The most modern medically assisted method of substitution treatment of opiate dependants with Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) has been implemented in Department of Psychiatry in Tuzla from 27 July 2009. The treatment may improve quality of life (QoL) of treated opiate addicts and of their family members.

To assess QoL of treated opiate dependant individuals and their family members who signed contract to be partners in outpatient administering of substitution medicament Suboxone in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The study was carried out in northeast part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in August 2009-October 2011. We assessed 40 (six females) opiate addicts aged 27.5 ± 5.3 years who were in medically assisted treatment with Suboxone. The first testing realized during psychological assessment in the beginning of treatment and retest realized two years after treatment initiated; also we tested and 40 family members of treated addicts for QoL. We used Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA).

During the first and second measuring of QoL there were no significant differences between opiate dependant individuals and their family members (p > 0.05). After second measuring, QoL of treated individuals increased from (mean±standard deviation=39.4 ± 9.3) to (65.1 ± 9.3)(t = −8.277, P < 0.001, Paired Samples test); and QoL of their family members increased from (44.7 ± 13.9) to (64.2 ± 9.2, t= − 5.956, P < 0.001, Paired Samples test).

Medically assisted treatment of opiate dependence with Suboxone implemented as outpatient treatment with involvement of close family members who are not drug dependant, improved quality of life of treated opiate dependants and their family members.