Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of Opiate Users at Entry to Low-Threshold Methadone Programs

Vol. 12, No. 2, 2006

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Research Report

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of Opiate Users at Entry to Low-Threshold Methadone Programs
Peggy Millson^{a, b}, Laurel Challacombe^b, Paul J. Villeneuve^{a, d}, Carol J. Strike^{a, e}, Benedikt Fischer^{a, c, d}, Ted Myers^{a, b}, Ron Shore^{f, g}, Shaun Hopkins^{h, i}

^aDepartment of Public Health Sciences,
^bHIV Studies Unit, and
^cDepartment of Criminology, University of Toronto;
^dHealth Canada, Ottawa;
^eCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto;
^fStreet Health Centre, Kingston;
^gKFL&A Health Unit, Kingston;
^hThe Works, and
ⁱToronto Department of Public Health, Toronto, Canada

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Addict Res 2006;12:74-82 (DOI: 10.1159/000090426)

Key Words

Low-threshold methadone
Quality of life
Opiate addiction
Addiction treatment
Health status indicators

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of factors associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among opiate users at entry to low-threshold methadone treatment. Methods: The SF-36 questionnaire was administered to 145 opiate users at enrollment into low-threshold methadone maintenance programs. ANOVA and correlational analyses were performed to investigate the determinants of poor physical and mental composite summary scales (PCS and MCS) of the SF-36 among opiate users. Stepwise regression methods were also employed to fit PCS and MCS multivariate models. Results: Age, employment status, chronic medical conditions, hospitalization, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and age at first injection episode were significantly associated with PCS. Mental health problems, sexual abuse, physical abuse, the use of sedatives, the use of cocaine, the number of days of cocaine use, sedative use and multiple substance use in the past month were significantly associated with MCS. The variances in the MCS and PCS were not readily explained by any one factor. Conclusion: The multiplicity of factors influencing HRQOL of opiate users suggests the need for a range of services within the context of a methadone program, addressing primary medical care needs as well as treatment for both mental health problems and abuse issues.

Author Contacts

Dr. Peggy Millson
Path Floor, 155 College St.
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7 (Canada)
Tel. +1 416 978 5253, Fax +1 416 971 2704
E-Mail p.millson@utoronto.ca

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 27

Medline Abstract (ID 16543742)

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