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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2024, 26, 6

The effective management of Addiction: An Italian Experts’ Opinion using a Nominal Group Technique (NGT) Approach

Simone De Persis, Alessandro Pallucchini, Monica Baiano, Arianna Camporese, Rossella Garofano, Francesco Mancuso, Ilenia Zanoni, Marialuisa Grech, and Salvatore de Fazio

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2024-6

Summary: Background. The Addiction Services in Italy are highly heterogeneous as they are coordinated at a regional level. Therefore, although they must be adapted to local realities, there is a need to standardise the approaches nationally by defining some shared standards. This project aimed to identify and share experts’ opinions concerning the operative management of the addicted patient to promote a homogeneous approach in Italy and favour appropriate and integrated handling in the phases of reception, care and reintegration of the addicted patient. Methods. A two-round, web-based, Nominal Group Technique (NGT) methodology involving nine Italian experts on Addiction has been used. Results. The board agreed on the new goals to promote appropriate and differentiated management according to the stages of the disease and the patient's needs and to encourage early action on addiction. Three main areas of intervention were identified: the optimisation of services (training, multidisciplinary and sharing of pathways); the management of pathways (medical and psychological assessment, patient stratification, differentiation of pathways by target population) awareness raising interventions (preventive strategies mainly addressed to the adolescent and high-risk youth population). Conclusions. The conclusions of this study, although resulting from the analysis of the Italian reality, are consistent with international guidelines; these can, therefore, in our opinion, stimulate further discussion on the correct management of addicted patients also at an international level.

Keywords: Addiction; operational management; Italian consensus