Evidence on the Effectiveness of Heroin-Assisted Treatment

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Abstract

With the dramatic rise in overdose mortality related to heroin and synthetic opioids, there has been increased attention to the role of innovative strategies to expand access to treatments for opioid use disorder in order to combat the rising social costs of the opioid crisis. As a treatment option for individuals with chronic heroin dependence who have not responded to traditional medication therapies, several countries have experimented with offering pharmaceutical-grade heroin as treatment for opioid use disorder. Today, heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is available in 58 clinics across eight countries, with four countries offering HAT as part of the standard treatment system. This study assesses evidence for the effectiveness of HAT with respect to individual, community, and economic outcomes.

Author

• Rosanna Smart, RAND Corporation