The Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): Heroin

Baseline Data Report: Victoria November 2002

Tracey Holt, Alison Ritter, Amy Swan, Sanja Pahoki

Abstract
The Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): Heroin is the first large-scale prospective study of treatment outcome for heroin dependence to be conducted in Australia. In Victoria, baseline data collection commenced in April 2001 and concluded in September 2002. The study sought to recruit heroin users on entry to one of three index treatments: methadone/buprenorphine maintenance, withdrawal and residential rehabilitation services.

Participants were interviewed within two weeks of commencing treatment and again at three and 12 months post entry to treatment, providing a natural history of a heroin-using cohort. The study represents a collaborative effort between Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (Sydney) and the Drug and Alcohol Services Council (Adelaide). This report presents the baseline findings for 110 participants recruited as part of the Victorian arm of the study.

Thirty-five participants were in the methadone/buprenorphine maintenance group, 35 in the withdrawal group and 40 in the residential rehabilitation group. The average age of the sample was around 30 years and the majority were male. It was found that the sample experienced much higher levels of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, major depressive episodes, Borderline Personality Disorders and physical and mental disability than the general Australian population. The sample also experienced high rates of Anti-Social Personality Disorder and Impulsive Personality Disorder. Around half of the sample had attempted suicide at least once, while the majority of the group had overdosed from heroin at least once.

Criminal activity was also common amongst the sample, with drug dealing the most common form of crime amongst the methadone/buprenorphine maintenance and withdrawal groups, and property crime the most common type amongst the residential rehabilitation group. The report describes the typical characteristics of clients entering treatment for heroin in Victoria and the results highlight the need for an understanding of the many issues these people face in addition to their drug problem.

Download full report (pdf 240kb)

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