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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2026, 28: 93-102

Field survey with the users of mobile units for opioid agonist treatment in Slovenia

Andrej Kastelic

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2026-12

Summary: Background: Opioid use among young people and overdose deaths continue to grow in Slovenia. Opioid agonist treatment can be life-saving but in remote and partly rural areas mobile units can cover wide geographic areas and provide services in a non-judgemental atmosphere and privacy in a customised van. Methods. A tender was organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Republic of Slovenia in 2017 for prevention and harm reduction programmes involving mobile units, including opioid agonist treatment mobile units; the project was co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus. The field survey with the clients was conducted in March 2025 using individual interviews as the research method. Results. Users of the mobile OAT clinics report that attending the clinic has a positive impact on their lives promoting continuity of care. The greatest perceived advantage of the mobile OAT clinic is the delivery service and the flexibility of meeting hours and locations, which also provides a positive emotional experience. Conclusions: The general recommendation arising from all the data collected and analysed is that, taking into account the project’s effects and results as well as the success of its implementation, the mobile OAT unit should be retained.

Keywords: opioid agonist treatment; mobile units; field survey; patient interviews