Post-marketing surveillance of buprenorphine-naloxone in Australia: diversion, injection and adherence with supervised dosing

Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
Background: These studies compared the diversion and injection of buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX), buprenorphine (BPN) and methadone (MET) in Australia.
Methods: Surveys were conducted with regular injecting drug users (IDUs) (2004-09, N = 881 to 943), opioid substitution treatment (OST) clients (2008, N = 440) and authorised OST prescribers (2007, N = 291).  Key outcome measures include the unsanctioned removal of supervised doses, diversion, injection, motivations, drug liking and street price.  Levels of injection among IDUs were adjusted for background availability of medications.  Doses not taken as directed by OST clients were adjusted by total number of daily doses dispensed…