Table 6 Main points emerged from the case series

Buprenorphine implant proposal*

• Psychological response to the proposal:

moderate interest (n = 4),

genuine enthusiasm (n = 2)

• Motivation for the acceptance of the buprenorphine implant:

achieving detoxification (n = 6),

re-gain daily freedom (n = 6),

improve quality of life (n = 6),

reluctance to visit the Addiction Service and desire to evade the related self- and external-perceived stigma (n = 6),

disengagement from daily intake and associated mood swing (n = 6)

Surgery outcome

• Intra-operative:

smooth surgical procedure (n = 6)

• Post-operative:

mild infection at the implant site (n = 1),

overdose/withdrawal symptoms (n = 1)

Follow-up visits

• Duration: 3 months (case report 1) or 7–9 months

• Frequency: variable from once a week to once every 1.5 months

• Main findings and assessments:

consistently negative opioid toxicological tests (n = 6),

positive or very positive outcomes emerging from psychometric tests for cravings (n = 6),

positive or very positive outcomes emerging from self-reported quality of life questionnaires (n = 6)

End of therapy

• Psychological response to the implant:

satisfaction and happiness (n = 6),

perception to be on the right path toward detoxification (n = 6),

shift in self-perception, enhanced emotional stability, heightened introspective ability, renewed energy, and stabilized mood (n = 3),

absence of cravings (n = 6),

declining a second implant and additional OAT, patients conveyed a feeling of having “successfully distanced themselves from addiction after many years” (n = 6),

• Clinicians observed that all patients exhibited all the necessary conditions for a favourable overall outcome of the treatment