Malmö treatment referral and intervention study—high 12-month retention rates in patients referred from syringe exchange to methadone or buprenorphine/ naloxone treatment
Background: Heroin dependence is associated with high mortality. Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine has strong evidence for treatment of this relapsing condition. In our setting, OAT has been associated with strict and demanding intake procedures, often with requirements of social stability, but also high, approximately 80 percent 12-month retention rates. In a recent r