Management of Subutex Addiction: A Case Report in a tunisian psychiatry unit

Introduction Subutex abuse in Tunisia is a phenomenon that is becoming more and more frequent and the management of which is not obvious due to the development of this substance in parallel markets. Objectives Our objective was to assess the patient’s Subutex use and initially assist with withdrawal, followed by achieving abstinence. Methods We followed the case of a patient in the psychiatric unit B at the Razi hospital, for depressive symptoms and having a problem of misuse of Subutex for 4 years, in a difficult family and social context. Results Patient follow-up was done over a one-year period with weekly consultation sessions at the beginning to assess the situation. Although withdrawal was done after a few weeks, it was essential to maintain this abstinence, using psychotherapy based on CBT done over 7 sessions. During the study period, the patient violated abstinence only once in a family conflict. Conclusions The patient’s response to our management has reinforced the hope of being able to treat addiction to Subutex despite the severity of his condition and family and social instability. Disclosure of Interest None Declared