A study assessing the quality of care provided to patients with opiate addiction finds Greece in first place among 10 European countries. The European Quality Audit of Opioid Treatment (EQUATOR) surveyed the treatment of opioid dependence from the perspective of physicians, patients in treatment, and opioid-users. More than 3,000 doctors and patients from 10 countries (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the UK) participated in the study.

According to the results, Greece ranked first in the psychosocial support benchmark, with 100% of assessed patients receiving psychosocial support treatment, followed by Germany, Norway and Portugal with 63%, 62% and 61%, respectively.


Greece, along with Portugal, also marked the lowest rates of misuse of drug dependence treatment, with levels below 10% (5% in Greece and 8% in Portugal) compared to 49% in Austria and 51% in Denmark.In a related statement, the National Organization for Combatting Drug Addiction (OKANA) said the assessment highlights the significance of a holistic treatment framework that supports patients in a step-by-step approach.