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Drug Misuse in Primary Care

Membership

Catriona Matheson (team leader), Christine Bond, Breda Anthony, Mariesha Jaffray, Janice Ferguson, Wendy Hattrick (PhD Student), Hamad Al Ghaferi (PhD Student)

  Team Photo  

Clockwise from top left: Frances Palmer (medical student), Christine Bond, Janice Ferguson, Mark Kirk (medical student) Breda Anthony, Catriona Matheson, Mariesha Jaffray

Remit and Scope

The Drug Misuse in Primary Care Team has a 13 year track record of research into the management and treatment of drug misuse.  The scope of work ranges from population surveys of groups such as health professionals to assess and map service provision, to in depth qualitative assessments of models of care, to Randomised Controlled Trials of specific treatments.  The group has links with the wider drug related research networks in Scotland and the UK. Christine Bond is on the drugs evidence group of the Scottish Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (SACDM) and Catriona Matheson has been on psychostimulant working group and the Injecting Equipment guideline group.

Current Activities

Enhanced Pharmacy Services for Methadone Patients, November 2007-April 2010: This RCT tests the influence of enhanced pharmacy services (EPS) on the outcome of methadone maintenance treatment. EPS are intended to complement the treatment already undertaken by making constructive use of the high level of contact pharmacists have with daily methadone patients. EPS are based on motivational interviewing techniques adapted for the pharmacy setting.  A cluster, randomised, controlled trial design is being used in which pharmacies are randomised to the control or intervention group.  The intervention group receive 4 training sessions on motivational interviewing skills and the control group will continue with normal practice. 540 patients are taking part  Please click on this link for further information.

Fraserburgh needle exchange retrospective cohort study December 2009 – June 2010:  The Fraserburgh needle exchange, based at Kessock clinic, has been operating for 10 years.  Some of the original clients still use the service.  This study is exploring the drug use, injecting practice and service use of these individuals through in depth interviews and short questionnaires.

Exploring the Preferences of Injecting Drug Users for Needle Exchange Service Development. April- September 2010. This study will repeat a survey conducted in 2007 which sought IDUs views of how services could be developed and asked them to prioritise these potential developments.  Repeating the survey will provide information on the effective implementation of subsequent service developments e.g. increased opening hours, the introduction of paraphernalia, new needle exchange services etc.

Pilot RCT of 3 month vs 6 month vs twice weekly methadone supervision, December 2008-December 2009): This pilot project tests the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of different models of methadone supervision. It is being conducted with research colleagues in East Anglia, Glasgow and Highland. The pilot aims to test whether it is possible to recruit patients and whether clinicians are prepared to follow the study protocol when patients are assigned to a treatment arm which differs from their routine practice.  Patients are being recruited in Glasgow and Highland.

Most Recent Publications

  1. Matheson C., Porteous T. Bond C., van Teijlingen E. A Follow up survey of general practice input in drug misuse management.  (British Journal of General Practice, in press 2010)
  2. Alkamis A., Matheson C., Bond CM. (2009) General practitioners management of psychostimulant drug misuse: Implications for education and training. Drugs Education, Prevention and Policy. 2009;16:343.
  3. Matheson C, Anthony G B, Bond C, Rossi M K.  Assessing and prioritizing the preferences of injecting drug users in needle and syringe exchange service development.  J Pub Health 2008; 30(2): 133-38.
  4. Hall S. Matheson C Barriers to the provision of needle exchange services: a qualitative study in community pharmacies. IJPP 2008,16:11-16
  5. Matheson C, Bond CM, Tinelli M, Community pharmacy harm reduction services for drug misusers: national service delivery and professional attitude development over a decade in Scotland. J. Public Health Med., 2007; 29: 350 - 357.
  6. Matheson C., van Teijlingen E, Bond CM, Cameron I.  Specialist Nurses Assessment and Decision Making in the Management of Drug Misusers.  Drugs Education, Prevention and Policy 2006;13(6):551-562.
  7. Cameron I., Matheson C., Bond CM (2006) A Survey of Community Pharmacists training needs in the management of opioid dependent clients in Grampian, Scotland.  Pharm J.276:601-603.
  8. Cameron I., Matheson C., Bond CM, van Teijlingen E., Wardell F., Cronkshaw G., Lawrie T. A National Survey of nurses working in the management of illicit drug misuse in Scotland.  Int J Drug Policy2006: 17:442-426.
  9. Simoens S. Matheson C., Bond CM., Inkster K., Ludbrook A.  Pharmaco-economics of community maintenance for opiate dependence: a review of evidence and methodology.  Drug Alc Dep. 2006, 84:28-39.
  10. Simoens S. Matheson C., Bond CM., Inkster K., Ludbrook A. (2005) The effectiveness of community maintenance with methadone or buprenorphine for treating opiate dependence.  Br J Gen Pract; 55: 139-146.

Academic Primary Care
University of Aberdeen · Polwarth Building · Foresterhill · Aberdeen · AB25 2ZD
Tel : (01224) 437264 · Fax (01224) 437285 · Email: primarycare@abdn.ac.uk

Page last updated: Wednesday, 24-Feb-2010 13:45:01 GMT

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