§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out to determine the effectiveness of buprenorphine in the treatment of heroin addiction. [140054]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonBuprenorphine has recently been established as a potential effective alternative substitution treatment for some patients by a number of studies, such as those concentrating on effective doses, including Johnson et al., 1995, Ling et al., 1998 and Strain et al., 1994. Specific differences from methadone have been highlighted in other studies, including Walsh et al., 1994, Reynaud et al., 1998, Bickel & Amass, 1995, Reisinger, 1997 and Barnett P. G. et al., 2001, and trials in Europe have been reviewed by Chapleo et al., 1997. Also, see Uehlinger, C et al., 1998 and Fischer, G et al. 1999 for published studies.
The Cochrane review of buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence in August 2002 concluded, "Buprenorphine is an effective intervention for use in the maintenance treatment of heroin dependence, but it is not more effective than methadone at adequate dosages".