A comparison of the severity of substance use disorder in patients with natural opium use versus heroin use.

BACKGROUND

Historically and culturally, natural opium is considered less harmful in comparison to heroin/pharmaceutical opioids, but the evidence regarding this is limited and mostly indirect.

AIM: The aim of this analysis was to compare problems experienced by patients with natural opium and heroin use.

METHODS

The study is a secondary analysis of data collected during the development of the Assessment of Severity of Substance use for Outcomes Research and Treatment (ASSORT) scale. Patients with natural opium use (n = 72) and heroin use (n = 172) were compared.

RESULTS

Natural opium users were of higher age and from a rural background. The ASSORT score was significantly lower among natural opium users than heroin users (mean 77.8 versus 99.7, P < 0.001). Natural opium users experienced fewer problems in all domains of ASSORT except problems in physical health.

CONCLUSION

Hence, patients with natural opium use experience fewer problems in comparison to those with heroin use.