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Factors associated with illicit opioid use in methadone maintenance treatment clients in 5 Provinces, China

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate factors associated with illicit opioid use among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) population.

Methods

Participants were recruited from Beijing (2 clinics), Shanghai (2 clinics), Guangdong (2 clinics), Chongqing (2 clinics) and Gansu (1 clinic) provinces. Information about heroin use and MMT was obtained from a self-reported questionnaire, illicit opioid use was obtained from monthly medical records. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with illicit opioid use.

Results

Five hundred ninety-eight eligible MMT participants were used for data analysis. Variables such as age, gender, route of heroin use and daily MMT dosages were associated with illicit opioid use. Compared with MMT participants aged <40 years, participants aged 40–44 years (P = 0.027, OR = 0.57, 95 % CI 0.35–0.94), 45–49 years (P < 0.001, OR = 0.41, 95 % CI 0.24–0.67) and ≥50 years (P = 0.008, OR = 0.52, 95 % CI 0.33–0.85) were more likely not to have illicit opioid use. Compared with male participants, females were more likely to have illicit opioid use (P = 0.044, OR = 1.53, 95 % CI 1.01–2.32). Compared with inhalation heroin abusers, abusers with route of inhalation + injection heroin use were more likely to have illicit opioid use (P = 0.009, OR = 2.00, 95 % CI 1.19–3.36). Compared with daily MMT dosages <60 mg participants, participants with daily MMT dosages >80 mg were more likely to have illicit opioid use (P = 0.003, OR = 2.37, 95 % CI 1.35–4.15).

Conclusions

Age, gender, route of heroin use and daily MMT dosages were associated with illicit opioid use. A tailored intervention is needed for a promotion of MMT.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to all MMT clients who participated in our investigation and to all investigators who took part in our investigation. Our study was supported by China Food and Drug Administration, National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB522007) and the 12th Five-Year Program of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (2012BAI01B07). Funding organizations were not involved in the design, conduct, interpretation, and data analysis of the study, nor in review or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Weixiu Li

  2. National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China

    Weixiu Li & Zhimin Liu

  3. Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong, 250014, China

    Weixiu Li

  4. School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Gui’an New Area, 550025, China

    Ziyun Wang

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  1. Weixiu Li
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Correspondence to Zhimin Liu.

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All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Li, W., Wang, Z. & Liu, Z. Factors associated with illicit opioid use in methadone maintenance treatment clients in 5 Provinces, China. Environ Health Prev Med 21, 480–486 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-016-0570-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-016-0570-y

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