sharing, dropped out etc. Methods of χ(2) test one-way, multivariate logistic regression and interactions were used to analyze the related factors of HIV/HCV co-infection. Results: The study subjects included 750 participants, 18.31% (127/691) of patients were co-infected with HIV and HCV. The HIV/HCV co-infection rate in patients who shared needles with others or dropped out of treatment was 35.84% (81/226) and 19.88% (64/322) respectively, which were higher than those who have never shared needles or dropped out (9.89%, 46/465 and 17.07%, 63/369). Logistic regression analysis results showed that after adjusted for confounding factors, patients who shared needles (OR=4.50, 95%CI: 2.72-7.43) and dropped out of treatment (OR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.04-2.80) were more likely to be infected with HIV/HCV. Interaction analysis showed that sharing needles and dropping out of treatment exist additive effect on co-infection of HIV and HCV (RERI=4.21, AP=0.44, SI=1.95). Conclusions: Needle sharing and dropping out of treatment are associated with HIV/HCV co-infection. Health education, psychological counseling and other measures should be taken to reduce needle sharing and dropping out of MMT.
China/epidemiology* ; Coinfection/epidemiology* ; Female ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Hepatitis C/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Morphine ; Needle Sharing ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/drug therapy* ; Substance-Related Disorders

When facing the worldwide abuse of opioid substance, one of the effective responses is opioid substitution therapy (OST). However, different OST service patterns may affect the therapeutic outcome. Using the System Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model, we can analyze the factors that affecting the outcomes of patients from the perspective work system. In this paper, SEIPS model is used to describe the existing OST service model. According to the operation mechanism of the methadone maintenance treatment in China and the existing OST service model, some suggestions are put forward to carry out effective OST service in the country.
Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects* ; China ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Methadone/therapeutic use* ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Opioid-Related Disorders/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze interpersonal sensitivity level and influencing factors among patients in methadone maintenance treatment.

METHODSFrom 2010 June to 2011 June, the research was performed in Center of Methadone Maintenance Treatment of Nanjing Baixia District Hospital. A total of 272 methadone maintenance treatment was studied using a self-designed questionnaire, interpersonal sensitivity scale in symptom check list (SCL-90), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). If interpersonal sensitivity level ≥ 2 points, it was positive. In this study, through independent sample t test, analysis of the social demographic characteristics, depression and anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity level. Non conditional logistic regression analysis was used to explore a variety of factors, and the relationship of these factors with interpersonal sensitivity.

RESULTSThe depression score, the anxiety score and the level of interpersonal relationship sensitivity in 272 methadone maintenance treatment (1.65 ± 0.51, 47.66 ± 8.58, 42.38 ± 9.40) was higher than the national norm (1.65 ± 0.51, 41.88 ± 10.57, 29.78 ± 0.46) (t values were 8.23, 17.63 and 22.27, respectively; all P values < 0.001). In 272 methadone maintenance treatment, the percentage of men was 75.0% (204/272) and the percentage of women was 25.0% (68/272). SDS score of male and female was (48.38 ± 8.30) and (45.90 ± 9.34) points (t = 5.67, P = 0.037); Aged 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and ≥ 50 years old group, SDS scores were (48.26 ± 7.59), (47.73 ± 8.38), (47.79 ± 9.22) and (48.09 ± 6.33) points (F = 3.90, P = 0.046); According to the drug's time, divided into 1-3, 4-6 and ≥ 7 years group, SDS scores were (45.92 ± 7.47), (47.41 ± 7.57) and (48.07 ± 8.57) points (F = 4.49, = 0.039). SAS score of male and female was (41.21 ± 9.53) and (42.91 ± 9.42) points (t = 2.23, P = 0.043). The positive rate of interpersonal sensitivity was 47.1% (128/272). Multivariate analysis showed that, with SDS and SAS scores increased by 1, respectively, interpersonal sensitivity increased 23.23 (8.62-96.68) and 11.97 (6.42-19.27) points.

CONCLUSIONInterpersonal sensitivity level in methadone maintenance treatment was higher than normal and depression; anxiety and depression both were the risk factors of interpersonal sensitivity level.

Adult ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Methadone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; psychology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics and retention situation of clients in extension clinic of methadone maintenance therapy.

METHODSFrom December 20, 2010 to March 10, 2011, the system sampling method was used to get the cases. A total of 462 heroin addicts from 22 methadone maintenance therapy clinics and extension clinics located in Mangshi, Ruili, Longchuan, Yingjiang, Lianghe of Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province were interviewed, and the demographic characteristics, quality of life, urine testing results for morphine of the patients between the extension MMT clinic and standard MMT clinic were also collected and compared. A cohort study was conducted to analyze retention situation of the new clients with Kaplan Meier method during 9 months treatment.

RESULTSOf the 462 cases, 239 cases were from standard MMT clinic, and 223 cases were from the extension MMT clinic. Among them, 117 cases were new research objects into the group during the investigation. Among the clients of extension MMT clinic, 96.7% (147/152) of them were males, 37.5% (57/152) were Dai nationality, and 61.2% (93/152) were married, 38.8% (59/152) with primary school education, 95.4% (145/152) lived with their family or relatives, 96.7% (147/152) could arrive at the clinic from their habitation within 15 minutes. The positive detection rates 72% (13/18), 71% (24/34), 58% (30/52), 29% (15/52), 14% (6/44), 14% (4/29), 15% (5/34), 17% (6/35), 6% (2/33), 16% (5/31) of urine-morphine testing among new clients of extension MMT clinics decreased as the period of treatment lengthened (χ(2) = 61.04, P < 0.05). The period of retention of the clients in extension MMT clinics was 175-days averagely, with an average retention 122 days of when withdrawing. The retention rates of the clients were 52% (37/71)and 61% (28/46) at 9th month of the extension MMT clinics and standard MMT clinics respectively. There was no difference in the retention rate between those of two types of clinics (χ(2) = 0.82, P = 0.37) .

CONCLUSIONMost of the clients in extension MMT clinics lived with their family or relatives, and spent less time on the way to the clinics. After 9 months methadone maintenance therapy, the quality of life of clients in extension clinics was improved while addiction among them decreased. The extension clinic was an effective strategy for retention in remote areas.

China ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Heroin Dependence ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Quality of Life ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Treatment Outcome