Van de Surinaamse en Antilliaanse drugsverslaafden betrokken bij het GG&GD-methadonprogramma in Amsterdam zouden er meer voor hun methadonverstrekking bij de huisarts terechtkunnen

To study the possibility of referring Surinamese and Netherlands Antillian drug users from a ‘low-threshold’ municipal methadone programme to general practice for methadone maintenance treatment. (Methadone maintenance treatment for drug users leads to a more regulated life and makes it possible to implement measures to ameliorate their living conditions.) Fewer Surinamese and Netherlands Antillian drug users are referred to general practice than native Dutch drug users.

Design

Descriptive.

Setting

Municipal Health Service, Department of Mental Health, Unit on Drugs, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Method

141 Surinamese and Netherlands Antillian drug users participating in the ‘low-threshold’ methadone programme were examined on the following items: psychiatric status, drug and alcohol abuse, judicial problems, relationships, personal care, insurance and housing. With these items the level of regulated drug use was assessed and the possible reference to general practice evaluated.

Results

21 of the drugs user group was found to be well regulated. They could have been referred to general practice immediately. Another 18 were also well regulated but they received methadone on a daily basis at the moment of investigation; when they would have proven to manage methadone prescription on a weekly basis, they could also be referred to general practice. 61 could not be referred because they were addicted to benzodiazepines (22) or alcohol (33), lived in unsuitable housing (45), had judicial problems (53), psychiatric problems (30) or no insurance (15), or were very problematic drug users receiving Palfium (dextromoramide) through the ‘low-threshold’ municipal methadone programme (15).

Conclusion

Of Surinamese and Netherlands Antillian drug users from a municipal methadone programme, approximately 20 could have been directly referred to general practice for their methadone maintenance treatment and 20 at a later stage, and 60 could not.