Effectiveness of the methadone programme in the treatment of patients on a mephedrone binge and dependent on heroin: a retrospective study, 2010-19.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of the methadone programme in a group of patients taking mephedrone with heroin.Methods: The research involved 230 people who took part in the methadone programme between 2010 and 2019: 101 people on a mephedrone binge and taking heroin and 129 people addicted to heroin.Results: Number of re-hospitalisations was higher in a group of patients on a mephedrone binge taking heroin in comparison to heroin dependent patients (91.9 vs 79.8%, p < 0.01). The interaction of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the dose of methadone taken explains 67.6% of the variance in the frequency of hospitalisation of the patients on a mephedrone binge (p < 0.001), and in the case of the dose of methadone alone - only 12% (p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that statistically significant majority of the subjects (p < 0.001) who received the optimal dose of methadone, namely 100-110 ml, were hospitalised once.Conclusions: The interaction of the methadone dose with HCV infection plays a very important role in the frequency of hospitalisation of patients taking mephedrone with heroin on a regular basis.KEY POINTSThe number of hospitalisations was higher in a group of patients on a mephedrone binge taking heroin in comparison to heroin dependent patientsThe interaction of the sex of the subjects and HCV infection with the dose of methadone taken explains 80.3 and 67.6% of variance in the frequency of hospitalisations, respectivelyThe most optimal dose of methadone in the group of people taking mephedrone with heroin ranges between 100 and 110 ml.