Patient perspectives on depot buprenorphine treatment for opioid addiction – a qualitative interview study

Original research
by
Johnson, Björn, Olivia Liahaugen Flensburg & Andrea Johansson Capusan

Release Date

2022

Geography

Sweden

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of depot injections and their reasons for continuing, discontinuing, or declining depot injection treatment.

Findings/Key points

Buprenorphine depot injections may have social, practical, and psychological benefits compared to other formulations. However, depot injections are not perceived as an attractive option by all patients. Trust, consistent and adequate information, and awareness of the implications of the pharmaceutical atmosphere should be considered when introducing new medications.

Design/methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 people, 14 of whom had ongoing depot injection treatment, 11 who had discontinued depot-injections and switched to other medication and seven who had declined treatment with depot formulations.

Keywords

Substitution/OAT
About PWUD
Barriers and enablers