Det har i studier, av bland annat kriminologen Trevor Bennett (2005), visats att kriminalitet interagerar med droger, vilket även har en ömsesidig effekt. Man har dessutom sett att underhållsbehandling gett positiva resultat vid behandling av heroin- och opiatberoende. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilken effekt underhållsbehandling vid opiatmissbruk har på kriminaliteten. Med hjälp av Willman och Stoltz (2002) sju-stegs-metod har data samlats in genom en systematisk litteraturstudie för randomiserade kontrollerade studier. Tio vetenskapliga artiklar erhölls från databasen PubMed. Resultatet av artiklarna visade att underhållsbehandling vid opiatmissbruk leder till en minskning av kriminaliteten. Det visade sig även att buprenorfin är ett preparat som, oftare än metadon, leder till fortsatt behandling efter frisläppning ur fängelse. Med dessa slutsatser ställer vi bland annat frågan; varför används inte andra preparat än metadon i större utsträckning? / It is well known through research that crime correlates with drug abuse, a relationship that is reciprocal. Such information has been found in studies made by criminologists like Trevor Bennett (2005). Vital conclusions by researchers have made maintenance treatment for opioid-addiction well renowned for its effectiveness. This is the background for this thesis; to explore the effectiveness of maintenance treatment in crime reduction. With the methodological guidance of Willman and Stoltz (2002) research-data has been obtained, mainly through their seven-step-model. This systematic review contains ten articles that are all randomized controlled trials that were derived from the database PubMed. Results from these studies showed a decrease in crime during and after maintenance treatment. It is also presented, that using buprenorphine in the treatment increased the retention grade of patients in comparison to methadone. With this in mind we ask the question, why do not other substances than methadone have a more frequent usage in the aspects of maintenance treatment?

Syftet med uppsatsen är att belysa brukares syn på en framgångsrik underhållsbehandling utifrån deras egna betraktelsesätt, uppfattningar och berättelser. Vi har utifrån ett brukarperspektiv undersökt anledningarna till varför en del opiatmissbrukare som erhåller underhållsbehandling lyckas bibehålla sin drogfrihet. I vår analys har vi valt att använda Aaron Antonovskys teori om känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) som teoretisk bas. KASAM omfattar termerna begriplighet, hanterbarhet samt meningsfullhet och som i kombination med erhållandet av underhållsbehandling tros ha inverkan på resultaten att hålla sig drogfri. Arbetet redogör för vad underhållbehandling innebär samt dess historiska drag då underhållsbehandling som metod i Sverige anses kontroversiell. Arbetet redogör för vad heroin, heroinmissbruk, Metadon, Subutex och Suboxone är och vad dessa har för farmakologiska egenskaper. Metoden vi använt oss av är kvalitativa intervjuer för att på ett mer djupgående sätt komma åt de framgångsfaktorer som kan ligga till grund för bibehållande av drogfrihet. Resultatet tyder på att upplevelsen av livet som meningsfullt samt förmågan att hantera de problem man ställs inför i drogfriheten har varit central för intervjupersonernas bibehållande av drogfrihet.

Det har i studier, av bland annat kriminologen Trevor Bennett (2005), visats att kriminalitet interagerar med droger, vilket även har en ömsesidig effekt. Man har dessutom sett att underhållsbehandling gett positiva resultat vid behandling av heroin- och opiatberoende. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilken effekt underhållsbehandling vid opiatmissbruk har på kriminaliteten. Med hjälp av Willman och Stoltz (2002) sju-stegs-metod har data samlats in genom en systematisk litteraturstudie för randomiserade kontrollerade studier. Tio vetenskapliga artiklar erhölls från databasen PubMed. Resultatet av artiklarna visade att underhållsbehandling vid opiatmissbruk leder till en minskning av kriminaliteten. Det visade sig även att buprenorfin är ett preparat som, oftare än metadon, leder till fortsatt behandling efter frisläppning ur fängelse. Med dessa slutsatser ställer vi bland annat frågan; varför används inte andra preparat än metadon i större utsträckning? / It is well known through research that crime correlates with drug abuse, a relationship that is reciprocal. Such information has been found in studies made by criminologists like Trevor Bennett (2005). Vital conclusions by researchers have made maintenance treatment for opioid-addiction well renowned for its effectiveness. This is the background for this thesis; to explore the effectiveness of maintenance treatment in crime reduction. With the methodological guidance of Willman and Stoltz (2002) research-data has been obtained, mainly through their seven-step-model. This systematic review contains ten articles that are all randomized controlled trials that were derived from the database PubMed. Results from these studies showed a decrease in crime during and after maintenance treatment. It is also presented, that using buprenorphine in the treatment increased the retention grade of patients in comparison to methadone. With this in mind we ask the question, why do not other substances than methadone have a more frequent usage in the aspects of maintenance treatment?

Background: In Kazakhstan, opioid substitution therapy (OST) has been a controversial topic since its introduction in 2008. Aim: To examine and analyse factors influencing approach towards OST among OST patients, opioid-dependent drug users who could re-consider engagement in this therapeutic method, as well as attitudes of selected key organisations and their representatives. Methods: A survey method complemented by semi-structured individual and group interviews has been selected. One hundred respondents participated in the study between October and December 2015. The first group consisted of 46 OST patients. The second group consisted of 54 respondents who met criteria for opioid dependence. This group included patients of residential treatment centres, former OST patients and current injecting drug users. Key persons were interviewed about their attitudes. Results: Patients receiving OST, with the average treatment duration of 29.4 months, reported improved health, improved social functioning and financial well-being, as well as reduction of their involvement in crime. This group showed better results in all examined categories. Most (80 %) were satisfied with the treatment, even though a number of shortcomings have been reported. All OST patients considered necessary to expand the availability...

The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how health care providers, working at care facilities providing maintenance treatment programs for opiate dependence, perceive and manage the legal framework governing the treatment. The study is limited to a few particular rules within this framework which over the recent decade have been the subject matter of debate regarding i.a. their alleged lack of relation to scientific research and their frequently disastrous implications for program participants. The empirical material consists of interviews with five respondents working at four different care facilities and has been analyzed by using Lipskys theory on street-level bureaucrats as policymaking agents. The results of the study show that the rules are looked upon and dealt with in a liberal fashion and that the primary loyalty of the maintenance treatment staff is clearly directed towards promoting the well-being of their patients and helping them reach their treatment goals rather than strictly following the rules.

Denna studie syftar till att beskriva patienters upplevelse av läkemedelsassisterad behandling för opiatberoende (LARO), även kallad underhållsbehandling. I studien undersöks hur upplevelsen av LARO är och hur den beskrivs utifrån två olika patientgrupper; de patienter med en mindre välfungerande behandling som dagligen går till mottagningen för att ta medicin övervakat och som lämnar urinprov två gånger i veckan, samt de patienter med en välfungerande behandling som går till mottagningen två gånger i veckan för att lämna urinprov men hämtar medicin på apoteket. I uppsatsen har sex patienter intervjuats om hur de upplever LARO. Uppsatsens resultat illustrerar bland annat upplevd brist på delaktighet och empowerment i behandlingen samt vikten av en god relation mellan patienter och personal på LARO-mottagningen. Studiens slutsats är att Patient empowerment bör vara grundstenen i all arbete med omvårdnad och behandling. / This study aims to describe patients' experiences of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence (LARO), also called maintenance therapy. The study examines how the patients experience LARO is and how the experience is percieved among the two patient groups: those patients with a less well functioning treatment that daily goes to the clinic to take medication supervised, and submit urine samples twice a week, as well as those patients with a functioning treatment that goes to the clinic twice a week to provide a urine sample but retrieves medicine from the pharmacy.In the paper, six patients were interviewed about how they experience LARO. Results of the thesis illustrate, among other things, the experienced lack of participation and empowerment in the treatment and the importance of a good relationship between patients and staff at LARO reception. The study concludes that patient empowerment should be the cornerstone of all the work with care and treatment.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka individens subjektiva upplevelse av att genomgå läkemedelsassisterad behandling för opioidberoende (LARO). För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar har vi använt oss av kvalitativ metod i form av både fokusgruppintervju och individuella intervjuer. I fokusgruppintervjun intervjuade vi tre yrkesverksamma för att bredda våra kunskaper inom ämnet och även för hjälp till utformningen av intervjuguiden för de individuella intervjuerna. De individuella intervjuerna bestod av sex intervjupersoner, tre som har LARO-behandling i dagsläget och tre som tidigare har haft det. Materialet från fokusgrupp- och de individuella intervjuerna presenteras i empirin med hjälp av en tematisk analys. Empirin har sedan analyserats med hjälp av tidigare forskning och Goffmans teori om stigma. Studien visar att det finns flera olika aspekter som framkommer som viktiga i individens upplevelse av att ha LARO-behandling. I studien har särskilt fysiska biverkningar och känslomässig avstängdhet lyfts som en viktig aspekt. Även sidomissbruk verkar vara något studiens deltagare anser vara ett viktigt problem. Hämtningen av medicin och kontroll är också en aspekt som verkar vara en stor del av att ha LARO-behandling. En viktig aspekt är även behandlingens livräddande förmåga, men trots denna verkar dessutom en bundenhet till behandlingen upplevas som ett problem av deltagarna. Studien visar en variation i hur individen med LARO-behandling påverkas av sociala sammanhang. Å ena sidan verkar relationerna till närstående och familj i vissa fall ha fortsatt varit fungerande, eller till och med bättre. Å andra sidan beskrivs relationerna ha försämrats. Vi kan även se hos samtliga deltagare att de varit varsamma med vilka de var öppna för om sin behandling. Studien visar att i vissa fall kunde omgivningen vara förstående, i andra fall kunde omgivningen se ner på individen. Hos våra intervjudeltagare är upplevelsen av personalens bemötande i stort positiv. Studien diskuterar skillnader i åsikter gällande frågan kring huruvida man kan vara drogfri under pågående LARO-behandling. Vissa respondenter anser att man kan vara drogfri, men lyfter sidomissbruk som ett hinder. Andra respondenter anser att man inte riktigt kan klassas som drogfri ifall man erhåller substitutionsbehandling. / The purpose of the study is to examine individuals’ subjective experiences of undergoing medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependency (LARO). To address the study’s purpose and research questions we used a qualitative method, utilizing both focus group interviews and individual interviews. In the focus group interview we interviewed three professionals to broaden our knowledge of the subject and to assist in the development of the interview guide for the individual interviews. The individual interviews included six participants: three currently undergoing LARO-treatment and three who have previously undergone it. The material from the focus group and individual interviews is presented in the empirical section using thematic analysis. The empirical data were then analyzed with the help of previous research and Goffman’s theory of stigma. The study reveals several important aspects of individuals’ experiences with LARO treatment. Physical side effect and emotional numbness were highlighted as significant issues. Concurrent substance abuse also appears to be a major concern among the study’s participants. The process of medication retrieval and monitoring is another significant aspect of LARO treatment. While the treatment’s life-saving potential is acknowledged, participants also expressed a sense of dependency on the treatment as problematic. The study shows variability in how individuals undergoing LARO-treatment are affected by social contexts. On one hand, relationships with close ones and family sometimes remained functional or even improved. On the other hand, some relationships are described as deteriorated. All participants were cautious about whom they disclosed their treatment to. The study shows that the surrounding environment could be understanding in some cases. While in other cases, individuals were looked down upon. The participants’ experiences with the staff’s attitude are generally positive. The study discusses differing opinions on whether one can be considered drug-free while undergoing LARO treatment. Some respondents believe that one can be drug-free but highlight concurrent substance abuse as an obstacle. Other believe that one cannot be truly considered drug-free if receiving substitution treatment.

<p>Studiens syfte var att undersöka om naturläkemedlet Ibogain kunde vara en bra behandling för missbruk. För att kunna besvara detta har kvalitativa intervjuer genomförts med fyra personer som genomgått Ibogain-behandling och en psykolog/psykoterapeut på en beroendeklink, Lars Lundell. Utöver dessa intervjuer har en klinik i London besökts som utför Ibogain-behandling. På kliniken gjordes en observationsstudie av behandlingen, samt intervjuer med klinikchefen Dr Brackenridge och en av hans patienter, i uppsatsen kallad Will. Studiens perspektiv utgår från informanterna och våra egna observationer om Ibogain-behandling. Intervjufrågorna har bildats utifrån dessa 3 frågeställningar:</p><p>1. Hur går en behandling tillväga rent praktiskt?</p><p>2. Hur har livet påverkats av Ibogain-behandling?</p><p>3. Vilken syn har informanterna på Ibogain-behandling?</p><p>I analysen söktes gemensamma nämnare och skillnader i informanternas svar, uppdelat i de tidigare nämnda frågeställningarna. Sedan tolkades denna information med hjälp av litteratur, observationer och egna tankar.</p><p>I studien ges en mycket samstämmig syn på att utan Ibogain-behandling hade troligtvis inte informanterna varit i livet idag.</p><p>Resultatet visar tydligt på att informanterna upplever att de fått en mycket bättre livskvalité efter behandlingen.</p><p>Av de uppgifter som framkommit i studien anser vi att Ibogain är att rekommendera.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study was to investigate if the naturally occurring substance Ibogaine could be a good treatment for substance abuse. In order to answer this question, qualitative interviews have been performed with five persons who have been subject to Ibogain treatment and one psychologist/psychotherapist at an addiction treatment clinic, Lars Lundell.</p><p>In addition to these interviews an Ibogaine treatment clinic located in London has been visited. At the clinic an observational study of the treatment was carried out as well as interviews with the responsible physician Dr Brackenridge one of his patients, named Will in this paper. The perspective of this study is substance abuse treatment with Ibogaine based on the informants experiences and our own observations.</p><p>The interviews have been formed based on the following three questions:</p><p>1. How is a treatment carried out?</p><p>2. How have their lives been affected by the Ibogain treatment?</p><p>3. What are the informant’s views on Ibogain treatment?</p><p>The analysis was made looking for similarities and dissimilarities in the informants answers, divided into the three previously described questions. This information was subsequently interpreted using literature, observations and our own thoughts.</p><p>The study shows that among the informants there is an almost unanimous opinion that without the Ibogaine treatment they would not be alive today.</p><p>The study clearly shows that the informants feel that they have a much better quality of life after the treatment. The conclusion of this study is that Ibogaine can be a successful treatment for substance abuse.</p>

Studiens syfte var att undersöka om naturläkemedlet Ibogain kunde vara en bra behandling för missbruk. För att kunna besvara detta har kvalitativa intervjuer genomförts med fyra personer som genomgått Ibogain-behandling och en psykolog/psykoterapeut på en beroendeklink, Lars Lundell. Utöver dessa intervjuer har en klinik i London besökts som utför Ibogain-behandling. På kliniken gjordes en observationsstudie av behandlingen, samt intervjuer med klinikchefen Dr Brackenridge och en av hans patienter, i uppsatsen kallad Will. Studiens perspektiv utgår från informanterna och våra egna observationer om Ibogain-behandling. Intervjufrågorna har bildats utifrån dessa 3 frågeställningar: 1. Hur går en behandling tillväga rent praktiskt? 2. Hur har livet påverkats av Ibogain-behandling? 3. Vilken syn har informanterna på Ibogain-behandling? I analysen söktes gemensamma nämnare och skillnader i informanternas svar, uppdelat i de tidigare nämnda frågeställningarna. Sedan tolkades denna information med hjälp av litteratur, observationer och egna tankar. I studien ges en mycket samstämmig syn på att utan Ibogain-behandling hade troligtvis inte informanterna varit i livet idag. Resultatet visar tydligt på att informanterna upplever att de fått en mycket bättre livskvalité efter behandlingen. Av de uppgifter som framkommit i studien anser vi att Ibogain är att rekommendera. / The purpose of this study was to investigate if the naturally occurring substance Ibogaine could be a good treatment for substance abuse. In order to answer this question, qualitative interviews have been performed with five persons who have been subject to Ibogain treatment and one psychologist/psychotherapist at an addiction treatment clinic, Lars Lundell. In addition to these interviews an Ibogaine treatment clinic located in London has been visited. At the clinic an observational study of the treatment was carried out as well as interviews with the responsible physician Dr Brackenridge one of his patients, named Will in this paper. The perspective of this study is substance abuse treatment with Ibogaine based on the informants experiences and our own observations. The interviews have been formed based on the following three questions: 1. How is a treatment carried out? 2. How have their lives been affected by the Ibogain treatment? 3. What are the informant’s views on Ibogain treatment? The analysis was made looking for similarities and dissimilarities in the informants answers, divided into the three previously described questions. This information was subsequently interpreted using literature, observations and our own thoughts. The study shows that among the informants there is an almost unanimous opinion that without the Ibogaine treatment they would not be alive today. The study clearly shows that the informants feel that they have a much better quality of life after the treatment. The conclusion of this study is that Ibogaine can be a successful treatment for substance abuse.

<p>Metadon je sintetski agonist opijatnih receptora koji se primenjuje u sklopu supstitucione terapije opijatnih zavisnika metadonom (STM) i u terapiji hroničnog bola. Dugoročna primena STM je praćena blagim, uglavnom prolaznim, neželjenim delovanjima. Međutim, metadon pripada grupi lekova koji mogu da prouzrokuju prolongaciju korigovanog QT intervala (QTc) u elektrokardiogramu (EKG-u) i povećaju rizik za nastanak potencijalno fatalnih aritmija tipa torsades de pointes. Opijatni zavisnici metadon najče&scaron;će koriste u kombinaciji sa benzodiazepinima, i ova kombinacija lekova predstavlja faktor rizika za nastanak smrtnog ishoda. Iako je najveći broj lekara upoznat sa rizikom za razvoj respiratorne depresije prilikom primene opijata u kombinacji sa benzodiazepinima, velika studija otkriva da su ventrikularne aritmije i srčani zastoj najče&scaron;će prijavljivana neželjena delovanja metadona, primenjenog u kombinaciji sa benzodiazepinima. Ciljevi ovoga radu su da se analizom smrtnih slučajeva povezanih sa upotrebom metadona (MRDs) tokom desetogodi&scaron;njeg perioda na teritoriji Vojvodine i sprovođenjem kliničkog ispitivanja kod opijatnih zavisnika na STM proceni kardiolo&scaron;ka bezbednost primene metadona, posebno u kombinaciji sa benzodiazepinima. Sprovedena je retrospektivna studija za određivanje karakteristika MRDs na teritoriji Vojvodine, kao i kliničko ispitivanje u kome su učestvovali opijatni zavisnici koji počinju sa STM. Snimanje EKG-a (za izračunavanje QTc intervala) i uzorkovanje krvi (za određivanje koncentracije metadona i diazepama i vrednosti troponina) je sprovedeno kod svih učesnika istraživanja u 5 vremenskih tačaka (pre početka primene STM, 8. i 15. dana i nakon 1. i 6. meseca primene STM). Koncentracije metadona i diazepama u serumu su određivane metodom tečne hromatografije sa masenom spektrometrijom (LC-MS). U Vojvodini je zapažena rastuća tendencija MRDs, ali ni jedan od umrlih nije bio na STM, i najverovatnije su samoinicijativno koristili metadon i benzodiazepine. Patohistolo&scaron;ki nalaz na srcu može govoriti u prilog kardiotoksičnosti metadona i njegove kombinacije sa benzodiazepinima, pogotovo kod slučajeva sa pronađenim akutnim miokardijalnim o&scaron;tećenjem. &Scaron;to se tiče hroničnih promena na srcu, ne postoji mogućnosti da se potvrdi niti opovrgne uloga psihostimulanasa. Detektovane koncentracije metadona i diazepama kod MRDs su bile u opsegu terapijskih (&lt;1 &mu;g/ml). Poredeći socio-demografske karakteristike opijatnih zavisnika koji su počeli sa STM u ovom istraživanju sa podacima iz sličnih studija sprovedenih &scaron;irom sveta, zapažena je sličnost u pogledu velikog broja karakteristika. Srednje doze metadona 8., 15. dana i nakon 1. i 6. meseca primene STM su bile 40,23&plusmn;17,11 mg, 47,11&plusmn;16,79 mg, 50,00&plusmn;17,55 mg i 78,63&plusmn;18,14 mg, dok su srednje doze diazepama u istim vremenskim tačkama bile 35,92&plusmn;10,47 mg, 33,89&plusmn;9,23 mg, 28,33&plusmn;11,55 mg i 28,12&plusmn;11,67 mg. Srednje koncentracije metadona su u posmatranim tačkama ispitivanja iznosile 153,44&plusmn;111,51 ng/ml, 157,43&plusmn;112,39 ng/ml, 176,77&plusmn;118,56 ng/ml i 342,86&plusmn;181,54 ng/ml, dok su srednje koncentracije diazepama bile 923,00&plusmn;537,89 ng/ml, 923,76&plusmn;739,96 ng/ml, 560,74&plusmn;436,72 ng/ml i 1045,32&plusmn;932,72 ng/ml. Dužina QTc intervala pre primene STM je bila 411,87&plusmn;27,22 ms, tj. 414,64&plusmn;29,38 ms 8. dana STM, 416,97&plusmn;26,39 15. dana, i 425,20&plusmn;17,71 ms nakon 1. meseca tj. 423,50&plusmn;14,72 ms nakon 6. meseca primene STM. Pokazan je statistički značajan porast dužine QTc intervala nakon 1. i nakon 6. meseca primene STM u odnosu na vrednost pre primene STM, kako u grupi svih ispitanika, tako i u podgrupi mu&scaron;kog pola. Pokazano je postojanje statistički značajne korelacije između koncentracije metadona i dužine QTc intervala nakon 15. dana, 1. i 6. meseca primene STM, kako kod svih ispitanika, tako i u podgrupi mu&scaron;kog pola. Ova korelacija ostaje statistički značajna i ukoliko se uključe i drugi faktori &ndash; koncentracija diazepama i dužina perioda upotrebe heroina, kod svih ispitanika i u podgrupi mu&scaron;kog pola nakon 15 dana i mesec dana primene STM, kao i u podgrupi mu&scaron;kog pola nakon 6. meseca STM. Iako nijedan pacijent nije prijavio neko neželjeno delovanje metadona na nivou kardiovaskularnog sistema, najveći broj pacijenata oba pola se nakon prvog meseca primene STM žalio na pojačano znojenje i opstipaciju. Koncentracije metadona i diazepama u uzorcima krvi kod MRDs se nalaze u rasponu koncentracija ovih lekova u krvi ispitanika koji su učestvovali u prospektivnoj studiji. Trećina umrlih je imala samo znake akutnog o&scaron;tećenja srca, dok do porasta troponina i vrednosti QTc intervala preko 500 ms nije do&scaron;lo ni kod jednog ispitanika iz prospektivne studije. Potrebno je sprovesti dalja istraživanja sa ciljem razja&scaron;njenja moguće uloge benzodiazepina u povećanju kardiotoksičnosti metadona kod opijatnih zavisnika na STM.</p> / <p>Methadone is a synthetic agonist of opioid receptors which is used in methadone maintenance tratment (MMT) of opiate addicts as well as in the treatment of chronic pain. A long-term use of MMT is followed by mild, mostly transient, adverse effects. However, methadone belongs to a group of medicines which can provoke a prolongation of QTc (corrected QT) interval in electrocardiogram (ECG) and thus increase the risk from the development of potentially fatal arrhythmias &ndash; torsades de pointes. Moreover, methadone is widely associated with benzodiazepines use in heroin addicts, and this combination is considered as a risk factor for lethal outcome. Despite the fact that most of health care professionals are aware of possible respiratory depressant effect of methadone and benzodiazepines co-administration, recently published data reveal that ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest are currently the most frequent adverse event attributed to methadone and benzodiazepine co-medication. The aim of this study is to assess cardiac safety of methadone use, especially in combination with benzodiazepines, by analyzing characteristics of methadone-related deaths (MRDs) during 10-year period as well as by conducting a clinical trial among opiate addicts in MMT. A retrospective study to determine the characteristics of MRDs in Vojvodina, as well as a clinical trial in which participated opiate addicts at the start of MMT were performed. ECG (to calculate QTc interval) and blood sampling (to determine methadone and diazepam concentrations and troponin values) were performed in all study participants at five time points (before the introduction of MMT, on 8th, on 15th day, after 1 and 6 months of MMT). Methadone and diazepam concentrations in serum were determined by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). An increasing tendency of MRDs was observed in the region of Vojvodina, but none of the victims were under healthcare professionals&rsquo; control, and, most commonly, they used methadone and benzodiazepines, on their own initiative. Pathohistological findings in the heart in MRDs might support cardiac adverse effects of methadone and its combination with benzodiazepines, especially in cases with acute myocardial damage. As for the chronic heart changes, we can neither confirm nor exclude the role of psychostimulants. Detected concentrations of methadone and diazepam were in therapeutic range (&lt;1 &mu;g/ml). Comparing socio-demographic characteristics of opiate addicts who started with MMT in this study with data from similar studies conducted worldwide, the similarity in terms of large number of features was observed. The mean methadone dose on the 8th, 15th days, and after 1 and 6 months of MMT was 40.23&plusmn;17.11 mg, 47.11&plusmn;16.79 mg, 50.00&plusmn;17.55 mg and 78.63&plusmn;18.14 mg, respectively, while the mean diazepam dose at the same time points was 35.92&plusmn;10.47 mg, 33.89&plusmn;9.23 mg, 28.33&plusmn;11.55 mg and 28.12&plusmn;11.67 mg, respectively. The mean methadone concentration at observed time points was 153.44&plusmn;111.51 ng/ml, 157.43&plusmn;112.39 ng/ml, 176.77&plusmn;118.56 ng/ml and 342.86&plusmn;181.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the mean diazepam concentration was 923.00&plusmn;537.89 ng/ml, 923.76&plusmn;739.96 ng/ml, 560.74&plusmn;436.72 ng/ml and 1045.32&plusmn;932.72 ng/ml, respectively. The length of QTc interval before the introduction of MMT was 411.87&plusmn;27.22 ms, 414.64&plusmn;29.38 ms on the 8th day of MMT, 416.97&plusmn;26.39 on the 15th day of MMT, after 1 month of MMT 425.20&plusmn;17.71 ms and after 6 months of MMT 423.50&plusmn;14.72 ms. There was a statistically significant increase in the length of QTc interval after 1 and 6 months of MMT in comparison to the value before the application of MMT, within the whole group of patients and in the subgroup of men. A statistically significant correlation between the concentration of methadone and QTc interval length after 15 days, 1 and 6 months of MMT, both in the whole group and in the subroup of men was observed. The correlation remained statistically significant if the other factors, such as concentration of diazepam and the length of heroin use, were included, in all patients and in the subgroup of men after 15 days and one month of MMT as well as in the subgroup of men after 6 months of MMT. Although none of the patients reported any cardiac adverse effect of methadone, the majority of them complained of sweating and constipation after the first month of MMT. Concentrations of methadone and diazepam in blood samples in MRDs were within the range of concentrations of these drugs in blood of patients who participated in the prospective study. In one third of MRDs only signs of acute myocardial damage were detected, while an increase in troponin values and the length of QTc interval over 500 ms did not occur in any patient in the prospective study. Further studies could clarify the possible role of benzodiazepines in the increasing cardiotoxicity of methadone in opiate addicts in MMT.</p>