Dependent heroin users are not a homogeneous group, with some having no other lifetime substance dependence diagnoses whilst others had five other dependence diagnoses. These differences in substance use were reflected in other problems, which increased as the number of other substance dependence diagnoses increases. In addition, clinically important differences between males and females emerged with regard to childhood and adult trauma, antisocial behaviours, mental health disorders, dependence diagnoses and variables associated with a higher number of dependence diagnoses. Despite these differences, the treatment options for heroin dependence are somewhat limited and do not account for the often clinically complex profiles amongst this population.
