Changes in Self-Reported Hunger Among Patients in Heroin-Assisted Treatment in Norway
M. Leonhardt, Z. GaulenIntroduction
Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is an evidence-based intervention for opioid use disorder (OUD) offered in select countries for patients unresponsive to standard treatments. It provides supervised medical heroin (diacetylmorphine) as an injection or in a tablet form in clinical settings. In 2022, Norway launched a five-year HAT model project, currently under comprehensive evaluation including medical, psychological, and social outcomes. Food security and hunger are emerging issues in addiction research but have scarcely been examined in the context of HAT.
Objectives
This sub-study investigates changes in the self-reported frequency of hunger among HAT patients in Norway over the first 12 months of treatment, and examines whether food access, demographics, substance use, and clinic site predict variation in how often patients report feeling hungry.
Methods
Self-reported data on hunger frequency and eating patterns were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Breakfast was provided at the Oslo clinic site but not in Bergen. Descriptive statistics characterized the cohort at baseline, and ordinal logistic regression was applied to examine changes in hunger frequency and the effects of predictors.
Results
A total of 126 participants (Bergen n = 40; Oslo n=86) were recruited, predominantly male (80.2%) with a mean age of 45.5 years (SD 9.1). Most had primary or secondary education and stable housing. Baseline site differences were observed (Table 1).
Characteristics of participants (N=126) at study sites Bergen and Oslo Table 1. Long description.