Effectiveness of supervised injectable opioid agonist treatment (siOAT) for opioid use disorder

Report
by
Public Health Ontario

Release Date

2017

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

No

Objective

This Evidence Brief asks: What is the evidence of effectiveness of supervised injectable opioid agonist treatment with diacetylmorphine (DAM) or hydromorphone (HDM) on treatment retention (i.e., individual remaining on treatment), drug use, social, health or other outcomes among people with opioid use disorder compared to patients using another treatment or no treatment?

Findings/Key points

  • siOAT has been studied primarily among patients who have undergone methadone treatment in the past.
  • siOAT trials have demonstrated significant benefits for retention in treatment, reducing the use of street drugs, and reducing illegal activities in this population.
  • siOAT is associated with a greater number of serious adverse events compared with methadone, but these can be managed in a supervised setting.
  • Hydromorphone is as effective as diacetylmorphine for siOAT, with fewer adverse events.

Keywords

Evidence base
Safer supply