Agonist Treatment for Opioid Dependence Syndrome: The Impact of Current Understanding upon Recommendations for Policy Initiatives

Cheryl Dickson, Valérie Junod, René Stamm, Emilien Jeannot, Robert Hämmig, Willem Scholten and Olivier Simon
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Cheryl Dickson: Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Valérie Junod: Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
René Stamm: Independant Counsultant, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Emilien Jeannot: Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Robert Hämmig: Dr. Robert Ltd. on behalf of the Swiss Society of Addiction Medicine, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
Willem Scholten: Willem Scholten Consultancy, NL-3411 AD Lopik, The Netherlands
Olivier Simon: Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-8

Abstract: The provision of opioid agonist treatments (OATs), as a standard approach towards opioid dependence syndrome, differs widely between countries. In response to access disparities, in 2014, the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group first brought together an expert group on framework conditions for the treatment of opioid dependence. The group used a Delphi approach to structure their discussions and develop guiding principles for the modernisation of OAT regulations and legislation. The expert group identified some 60 guiding principles, which were then the subject of wide public consultation. Endorsed by Pompidou Group member states, the final report identified four key recommendations: (1) Prescription and delivery without prior authorisation schemes; (2) Effective removal of financial barriers to access to care; (3) Coordination and follow-up by a national consultative body; and (4) Neutral, precise and respectful terminology. During meetings, the expert group hypothesised that inequalities in OAT access are likely to be linked to underlying rationales which in theory are contradictory, but in practice co-exist within the different political frameworks. The present article considers the perceived influence upon different regulatory frameworks. Discussion is centred around the potential impact of underlying rationales upon the effective implementation of a modernised framework.

Keywords: opioid dependence syndrome; opioid agonist treatment; OAT; harm reduction; legislation; policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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