Date de publication
Géographie
Langue de la ressource
Texte disponible en version intégrale
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Évalué par des pairs
L’objectif
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swiss Federal Council provisionally adapted its policy, allowing for longer prescriptions of take-home diacetylmorphine. Before the beginning of the pandemic, take-home doses only occurred in exceptional circumstances and under strict criteria for patient eligibility.
Constatations/points à retenir
While some patients wished to return to their previous treatment regimen, most patients managed their medication well and showed good adherence. We also noticed an increase of treatment admissions that are likely related to the relaxed regulations. Previously, the strict therapeutic framework of visiting a HAT centre twice a day for supervised dispensing seemed to have discouraged these individuals from seeking medical treatment. From a medical point of view, the politically driven restrictions on take-home doses in heroin-assisted treatment are questionable and do not support the goal of harm reduction.
La conception ou méthodologie de recherche
An additional 45 patients received take-home doses following the first lockdown.
