Lacunae in Current Understanding of Opioid Substitution Therapy in Patients Dependent on Poppy Husk

Abstract

Substance use is a widely prevalent problem in India and has serious public health implications. Among various substances used in India, opioids hold a special place. Currently, the most common opioid being abused in the country is heroin. However, there is a large number of natural opiates users too. Current treatment regimens for opioid dependence follow either abstinence based approach or harm-reduction based approach. The latter is implemented through opioid substitution therapy (OST). Existing treatment protocols for OST are based on studies carried out in heroin users. Though OST is being used in natural opiate users too, research in this group is limited. Research on poppy husk users is scanty. As a result, users of natural opioids, especially poppy husk are being given OST on empirical basis. There is a need to carry out further studies in this group so as to reach at establish reasonable treatment protocol of OST for poppy husk users.