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Accessibility, Pattern of Use and Implications of Restricted Availability of Medicines for Treatment of Substance Abuse in a Tertiary Level Health Care Center in North Eastern India Amit Chakrabarti. Introduction I. Sikkim is a province in North Eastern India
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Accessibility, Pattern of Use and Implications of Restricted Availability of Medicines for Treatment of Substance Abuse in a Tertiary Level Health Care Center in North Eastern India Amit Chakrabarti
Introduction I • Sikkim is a province in North Eastern India • Substance abuse is more prevalent in North Eastern India • Substance abusers are a significant source of HIV • 8 of the 13 sentinel sites on substance abusers are in North Eastern India Source: www.naco.nic.in
Introduction II • Effective treatment is key to limiting health related consequences • Effective treatment depends on availability of options • Commonest available option is medicines • Medicines can be used for detoxification and maintenance
Objectives • Medicines used for detoxification and maintenance • Effect of maintenance on retention & relapse • Pricing of medicines • Source of medicines • Availability of medicines
Study Design • Single hospital based, retrospective, no control group • From April 2001 to September 2003 • Patients for detoxification / maintenance • Alcohol & injecting opioid (IDU) abuse • Hospital records • SPSS 8.0 used for analysis
Result Summary • Alcohol abuse (26%), injecting opioid abuse (4%)
Lessons I • No effective maintenance therapy • Reluctance of treatment provider • Oral buprenorphine not used • Methadone not available • Source – private pharmacies • No supply through National Mental Health Program (NMHP)
Lessons II • Pricing high • Patient reluctance to maintenance • Naltrexone 50 mg, 1 tab – Rs. 40 / $ 1 • Only 1 manufacturer for naltrexone • Only 2 manufacturers for oral buprenorphine • Treatment not covered by insurance agencies
Implications • Education of treatment providers • Availability of effective maintenance • Availability of newer medicines • Affordability through price control • Supply through NMHP • Encourage to manufacture • Insurance recognition
Research Agenda • Pilot study with oral methadone in injecting opioid abuse • Objective: Retention and health consequences, i.e., HIV • Outcome measures: • Retention in program • Reduction in needle use • Seroconversion