A comparison of the severity of substance use disorder in patients with natural opium use versus heroin use
Background: Historically and culturally, natural opium is considered less harmful in comparison to heroin/pharmaceutical opioids, but the evidence regarding this is limited and mostly indirect. Aim: The aim of this analysis was to compare problems experienced by patients with natural opium and heroi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_1162_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Historically and culturally, natural opium is considered less harmful in comparison to heroin/pharmaceutical opioids, but the evidence regarding this is limited and mostly indirect.
Aim:
The aim of this analysis was to compare problems experienced by patients with natural opium and heroin use.
Methods:
The study is a secondary analysis of data collected during the development of the Assessment of Severity of Substance use for Outcomes Research and Treatment (ASSORT) scale. Patients with natural opium use (n = 72) and heroin use (n = 172) were compared.
Results:
Natural opium users were of higher age and from a rural background. The ASSORT score was significantly lower among natural opium users than heroin users (mean 77.8 versus 99.7, P < 0.001). Natural opium users experienced fewer problems in all domains of ASSORT except problems in physical health.
Conclusion:
Hence, patients with natural opium use experience fewer problems in comparison to those with heroin use. |
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| ISSN: | 0019-5545 1998-3794 |