Standardisert avrusning ved blandingsmisbruk : standardisering av benzodiazepinfri avgiftning ved blandingsmisbruk; gjennomførbarhet og sikkerhet

Abstract

The background for this project is an internal quality survey from 2013 at the Detoxification Unit of Sørlandet hospital.

In recent decades the pattern of substance use among patients admitted for detoxification has changed from predominantly single-substance abuse to simultaneous multi-substance abuse. The evidence base for medication-assisted pharmacological treatment of polydrug users remains inadequate.

A non-experimental cohort study was conducted with 284 polydrug users in the Detoxification Unit of Sørlandet Hospital in 2013. The therapeutic approach was standardised, and was based on social environmental therapy and symptomatic treatment of withdrawal symptoms with valproate and clonidine as key medications. The social environmental therapy was not specifically studied, but it is fair to assume that it had a great impact on the completion rate.

Three quarters of the patients were male and they had used more than three different substances on average. The average mean age was 39 years. In total, 75% of patients completed the detoxification programme, and for 95% detoxification occurred without complications. In 89% of cases, the standard treatment protocol was followed. There was a weak but significant correlation between treatment discontinuation and the number of substances used.

The completion rate in this study was considerably higher than in previous detoxification studies, and the complication rate was lower. In view of the good results observed and the high degree of standardised treatment, the regimen can be considered a sound safe treatment option for other detoxification units.

Key words: Withdrawal, detoxification, narcotics, drug abuse