Drug Misuse: Opioid Detoxification: - The NICE Guideline

This evidence-based clinical guideline endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) presents guidance on physical, psychological and service-level interventions for healthcare staff on how to work with people who misuse opioids to significantly improve their treatment and care, and to deliver detoxification safely and effectively. Of the estimated 4 million people in the UK who use illicit drugs each year, approximately 50,000 misuse opioids (such as heroin, opium, morphine, codeine, and methadone). Opioid misuse presents a considerable health risk and can lead to significant social problems. The NICE guideline is an important tool in helping people to overcome their drug problem. It provides an overview of drug misuse and opioid detoxification and covers assessment and testing, pharmacological and physical interventions used in detoxification, psychosocial interventions to support detoxification, and the settings in which the treatment can take place. The book contains experiences by people who have been dependent on opioids, and there is also advice for family members and carers of people with a drug problem.