Mono-buprenorphine has been the most abused intravenous opioid in Finland since 2001. A buprenorphine/naloxone combination drug intended to lower the risk of abuse became already available in Finland in 2004. In 2008 the mono-buprenorphine product was placed under special license (for pregnancy only).

The availability of both drug preparations provides an opportunity to assess the extent to which the two products are abused and street priced. The main aim of this study was to evaluate five-year trends of abuse pattern, dosage and street price of illicit opioid abuse in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Conclusion of the study is that buprenorphine is still the most commonly used illicit opioid in Finland. Restrictions on the access of mono-buprenorphine and the lower street price of buprenorphine/naloxone did not significantly alter the illicit use of this drug over several years of its availability on the street.

Keywords: Buprenorphine, Naloxone, Opioids, Intravenous, Polysubstance abuse

Avain-/asiasanat: buprenorfiini, naloksoni, opioidit, suonensisäinen, sekakäyttö