Institutions for persons with disabilities
that the mortality risk increases exponentially through fatal overdoses in
the event of discontinuation or withdrawal of opioid substitution therapy
is criticised as dangerous inaction. Due to the availability – considerably
increased through the Darknet – of hitherto completely unknown highly
dangerous synthetic designer drugs, which is confirmed by the State Office of
Criminal Investigation, the current development is very critical. There were
eleven predominantly young drug-related deaths in Carinthia in 2017.
In the summer of 2017, under the leadership of Gabriele Fischer, university
professor and an internationally recognised addiction expert, the NPM
established a working group with members from all of the commissions, in
which both AOB staff and a former recipient of opioid substitution therapy
were involved. The task of this working group was to systematise existing
observations on outpatient and inpatient institutions and facilities for persons
suffering from addiction, to name structural human rights problem areas
that occurred several times and to develop scenarios for the NPM approach
on future visits. The working group completed their activities at the end of
October 2017 after holding three meetings. Based on this, members of this
working group will form a commission that will work on specific areas of focus
throughout Austria.
XX
Those suffering from addiction must have free and quick access to treatment
programmes. Needs-based, top quality treatment programmes based on scientific
standards must thus be guaranteed in the inpatient and in outpatient sector.
XX
The adequate treatment of comorbid disorders and illnesses has to be an integrative
component of such treatment programmes in after-care facilities.
XX
Relapses must be seen as a part of substance use disorders that is inherent in crises and
require an in-depth multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.
XX
Professional action-oriented expertise on assessing and predicting suicidal tendencies
must be applied before therapy is (involuntary) discontinued. Evidence must be provided
that the affected person has been informed of the increased mortality risk caused by
discontinuing therapy.
XX
Follow-up care facilities must implement standardised crisis and discharge management
with functioning interfaces to better quality care services in hospitals.
99
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