Go back or Close Window
6B.2 Treatment completers

As described in chapter 5B, the population of treatment completers in the trial on inhalable heroin consisted of 283 subjects (75.5% of the 375 subjects in the intention-to-treat population). These 283 subjects were compared with the remaining 92 subjects in the intention-to-treat population who did not complete the (methadone alone or co-prescribed heroin) treatment, utilizing the same set of baseline variables as displayed in paragraph 6B.1.1. None of the baseline characteristics in the areas of demographic background, physical health status, psychiatric status, social functioning, and substance use showed significant differences (Bonferroni correction; overall p-value for each domain separately: p<0.10) between the two sub-populations. Hence, overall, the baseline characteristics of the treatment completers in the intention-to-treat population did not differ from those who did not complete treatment.

  • As intended, the study population consisted of chronically poor functioning, treatment-resistant heroin dependent patients. The participants had a long history of poly drug use, and participation in addiction treatments, including long-term methadone maintenance treatment. Despite earlier treatment efforts, patients had serious problems and experienced treatment needs with regard to their physical health, psychiatric status, and social functioning.

  • Within each of these domains of functioning, approximately two-thirds of the patients were included in the study. Inclusion occurred most often on the basis of poor functioning in more than one problem domain.

  • Randomization was successful, as indicated by the similarity in background characteristics, addiction history, additional problems, and inclusion profiles between the subjects in the three treatment groups.

  • The trial on inhalable heroin included more subjects from an ethnic non-Dutch background than the trial on injectable heroin. On all other investigated variables, the subjects in the two trials were comparable at the start of the study.