[Heroin prescribing: Is there scientific evidence of its efficacy for the treatment of its dependence?].

It is in the United Kingdom where medical prescription of opiates has been more widely used. Although these practice had been increasing until the sixties, several factors caused a decreased since then, so that it is currently 1.6% of all maintenance programmes, becoming methadone prescription more important.

[Variables related to risk taking behavior for HIV transmission among drug-dependent patients].

Aims: To determine the factors associated with the maintenance of HIV-related risk behaviours in opiate patients dependent and establish whether psychopathology and more specifically personality disorders are part of them.

Design: Cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical elements.

Setting: The inpatient Drug-Dependence Unit of the Psychiatry Department at the Hospital Clínico Universitario in Valencia, Spain.