OST Diversion
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the motivation behind and the extent of diversion of prescribed opioid substitution therapy in Birmingham
IRAS ID
154420
Contact name
Kevin Ratcliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust
Research summary
The use of drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine (so-called “opioid substitution therapy“ or OST) is an evidence-based intervention supporting patients with heroin addiction. It is generally understood within treatment services that a proportion of the prescribed medication is diverted. This study seeks to determine the extent of this diversion and what motivates patients to either divert their own medication or obtain diverted medication for their own use. The study aims to anonymously survey approximately 500 patients currently being prescribed OST. Researchers will survey these patients in our Trust treatment centres and in a selection of community pharmacies. In addition, a separate cohort of people visiting needle exchanges within the city (who are not known to treatment services) will also be anonymously surveyed. All people surveyed will be adults 18 years old and over. It is anticipated that the study will take approximately six months to complete. The data collected is needed to inform clinical decisions and risk management.
This research is being funded by an educational grant from Reckitt Benckiser.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0213
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion