Patients who begin treatment for opiate dependence, are five times more likely to die within the first four weeks, when they were appointed to the most frequently used drug, methadone, buprenorphine than the alternative. The study examined 32,033 patients starting treatment with methadone or buprenorphine between 2001 and 2010. Patients who began treatment with buprenorphine had a lower risk of death from any cause during the first four weeks of treatment.

However, after four weeks, there was little difference in the risk of death between methadone and buprenorphine. About 50,000 Australians and more than 100 000 people in the UK are currently receiving treatment Pharmacotherapeutic opioid dependence on heroin or other opioids. About two-thirds of them are treated with methadone, and the rest - buprenorphine, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Buprenorphine is considered safer because it rarely causes breathing problems. Both drugs are approved by the World Health Organization.

Dr. Jo Kimber, one of the leading authors of the study, said: "Before the physician prescribing opioid substitution therapy, there is an important dilemma: which drug carries less risk to the patient. According to our data, at least at the start of drug treatment, buprenorphine has clear advantages over methadone in reducing the risk of mortality ".

Professor Louisa Degenhardt, one of the authors of the study, added: "These results speak in favor of a graded approach to treatment. Replacement therapy - a cost-effective and safe method of treatment for opioid dependence ". Professor Matthew Hickman said: "These results are important for doctors treating patients with problems of drug addiction. One way to reduce risk could be the appointment of buprenorphine during the first four weeks and then switch to methadone at a later stage, with no increased risk ".