{"id":7228,"date":"2026-01-23T11:12:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/?p=7228"},"modified":"2026-07-14T11:07:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:07:39","slug":"opioid-substitution-treatment-in-bulgaria-2012-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/opioid-substitution-treatment-in-bulgaria-2012-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Opioid substitution treatment in Bulgaria (2012 \u2013 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Prevalence of psychoactive substance use
Prevalence of medication use
Prevalence of drug use
Drug Prevention<\/a><\/strong><\/td>		Treatment Supply<\/a>
Treatment Demand
Health consequences<\/a>
Harm reduction<\/a><\/strong><\/td>		Drug-related crimes<\/a>
Drug market<\/a>
Drug use and prison<\/a>
Monitoring of publications<\/a>
Attitudes to legal framework changes<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Database (2001 – 2025).xlsx<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Number of programmes and clients in opioid substitution treatment (2012 – 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/td>2012<\/strong><\/td>2013<\/strong><\/td>2014<\/strong><\/td>2015<\/strong><\/td>2016<\/strong><\/td>2017<\/strong><\/td>2018<\/strong><\/td>2019<\/strong><\/td>2020<\/strong><\/td>2021<\/strong><\/td>2022 <\/strong><\/td>2023<\/strong><\/td>2024<\/strong><\/td>2025<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Number of OST programmes<\/td>31<\/td>30<\/td>30<\/td>30<\/td>32<\/td>30<\/td>30<\/td>30<\/td>29<\/td>28<\/td>28<\/td>28<\/td>28<\/td>26<\/td><\/tr>
Number of cities with OST programme<\/td>14<\/td>14<\/td>14<\/td>14<\/td>16<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>5171<\/td>4642<\/td>4632<\/td>4258<\/td>4377<\/td>4037<\/td>4122<\/td>4102<\/td>3874<\/td>3727<\/td>3636<\/td>3627<\/td>3536<\/td>3081<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>3404<\/td>3568<\/td>3404<\/td>3423<\/td>3338<\/td>3247<\/td>3181<\/td>3072<\/td>3031<\/td>2975<\/td>2850<\/td>2833<\/td>2676<\/td>2438<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>65.83<\/td>76.86<\/td>73.49<\/td>80.39<\/td>76.26<\/td>80.43<\/td>77.17<\/td>74.89<\/td>78.24<\/td>79.82<\/td>78.38<\/td>78.11<\/td>75.68<\/td>79.13<\/td><\/tr>
Treatment with Methadone<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>4681<\/td>4242<\/td>4252<\/td>4010<\/td>4115<\/td>3822<\/td>3907<\/td>3899<\/td>3700<\/td>3578<\/td>3503<\/td>3499<\/td>3408<\/td>2980<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>3289<\/td>3424<\/td>3267<\/td>3264<\/td>3211<\/td>3124<\/td>3058<\/td>2959<\/td>2936<\/td>2885<\/td>2762<\/td>2746<\/td>2593<\/td>2371<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>70.26<\/td>80.72<\/td>76.83<\/td>81.40<\/td>78.03<\/td>81.74<\/td>78.27<\/td>75.89<\/td>79.35<\/td>80.63<\/td>78.85<\/td>78.48<\/td>76.09<\/td>79.56<\/td><\/tr>
Treatment with Substitol<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>460<\/td>225<\/td>241<\/td>220<\/td>233<\/td>196<\/td>191<\/td>185<\/td>158<\/td>138<\/td>124<\/td>120<\/td>121<\/td>94<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>115<\/td>141<\/td>137<\/td>159<\/td>127<\/td>123<\/td>123<\/td>113<\/td>95<\/td>90<\/td>88<\/td>87<\/td>83<\/td>67<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>25.00<\/td>62.67<\/td>56.85<\/td>72.27<\/td>54.51<\/td>62.76<\/td>64.40<\/td>61.08<\/td>60.13<\/td>65.22<\/td>70.97<\/td>72.50<\/td>68.60<\/td>71.28<\/td><\/tr>
Treatment with Buprenorphine<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>30<\/td>175<\/td>139<\/td>28<\/td>29<\/td>19<\/td>24<\/td>18<\/td>16<\/td>11<\/td>9<\/td>8<\/td>7<\/td>7<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td><\/td>3<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
State programmes<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of OST programmes<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>600<\/td>541<\/td>541<\/td>510<\/td>610<\/td>605<\/td>595<\/td>655<\/td>555<\/td>555<\/td>555<\/td>555<\/td>555<\/td>555<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>484<\/td>468<\/td>456<\/td>460<\/td>538<\/td>540<\/td>527<\/td>499<\/td>523<\/td>508<\/td>491<\/td>488<\/td>491<\/td>493<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>80.67<\/td>86.51<\/td>84.29<\/td>90.20<\/td>88.20<\/td>89.26<\/td>88.57<\/td>76.18<\/td>94.23<\/td>91.53<\/td>88.47<\/td>87.93<\/td>88.47<\/td>88.83<\/td><\/tr>
Municipality programmes<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of OST programmes<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>850<\/td>800<\/td>850<\/td>820<\/td>700<\/td>680<\/td>680<\/td>680<\/td>680<\/td>580<\/td>580<\/td>490<\/td>490<\/td>440<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>718<\/td>739<\/td>646<\/td>678<\/td>568<\/td>512<\/td>489<\/td>451<\/td>431<\/td>418<\/td>374<\/td>354<\/td>324<\/td>318<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>84.47<\/td>92.38<\/td>76.00<\/td>82.68<\/td>81.14<\/td>75.29<\/td>71.91<\/td>66.32<\/td>63.38<\/td>72.07<\/td>64.48<\/td>72.24<\/td>66.12<\/td>72.27<\/td><\/tr>
Private programmes<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Number of OST programmes<\/td>22<\/td>21<\/td>21<\/td>21<\/td>23<\/td>21<\/td>21<\/td>21<\/td>20<\/td>19<\/td>19<\/td>19<\/td>19<\/td>18<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots available<\/td>3721<\/td>3301<\/td>3241<\/td>2928<\/td>3067<\/td>2752<\/td>2847<\/td>2767<\/td>2639<\/td>2592<\/td>2501<\/td>2582<\/td>2491<\/td>2086<\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/td>2202<\/td>2361<\/td>2302<\/td>2285<\/td>2232<\/td>2195<\/td>2165<\/td>2122<\/td>2077<\/td>2049<\/td>1985<\/td>1991<\/td>1861<\/td>1627<\/td><\/tr>
Proprortion (%) of slots occupied\/available<\/td>59.18<\/td>71.52<\/td>71.03<\/td>78.04<\/td>72.77<\/td>79.76<\/td>76.04<\/td>76.69<\/td>78.70<\/td>79.05<\/td>79.37<\/td>77.11<\/td>74.71<\/td>78.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Source: National register of opioid substitution treatment<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sex and age of opioid substitution treatment clients (2012 – 2025) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/td>2012<\/strong><\/td>2013<\/strong><\/td>2014<\/strong><\/td>2015<\/strong><\/td>2016<\/strong><\/td>2017<\/strong><\/td>2018<\/strong><\/td>2019<\/strong><\/td>2020<\/strong><\/td>2021<\/strong><\/td>2022<\/strong><\/td>2023<\/strong><\/td>2024<\/strong><\/td>2025<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Number of slots occupied at 31.12<\/strong><\/td>3404<\/strong><\/td>3568<\/strong><\/td>3404<\/strong><\/td>3423<\/strong><\/td>3338<\/strong><\/td>3247<\/strong><\/td>3181<\/strong><\/td>3072<\/strong><\/td>3031<\/strong><\/td>2975<\/strong><\/td>2850<\/strong><\/td>2833<\/strong><\/td>2676<\/strong><\/td>2438<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Males<\/td>2775<\/td>2901<\/td>2761<\/td>2781<\/td>2725<\/td>2647<\/td>2614<\/td>2525<\/td>2467<\/td>2424<\/td>2320<\/td>2310<\/td>2189<\/td>1999<\/td><\/tr>
Females<\/td>629<\/td>667<\/td>643<\/td>642<\/td>613<\/td>600<\/td>567<\/td>547<\/td>564<\/td>551<\/td>530<\/td>523<\/td>487<\/td>439<\/td><\/tr>
Mean age (total)<\/strong><\/td>31.51<\/td>32.44<\/td>33.38<\/td>34.21<\/td>35.10<\/td>36.03<\/td>37.06<\/td>38.06<\/td>38.92<\/td>39.82<\/td>40.71<\/td>41.57<\/td>42.60<\/td>43.59<\/td><\/tr>
Mean age (males)<\/td>31.75<\/td>32.68<\/td>33.64<\/td>34.45<\/td>35.36<\/td>36.31<\/td>37.35<\/td>38.30<\/td>39.19<\/td>40.10<\/td>40.98<\/td>41.87<\/td>42.85<\/td>43.78<\/td><\/tr>
Mean age (females)<\/td>30.45<\/td>31.40<\/td>32.25<\/td>33.19<\/td>33.94<\/td>34.77<\/td>35.68<\/td>36.96<\/td>37.73<\/td>38.58<\/td>39.55<\/td>40.27<\/td>41.51<\/td>42.72<\/td><\/tr>
Age groups<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
15-19<\/td>10<\/td>12<\/td>9<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>4<\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>1<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
20-24<\/td>226<\/td>172<\/td>111<\/td>81<\/td>66<\/td>57<\/td>36<\/td>23<\/td>21<\/td>16<\/td>12<\/td>13<\/td>12<\/td>11<\/td><\/tr>
25-29<\/td>974<\/td>812<\/td>583<\/td>494<\/td>354<\/td>256<\/td>205<\/td>136<\/td>90<\/td>82<\/td>68<\/td>59<\/td>44<\/td>30<\/td><\/tr>
30-34<\/td>1479<\/td>1607<\/td>1475<\/td>1349<\/td>1156<\/td>948<\/td>710<\/td>536<\/td>416<\/td>310<\/td>228<\/td>198<\/td>148<\/td>97<\/td><\/tr>
35-39<\/td>503<\/td>668<\/td>882<\/td>1077<\/td>1244<\/td>1338<\/td>1399<\/td>1313<\/td>1222<\/td>1016<\/td>844<\/td>643<\/td>472<\/td>345<\/td><\/tr>
40-44<\/td>120<\/td>177<\/td>230<\/td>274<\/td>345<\/td>448<\/td>586<\/td>771<\/td>945<\/td>1130<\/td>1177<\/td>1245<\/td>1121<\/td>950<\/td><\/tr>
45-49<\/td>37<\/td>55<\/td>53<\/td>73<\/td>95<\/td>118<\/td>154<\/td>189<\/td>222<\/td>289<\/td>358<\/td>480<\/td>643<\/td>736<\/td><\/tr>
50-54<\/td>23<\/td>30<\/td>29<\/td>32<\/td>31<\/td>36<\/td>38<\/td>46<\/td>58<\/td>70<\/td>93<\/td>113<\/td>148<\/td>172<\/td><\/tr>
55-59<\/td>21<\/td>24<\/td>19<\/td>22<\/td>23<\/td>20<\/td>27<\/td>30<\/td>26<\/td>28<\/td>30<\/td>39<\/td>42<\/td>54<\/td><\/tr>
60-64<\/td>7<\/td>5<\/td>7<\/td>9<\/td>11<\/td>15<\/td>16<\/td>18<\/td>21<\/td>23<\/td>23<\/td>24<\/td>24<\/td>21<\/td><\/tr>
>=65<\/td>4<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>7<\/td>7<\/td>76<\/td>9<\/td>8<\/td>9<\/td>11<\/td>16<\/td>19<\/td>22<\/td>21<\/td><\/tr>
Males<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
15-19<\/td>7<\/td>4<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td><\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
20-24<\/td>154<\/td>114<\/td>63<\/td>45<\/td>38<\/td>32<\/td>16<\/td>11<\/td>10<\/td>9<\/td>7<\/td>8<\/td>7<\/td>9<\/td><\/tr>
25-29<\/td>762<\/td>626<\/td>445<\/td>366<\/td>248<\/td>180<\/td>139<\/td>91<\/td>59<\/td>45<\/td>40<\/td>28<\/td>30<\/td>22<\/td><\/tr>
30-34<\/td>1236<\/td>1334<\/td>1214<\/td>1104<\/td>944<\/td>748<\/td>561<\/td>419<\/td>305<\/td>222<\/td>163<\/td>140<\/td>96<\/td>67<\/td><\/tr>
35-39<\/td>441<\/td>579<\/td>752<\/td>919<\/td>1060<\/td>1138<\/td>1189<\/td>1101<\/td>1003<\/td>830<\/td>671<\/td>510<\/td>377<\/td>260<\/td><\/tr>
40-44<\/td>102<\/td>150<\/td>193<\/td>234<\/td>297<\/td>384<\/td>504<\/td>661<\/td>810<\/td>967<\/td>1002<\/td>1050<\/td>932<\/td>788<\/td><\/tr>
45-49<\/td>29<\/td>43<\/td>44<\/td>57<\/td>78<\/td>99<\/td>132<\/td>160<\/td>190<\/td>249<\/td>310<\/td>420<\/td>558<\/td>635<\/td><\/tr>
50-54<\/td>18<\/td>25<\/td>22<\/td>23<\/td>22<\/td>29<\/td>30<\/td>37<\/td>46<\/td>54<\/td>74<\/td>92<\/td>122<\/td>143<\/td><\/tr>
55-59<\/td>17<\/td>18<\/td>16<\/td>18<\/td>19<\/td>16<\/td>22<\/td>22<\/td>18<\/td>20<\/td>22<\/td>28<\/td>32<\/td>42<\/td><\/tr>
60-64<\/td>5<\/td>3<\/td>5<\/td>7<\/td>10<\/td>12<\/td>13<\/td>15<\/td>17<\/td>18<\/td>18<\/td>19<\/td>17<\/td>15<\/td><\/tr>
>=65<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>6<\/td>8<\/td>7<\/td>8<\/td>10<\/td>13<\/td>15<\/td>18<\/td>17<\/td><\/tr>
Females<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
15-19<\/td>3<\/td>8<\/td>7<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
20-24<\/td>72<\/td>58<\/td>48<\/td>36<\/td>28<\/td>25<\/td>20<\/td>12<\/td>11<\/td>7<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>3<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
25-29<\/td>212<\/td>186<\/td>138<\/td>128<\/td>106<\/td>76<\/td>66<\/td>45<\/td>31<\/td>37<\/td>29<\/td>31<\/td>14<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr>
30-34<\/td>243<\/td>273<\/td>261<\/td>245<\/td>212<\/td>200<\/td>149<\/td>117<\/td>111<\/td>88<\/td>65<\/td>58<\/td>52<\/td>30<\/td><\/tr>
35-39<\/td>62<\/td>89<\/td>130<\/td>158<\/td>184<\/td>200<\/td>210<\/td>212<\/td>219<\/td>186<\/td>173<\/td>133<\/td>95<\/td>85<\/td><\/tr>
40-44<\/td>18<\/td>27<\/td>37<\/td>40<\/td>48<\/td>64<\/td>82<\/td>110<\/td>135<\/td>163<\/td>175<\/td>195<\/td>189<\/td>162<\/td><\/tr>
45-49<\/td>8<\/td>12<\/td>9<\/td>16<\/td>17<\/td>19<\/td>22<\/td>29<\/td>32<\/td>40<\/td>48<\/td>60<\/td>85<\/td>101<\/td><\/tr>
50-54 <\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>7<\/td>9<\/td>9<\/td>7<\/td>8<\/td>9<\/td>12<\/td>16<\/td>19<\/td>21<\/td>26<\/td>29<\/td><\/tr>
55-59<\/td>4<\/td>6<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>11<\/td>10<\/td>12<\/td><\/tr>
60-64<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>1<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>5<\/td>7<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
>=65<\/td><\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Source: National register of opioid substitution treatment<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prevalence of psychoactive substance usePrevalence of medication usePrevalence of drug useDrug Prevention Treatment SupplyTreatment DemandHealth consequencesHarm reduction Drug-related crimesDrug marketDrug use and prisonMonitoring of publicationsAttitudes to legal framework changes Database (2001 – 2025).xlsx Number of programmes and clients in opioid substitution treatment (2012 – 2025) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7228"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7228"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8023,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7228\/revisions\/8023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nfp-drugs.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}