Medical Assisted Treatment of Opiate Dependence with Buprenorphine/Naloxon (Suboxone®) of Heroin Addicts in Prison Who Are Aging Penalties

Abstract

Introduction: The substitution treatment of opiate dependants with Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) may be implemented in prisons' environment for heroin addicts who must aging penalties during the treatment started. Aim: To describe the treatment of opiate dependant individuals who have to spent certain period in prison, who were previously introduced in outpatient administering of substitution medicament Suboxone in Bosnia-Herzegovina.. Methodology: With presentation of clinical vignettes, authors described how opiate dependants with criminal past imprisoned in jail because of aging penalties avoided discontinuation of treatment after they were included in the Suboxone maintenance treatment program. This practice has been implemented in cooperation of Department of Psychiatry in Tuzla and Tuzla prison from 27 July 2009. We assessed 10 male opiate addicts (five married) aged 24.8+/-4.7 years. Results: All exemplars described with clinical vignettes showed that opiate dependants previously had open doubts in efficacy of this particular treatment during imprisonment, and after implementation of continual treatment in prison in cooperation with jail officers (nurse and guards) they surprised with positive effects on overall outcomes of Suboxone. Also they were very satisfied with life quality during treatment in prison. Also jail officers, family members of dependant person showed satisfaction with achieved efficacy of Suboxone eider during aging penalties. Conclusion: Medically assisted treatment of opiate dependence with Suboxone for imprisoned addicts implemented as outpatient treatment with involvement of jail officers who were instructed in Suboxone daily administration, improved quality of life of treated opiate dependants, and quality of their relations in prison with others.