Diversion of opioid maintenance treatment medications and predictors for diversion among Finnish maintenance treatment patients

• We examine the predictors for diversion among all Finnish OMT patients (n = 1508).
• Of all respondents, 7% had sold and 12% had given away their own OMT medication.
• More diversion is associated with BNX medication and its low (<9.0 mg) daily dose.
• Most diversion occurs among patients who use intoxicating drugs intravenously.
• Focus on these predictors is essential when aiming to reduce diversion within OMT.

BackgroundDiversion (i.e. selling or giving away) of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) medications is a challenge that concerns many units providing OMT worldwide and tools for prevention are needed. The object of this study was to examine the prevalence and predictors for diversion of the OMT medications buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) and methadone (MET) among Finnish OMT patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among all Finnish OMT patients of whom 60% (n = 1508) participated. The data were collected by anonymous questionnaires distributed through all OMT units in Finland. To evaluate predictors for diversion, we used binominal regression analysis with unadjusted and adjusted ORs. Selling and/or giving away of OMT medication was used as a dependent variable and explanatory variables were gender, age, duration of OMT, type of OMT medication and dose, dispensation method of OMT medication, place of residence and intravenous use of any intoxicating drugs during the past six months.ResultsOf all 1508 respondents, 7% (n = 100) had sold and 12% (n = 169) had given their OMT medication to others, 57% for money and 23% in exchange for other drugs. In multivariate analysis, predictors associated with diversion were BNX as OMT medication (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.76–4.33), low (<9.0 mg/day) BNX dose (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.01–2.98), intravenous use of intoxicating drugs during the past six months (OR 4.48, 95% CI 3.13–6.43) and increasing length of OMT (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02). Age, place of residence or unsupervised pharmacy distribution of BNX were not associated with diversion.ConclusionsIn order to reduce diversion, more interventions are needed to support patients to stop concurrent substance abuse. Increasing control measures, for example, increased supervision, are unlikely to prevent diversion. Given that sub-optimal dosing of BNX increases the risk of diversion, more attention should be paid to providing patients with an optimal medical dose.