Factors Affecting Three Month Treatment Outcome of Heroin Dependence: Findings from Egyptian Heroin Users

Abstract

pioids, including heroin, remain the most harmful drug type in health terms. The use of opioids is associated with the risk of fatal and non-fatal overdoses; the risk of acquiring infectious diseases (such as HIV or hepatitis C) through unsafe injecting practices; and the risk of other medical and psychiatric co-morbidities. A significant proportion of premature death in addicts is attributed to opioids. Because of their availability, the abuse of psychoactive drugs and heroin, especially brown cheap heroin, has now increased significantly square measure has markedly multiplied than before as a result of their availability. In 2015, almost 12 million DALYs, or 70 per cent of the global burden of disease attributable to drug use disorders, were attributable to opioids. In Egypt, since the 1970s there has been a great increase of substance dependence. The last Egyptian National Survey report shows that 8.6% of Egyptians used drugs at least once during their lives. According to the WHO (WHO, 2010), the prevalence of drug dependence in individuals between 15 and 64 years of age in Egypt was 0.8%. In recent studies, opioids were the