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Kennedy RobertsSenior Medical Officer and Clinical Lead North Cluster

Glasgow Addiction Services Community Addiction Teams

What are the challenges for drug prescribing services?Scottish Drugs Forum

28th Feb 2007

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What are the challenges for the service user?

• Accessibility• Engagement • Retention in treatment• Effective outcome for service user and

clinician subjectively as well as objectively

Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland)

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Not so Surprising News!

For many current IDVU’s there are multiple contraindications

to therapy.

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Clinical Guidelines on the management of Hepatitis C Booth et al GUT 2001

Some patients on oral methadone and particularly those individuals who are committed to

rehabilitation programmes

may be

considered for treatment

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Clinical Guidelines on the management of Hepatitis C Booth et al GUT 2001

Or is that

MAYBE?

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Surprising News!

Studies have shown that IDU’s current , former and relapsing do just as well in treatment for HCV as non users.

This is in terms of:Retention in treatment.Clearance of the virus.

(Also low rates of subsequent reinfection)

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Here are some of them!

Backmund M, Meyer K et al Hepatology 2001

Cournot M, Gilbert A, et al Gastroenterology Clin Biol 2004

Dalgard O, Bjoro K, et al Eur Addict Res 2002

( 5 years follow up )

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Here are some more of them!

Interferon alpha therapy for hepatitis C:

Treatment completion and response rates among patients with substance use disorders.

Substance Abuse treatment, Prevention and Policy ( U.S.) Published 12/01/2007

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There are no drug services currently integrated with hepatology/gastroenterology clinics.

But we have some managed clinical networks

We do have plans to look at this:

Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland_

The Testing, Treatment Care and Support Working Group are well aware of the changing view of treating

IDU infected with HCV- Needs Assessment is being carried out

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Coal face Issues

Service users may be using for 1 to 4 years before presentation:

Issues for education ( Probably need to start at the primary school)

Issues for NDX

Issues for outreach.

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Coal face Issues

Alcohol primary and secondary

Co-morbidity.

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Coal face Issues

Where are the rest of the 50,000?

Who is best placed to:

identify?

engage?

test?

treat- managed clinical network

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Case Study 1

Female patient born Jan 1971

Fairly typical history of drug misuse starting early teens

Little alcohol involved initially mainly cannabis, “recreational” drugs, benzodiazepines and opioids

1st IV use aged 18

Various interventions from 22 when first attended specialist service.

First substantial period of abstinence from 25 years to 28 years of age on methadone prescription

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Case Study 1

28 years of age alcohol “social drinking” pubs only

31 problematic drinking at home usually vodka.

Average consumption 1 litre / day vodka.

32 required “eye opener”

33 ( Jan 2004) first alcohol detox. Residential ( suspicion of previous convulsion related to benzodiazepine/alcohol withdrawal)

Rapid relapse to alcohol, became jaundiced, admitted medical ward( May 2004), presence of alcoholic liver disease and oesophageal varices noted.HCV diagnosed.

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Case Study 1

May to Nov 2004 continued illicit drug free but return to alcohol.Approxiamtely half to whole bottle vodka daily.

Methadone reduced to 55mgs daily by this time.

19th November 2004 re-referred to medical clinic deeply jaundiced.

Diagnosis alcohol related cirrhosis.

26th Nov 2004 died.

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Case Study 2

Female patient born 1972

Problematic alcohol use at 12 years of age

Daily alcohol use to intoxication several days a week at 14 years

Alcohol dependency 16 years

16-18 use of benzodiazepines and buprenorphine

18 First IV use of buprenorphine

19 First IV use of heroin

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Case Study 2

Female patient born 1972

25-28 reasonable period of abstinence on methadone

28 to 33 unstable, in and out of methadone treatment

33 Returned to full engagement with services, methadone dose max. 110 mgs currently on 80 mgs

Past 2 years alcohol more and more of a problem

This year in patient alcohol detox. Relapsed and currently waiting for urgent reassessment ( to-morrow)

With view to further detox.

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Case Study 2

Female patient born 1972

Recent admission to medical ward.

GI bleed.(still awaiting more results)

HCV diagnosed PCR positive.

Liver function tests disturbed alcohol/HCV

Management!

Prognosis?