1
|
Lowenstein M, Popova E, Jalloh A, Mazzella S, Botcheos D, Bertocchi J, Westfahl S, Garcia KP, Truchil R, Chertok J. The Mobile Overdose Response Program: A mobile, low-threshold opioid use disorder treatment model in Philadelphia. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2024; 164:209429. [PMID: 38857828 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Low-threshold substance use treatment programs may help overcome barriers for marginalized individuals. The aims of this study were to 1) describe participant characteristics and treatment outcomes for a multi-site, Philadelphia-based mobile program providing street-based buprenorphine initiation, stabilization, and referral to ongoing care and 2) examine associations between patient characteristics and successful linkage. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving buprenorphine through Prevention Point Philadelphia's mobile overdose response program from 9/2020-12/2021. We abstracted electronic medical record data, including patient characteristics, mobile program treatment, and care linkage. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and assessed the association between patient characteristics and successful care linkage using multi-variable logistic regression. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-seven patients initiated buprenorphine in the program across six sites. Mean age was 46. Participants were majority men (67 %); 59 % identified as Black, 33 % identified as White, and 15 % reported Hispanic ethnicity. Most were publicly insured (74 %) and 30 % were unstably housed. Basedline engagement in primary care (32 %), psychiatric treatment (5 %), and counseling (2 %) were low. Most participants reported heroin or fentanyl use at intake (87 %), with high rates of IV drug use (37 %)., and co-occurring substance use and prior buprenorphine treatment experience were common.. 86 % completed ≥1 mobile follow-up visit, and 69 % completed ≥4 mobile program visits. 51 % of patients attended at least one visit at an outside site, and 30 % had ≥2 visits for buprenorphine prescriptions at an outside site. 35 % of the referrals were internal, meaning they went to University-based practices staffed by the mobile unit physicians. In a multivariable logistic regression model, internal referral was associated with significantly increased odds of effective care linkage (aOR 2.47, 95 % CI 1.20-5.09). CONCLUSIONS Targeted community outreach with low-threshold substance use care facilitated treatment access among marginalized individuals. Participants showed high levels of engagement with the mobile program, but rates of outside care linkage, while comparable to retention in other low-threshold models, were lower. The only predictor of effective care linkage was referral to brick-and-mortar clinics staffed by mobile unit physicians. These findings support the importance of outreach beyond traditional health care settings to engage high-risk patients with OUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Lowenstein
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ellena Popova
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aminata Jalloh
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rachael Truchil
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Judy Chertok
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brinzo PN, Martins SS. Racial/ethnic trends in opioid and polysubstance opioid overdose mortality in adolescents and young adults, 1999-2020. Addict Behav 2024; 156:108065. [PMID: 38772226 PMCID: PMC11179956 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous reports have described variations in opioid overdose mortalities among different race/ethnicity groups. We have analyzed racial/ethnicity trends in opioid and polysubstance opioid overdose mortalities in adolescents and young adults to further characterize differences and potential sub-epidemics within this specific population. METHODS We used mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) Multiple Cause of Death file from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose mortalities were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Joinpoint regression was used to examine mortality rates for all opioids, opioids with a stimulant, opioids with benzodiazepines, and opioids with alcohol among racial/ethnic groups (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic other) in adolescents and young adults. RESULTS The Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) for mortality due to opioid and polysubstance opioid overdose increased for all racial/ethnic groups where data was available for analysis from 1999 to 2020. For mortality due to any opioid and any opioid with a stimulant, the greatest AAPC was seen among non-Hispanic Blacks. CONCLUSIONS Unprecedented increases in mortality due to opioid overdose occurred in the last two decades among adolescents and young adults. Heterogenous trends support the notion that the previously defined opioid overdose epidemic "waves" may not accurately depict the effects of the crisis in all race/ethnicity groups. Additionally, alarming increases in opioid-stimulant overdose mortality starting in 2012 further characterize the interrelated effects of the third and fourth waves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paige N Brinzo
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York NY, USA.
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Callister C, Porter S, Vatterott P, Keniston A, McBeth L, Mann S, Calcaterra SL, Limes J. The Impact of Completing X-Waiver Training and Clinical Addiction Exposure on Internal Medicine Residents Treating Patients With Opioid Use Disorder. SUBSTANCE USE & ADDICTION JOURNAL 2024; 45:356-366. [PMID: 38258815 DOI: 10.1177/29767342231221004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treating opioid use disorder (OUD) with buprenorphine or methadone significantly reduces overdose and all-cause mortality. Prior studies demonstrate that clinicians and residents reported a lack of preparedness to diagnose or treat OUD. Little is known about how clinical exposure or buprenorphine X-waiver training impacts OUD care delivery by resident physicians. OBJECTIVE Distinguish the effects of X-waiver training and clinical exposure with OUD on resident's knowledge, attitudes, feelings of preparedness, and practices related to OUD treatment provision. METHODS From August 2021 to April 2022, we distributed a cross-sectional survey to internal medicine residents at a large academic training program. We analyzed associations between self-reported clinical exposure and X-waiver training across 4 domains: knowledge about best practices for OUD treatment, attitudes about patients with OUD, preparedness to treat OUD, and clinical experience with OUD. RESULTS Of the 188 residents surveyed, 91 responded (48%). A majority of respondents had not completed X-waiver training (60%, n = 55) while many had provided clinical care to patients with OUD (65%, n = 59). Most residents had favorable attitudes about OUD treatment (97%). Both residents with clinical exposure to treating OUD and X-waiver training, and residents with clinical exposure without X-waiver training, felt more prepared to treat OUD (P < .0008) compared to residents with neither clinical exposure or X-waiver training or only X-waiver training. CONCLUSIONS Residents with clinical exposure to treating OUD are more prepared to treat patients with OUD than those without clinical exposure. Greater efforts to incorporate clinical exposure to the treatment of OUD and education in internal medicine residency programs is imperative to address the opioid epidemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel Porter
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Phillip Vatterott
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Keniston
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lauren McBeth
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sarah Mann
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan L Calcaterra
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Julia Limes
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Barrett M, Kemerer S, Colvard M. Implementation and evaluation of interprofessional overdose review team recommendations following intentional or accidental overdose events. Ment Health Clin 2024; 14:224-228. [PMID: 38835812 PMCID: PMC11147656 DOI: 10.9740/mhc.2024.06.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug overdose death rates in the United States remain high despite efforts to mitigate this risk. Many communities and hospitals across the country have implemented overdose review teams, including local overdose fatality review teams or postoverdose intervention programs, to address the opioid crisis. The goal of most of these teams is to identify missed opportunities or patient-specific interventions to prevent future opioid overdose fatalities. Few overdose review teams review a combination of both fatal and nonfatal overdose events. The Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System implemented a novel overdose review team (ORT) that collaboratively reviews all overdose incidents regardless of fatality, intent, or substance involved. This practice description characterizes reported facility overdose events and patient-specific risk-mitigation strategies recommended by the ORT, highlights the implementation rate and time to implementation of ORT recommendations, and discusses potential areas for process improvement. This practice highlights the potential impact of a pharmacist-led, interdisciplinary ORT following accidental or intentional overdose events involving any substance or medication. Key patient-specific interventions implemented following ORT recommendations included overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution, prescribing of medications for opioid use disorder and/or alcohol use disorder, reducing medication supply to limit lethal means access, and facilitation of mental health and/or substance use disorder specialty appointments. Further research to evaluate clinical outcomes related to specific ORT interventions should be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Barrett
- (Corresponding author) Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
| | - Sarah Kemerer
- Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hinesville, Georgia
| | - Michelle Colvard
- Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chang K, D'Anna LH, Owens J, Wood J. The Effects of Previous Experiences of Healthcare Discrimination on HIV Intervention Outcomes. AIDS Behav 2024; 28:1741-1751. [PMID: 38367163 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Although several healthcare interventions have been developed to address HIV among young Black/African American men who have sex with men (YBMSM), the HIV epidemic in the United States continues to disproportionately burden this population. The current study examines previous healthcare discrimination and how it affects HIV intervention delivery. One hundred seventy-two YBMSM participated in the Peer Promotion of Wellness and Enhanced Linkage to Resources (PPOWER) project, which used a short, multi-faceted, community-level intervention based on Community Peers Reaching Out and Modeling Intervention Strategies (Community PROMISE). Data were collected at baseline, a 45-day follow up, and a 90-day follow up. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to examine the effects of previous healthcare discrimination on outcomes related to HIV testing, alcohol and drug use, and sexual behaviors. Previous healthcare discrimination was found to moderate the relationship between time and intentions to test for HIV, perceptions of sexual risk, problem marijuana use, and problem other drug use, such that those who had experienced more healthcare discrimination showed greater improvements over time compared to those who had experienced less healthcare discrimination. The results of the current study suggest that a community-level peer intervention, in combination with a component to promote cultural competency and address prior experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings, may be highly effective for people who have experienced a barrier in their continuum of care as a result of racial discrimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Chang
- Center for Health Equity Research, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., FO5 Rm. 120, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA.
| | - Laura Hoyt D'Anna
- Center for Health Equity Research, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., FO5 Rm. 120, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| | - Jaelen Owens
- Center for Health Equity Research, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., FO5 Rm. 120, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| | - Jefferson Wood
- Center for Health Equity Research, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., FO5 Rm. 120, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sidlak A, Dibble B, Dhaliwal M, Bottone P, Marino R, Henry L, Howell J. Analysis of rising cases of adolescent opioid use presentations to the emergency department and their management. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 258:111136. [PMID: 38518662 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to answer the question of how adolescents (ages 12-17 years old) with opioid-related presentations are currently managed in the ED. The two main outcomes were the proportion of visits where naloxone and buprenorphine were both used and prescribed, and the rate of revisits to the emergency department in the six months following ED presentation. METHODS This was a multi-center retrospective cross-sectional study. We studied patients presenting to the ED who were 12-17 years old with an opioid-related presentation. RESULTS Two-hundred and thirty-one patients were identified out of 571 encounters screened. Of these presentations, 77/231 (33%) were girls and 154/231 (67%) were boys. The majority of patients were Latino (64%; n=147); 26% were white (n=59), 6% were middle eastern or Arab (14), and 4% were black (10). Incidence of opioid use disorder per 100,000 presentations increased by 2800% from 2014 to 2022 (21/100,000 +/- 10 [2014] to 600/100,000 +/- 50 [2022]). A plurality of cases was related to opioid withdrawal (42%; 97). On discharge from the ED, 29% of patients received naloxone. For patients in withdrawal, 4% received a prescription for buprenorphine. Twenty-nine percent of patients had a return to the ED in the six months following initial visit. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent opioid-related presentations to the ED are rapidly increasing. Increasing ED presentations, compounded by a high 6-month revisit rate, pose a management challenge amid limited outpatient resources for this population. Opioid agonist therapy and naloxone are not routinely provided. Increasing the use of both are two ways to improve the quality of care for this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sidlak
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Emergency Department, Falls Church, VA, United States.
| | - Brent Dibble
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Emergency Department, Falls Church, VA, United States
| | - Mannet Dhaliwal
- University of Virginia Medical School, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Paul Bottone
- Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan Marino
- University Hospitals, Division of Toxicology and Addiction Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Linda Henry
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Medicine Service Line, Falls Church, VA, United States
| | - John Howell
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Emergency Department, Falls Church, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Garcia V, McCann L, Lauber E, Vaccaro C, Swauger M, Heckert DA. Opioid Overdoses and Take-Home Naloxone Interventions: Ethnographic Evidence for Individual-Level Barriers to Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Appalachia. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:1313-1322. [PMID: 38635977 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2340986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: Research indicates that take-home naloxone (THN) is saving lives across rural Appalachia, but whether it also results in treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs) remains unclear. This study involves a detailed qualitative analysis of interviews with 16 individuals who had overdosed on opioids 61 times to understand why a THN intervention does not routinely lead to OUD treatment. Methods: This study builds upon a one-year (2018) qualitative study on community responses to opioid overdose fatalities in four adjacent rural counties in Western Pennsylvania. Using a semi-structured interview guide, 16 individuals who had experienced one or more overdoses were interviewed. Using NVivo, the transcribed audio-recorded interviews were coded, and a thematic analysis of the coded text was conducted. Findings: Findings reveal that of the 29 overdoses that included a THN intervention, only eight resulted in treatment. The analysis derives five individual-level barriers to treatment: (1) opioid dependence, (2) denial/readiness, (3) opioid withdrawal fears, (4) incarceration concerns, and (5) stigma and shame. These barriers impeded treatment, even though all the interviewees knew of treatment programs, how to access them, and in some cases had undergone treatment previously. Discussion and Conclusion: findings indicate that there is evidence that the five barriers make entering treatment after a THN intervention challenging and seemingly insurmountable at times. Recommendations based on the findings include increasing efforts to reduce stigma of OUDs in the community, including self-stigma resulting from misusing opioids, increasing informational efforts about Good Samaritan Laws, and increasing familiarity with medication-assisted treatments for OUDS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Garcia
- Research Scientist, Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Lisa McCann
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erick Lauber
- Department of Communications Media, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christian Vaccaro
- Department of Sociology Associate Director Mid Atlantic Research and, Training Institute Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Melissa Swauger
- Nonprofit Management, Empowerment and Diversity Studies (new address), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel Alex Heckert
- Department of Sociology Director Mid Atlantic Research and Training Center, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lin CH, Siao SF, Lin PY, Shelley M, Chi YC, Lee YH. Understanding Healthcare Providers' Care for Patients with Medications Treating Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:622-637. [PMID: 38115559 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2294964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited research exploring the changing clinical practices among healthcare providers (HPs) care for patients with Emergency Department (ED)-initiated Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). METHODS This scoping review followed the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley to map relevant evidence and synthesize the findings. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus for related studies from inception through October 12, 2022. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 studies were included. Subsequently, they were charted and analyzed thematically based on ecological systems theory. RESULTS The main determinants in the four ecological systems were generated as follows: (1) microsystem: willingness and attitude, professional competence, readiness, and preference; (2) mesosystem: ED clinical practices, departmental factors; (3) exosystem: multidisciplinary approaches, discharge planning, and (4) macrosystem: stigma, health insurance, policy. The findings have implications for HPs and researchers, as insufficient adoption, implementation, and retention of MOUD in the ED affect clinical practices. CONCLUSIONS Across the four ecological systems, ED-initiated MOUD is shaped by multifaceted determinants. The microsystem underscores pivotal patient-HP trust dynamics, while the mesosystem emphasizes interdepartmental synergies. Exosystemically, resource allocation and standardized training remain paramount. The macrosystem reveals profound effects of stigma, insurance disparities, and evolving policies on treatment access and efficacy. Addressing these interconnected barriers is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes in the context of MOUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hung Lin
- Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Siao
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Ying Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mack Shelley
- Department of Political Science, Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Yu-Chi Chi
- Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Han Lee
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gibbons JB, McCullough JS, Zivin K, Brown ZY, Norton EC. Racial and ethnic disparities in medication for opioid use disorder access, use, and treatment outcomes in Medicare. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2024; 157:209271. [PMID: 38135120 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overdose deaths are increasing disproportionately for minoritized populations in the United States. Disparities in substance use disorder treatment access and use have been a key contributor to this phenomenon. However, little is known about the magnitude of these disparities and the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) and provider characteristics in driving them. Our study measures the association between race and ethnicity and visits with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) providers, MOUD treatment conditional on a provider visit, and opioid overdose following MOUD treatment in Medicare. We also evaluate the role of social determinants of health and provider characteristics in modifying disparities. METHODS Using a population of 230,198 US Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD), we estimate logistic regression models to quantify the association between belonging to a racial or ethnic group and the probability of visiting a buprenorphine or naltrexone provider, receiving a prescription or medication administration during or after a visit, and experiencing an opioid overdose after treatment with MOUD. Data included Medicare claims data and the Agency for Health Research and Quality Social Determinants of Health Database files between 2013 and 2017. RESULTS Compared to Non-Hispanic White Medicare beneficiaries, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and Other/Unknown Race beneficiaries were between 3.0 and 9.3 percentage points less likely to have a visit with a buprenorphine or naltrexone provider. Conditional on having a buprenorphine or naltrexone provider visit, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and Other/Unknown Race were between 2.6 and 8.1 percentage points less likely to receive buprenorphine or naltrexone than white beneficiaries. Controlling for provider characteristics and SDOH increased disparities in visits and MOUD treatment for all groups besides American Indians/Alaska Natives. Conditional on treatment, only Black Medicare beneficiaries were at greater associated risk of overdose than non-Hispanic white beneficiaries, although differences became statistically insignificant after controlling for SDOH and including provider fixed effects. CONCLUSION Ongoing equity programming and measurement efforts by CMS should include explicit consideration for disparities in access and use of MOUD. This may help ensure greater MOUD utilization by minoritized Medicare beneficiaries and reduce rising disparities in overdose deaths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason B Gibbons
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus - Colorado School of Public Health - Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy, 13001 E 17th PL, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America.
| | - Jeffrey S McCullough
- University of Michigan School of Public Health - Department of Health Management and Policy, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Kara Zivin
- University of Michigan School of Public Health - Department of Health Management and Policy, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America; University of Michigan School of Medicine - Department of Psychiatry, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America; University of Michigan School of Medicine - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Zach Y Brown
- University of Michigan - Department of Economics, 611 Tappan Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America; National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| | - Edward C Norton
- University of Michigan School of Public Health - Department of Health Management and Policy, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America; University of Michigan - Department of Economics, 611 Tappan Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America; National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Friedman LS, Abasilim C, Karch L, Jasmin W, Holloway-Beth A. Disparities in fatal and non-fatal opioid-involved overdoses among middle-aged non-Hispanic Black Men and Women. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01877-y. [PMID: 38048043 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01877-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The gap in fatal opioid overdose rates has been closing between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White individuals. The rising opioid-involved mortality rates among non-Hispanic Black adults has been identified by SAMHSA as a critical public health issue. However, further research is needed that utilizes comprehensive surveillance data on both fatal and non-fatal opioid-involved overdoses to better assess the changing trends and evaluate factors contributing to changing disparities. We conducted an analysis of medical examiner and hospital data for years 2016-2021 from the largest county in Illinois (Cook) to (1) evaluate disparities in non-fatal and fatal opioid-involved overdoses between middle-aged non-Hispanic Black adults and Black adults of other age groups stratified by sex, (2) to assess if disparities exist across middle-aged adults of different race-ethnicities specifically non-Hispanic White and Hispanic-Latino adults, and (3) evaluate factors contributing to the disparities. Fatal opioid overdose rates among middle-aged Black men 45-64 years old were on average 5.3 times higher than Black men of other age groups, and 6.2 times higher than middle-aged non-Black men. Similarly, fatal opioid overdose rates among middle-aged Black women were on average 5.0 times higher than Black women of other age groups, and 4.9 times higher than middle-aged non-Black women. Hospital utilization rates for opioid-involved overdoses showed similar disparities between age groups and race-ethnicities. Findings indicate that stark disparities in rates of opioid-involved overdoses among middle-aged Black men and women are likely attributed to exposure to more lethal opioids, drug variability in local markets, differences in concurrent drug exposures, and lower access to harm reduction, emergent and preventative health services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lee S Friedman
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Chibuzor Abasilim
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lydia Karch
- Cook County Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Suarez E, Bartholomew TS, Plesons M, Ciraldo K, Ostrer L, Serota DP, Chueng TA, Frederick M, Onugha J, Tookes HE. Adaptation of the Tele-Harm Reduction intervention to promote initiation and retention in buprenorphine treatment among people who inject drugs: a retrospective cohort study. Ann Med 2023; 55:733-743. [PMID: 36856571 PMCID: PMC9980015 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2182908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: At the start of the pandemic, relaxation of buprenorphine prescribing regulations created an opportunity to create new models of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) delivery and care. To expand and improve access to MOUD, we adapted and implemented the Tele-Harm Reduction (THR) intervention; a multicomponent, telehealth-based and peer-driven intervention to promote HIV viral suppression among people who inject drugs (PWID) accessing a syringe services program (SSP). This study examined buprenorphine initiation and retention among PWID with opioid use disorder who received the adapted THR intervention at the IDEA Miami SSP.Methods: A retrospective chart review of participants who received the THR intervention for MOUD was performed to examine the impact of telehealth on buprenorphine retention. Our primary outcome was three-month retention, defined as three consecutive months of buprenorphine dispensed from the pharmacy.Results: A total of 109 participants received the adapted THR intervention. Three-month retention rate on buprenorphine was 58.7%. Seeing a provider via telehealth at baseline or any follow up visit (aOR = 7.53, 95% CI: [2.36, 23.98]) and participants who had received an escalating dose of buprenorphine after baseline visit (aOR = 8.09, 95% CI: [1.83, 35.87]) had a higher adjusted odds of retention at three months. Participants who self-reported or tested positive for a stimulant (methamphetamine, amphetamine, or cocaine) at baseline had a lower adjusted odds of retention on buprenorphine at three months (aOR = 0.29, 95% CI: [0.09, 0.93]).Conclusions: Harm reduction settings can adapt dynamically to the needs of PWID in provision of critical lifesaving buprenorphine in a truly destigmatising approach. Our pilot suggests that an SSP may be an acceptable and feasible venue for delivery of THR to increase uptake of buprenorphine by PWID and promote retention in care.KEY MESSAGESThe Tele-Harm Reduction intervention can be adapted for initiating and retaining people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder on buprenorphine within a syringe services program settingUsing telehealth was associated with increased three-month buprenorphine retentionBaseline stimulant use was negatively associated with three-month buprenorphine retention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward Suarez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Tyler S. Bartholomew
- Division of Health Services Research and Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Marina Plesons
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Katrina Ciraldo
- Department of Family and Community Medicine & Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lily Ostrer
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David P. Serota
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Teresa A. Chueng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Morgan Frederick
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jason Onugha
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hansel E. Tookes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Carroll C, Hand D, Covington W, Rodgers J, Hudson J, Li L, Walter LA. Emergency-department initiated buprenorphine: Impact on quality of life. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2023; 9:100191. [PMID: 37771948 PMCID: PMC10522937 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Emergency department (ED)-initiated medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have emerged as an acute care strategy against the opioid epidemic. When initiated in the outpatient setting, MOUD has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). It is unclear how engagement in ED-initiated MOUD, a novel initiation setting and unique patient cohort, might impact QoL. We sought to describe QoL variables reported by patients engaged in ED-initiated MOUD. Methods A retrospective observational study of an ED-initiated MOUD program was performed, inclusive of enrollments from July 2019 through February 2022. Participants were interviewed at intake, 3-months, and 6-months, during which QoL indices were measured via Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) variables. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-Square analyses were utilized to assess the data. Results Of 315 participants, majority were white (78.4 %), male (64.4 %), between the ages of 25-44 (74.6 %), and heavily burdened by lack of insurance, homelessness, and unemployment. One hundred forty participants (44.4 % eligible) completed 3-month follow-up and 90 (28.5 %) completed 6-month follow-up. There were no significant demographic differences amongst respondents at 3- and 6-months as compared to intake. Objective QoL variables significantly improved at 3- and 6-months as compared to intake (p < 0.01). Subjective QoL variables also demonstrated significant improvement at follow-up (p < 0.05). Conclusion ED patients with OUD, eligible for MOUD, may face a number of social and interpersonal variables which heavily impact QoL. ED-initiated MOUD may positively impact subsequent QoL when measured over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Carroll
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Delissa Hand
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Whitney Covington
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Joel Rodgers
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jolanda Hudson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Li Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lauren A. Walter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ware OD, Sacco P, Cagle JG, Frey JJ, Wagner FA, Wimberly AS, Gyebi-Foster B, Diaz M, Peters K, Zemore SE. Higher perceived stress during admission is associated with shorter retention in short-term residential substance use disorder treatment. Addict Behav Rep 2023; 18:100502. [PMID: 38170055 PMCID: PMC10758394 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over one million people in the U.S. received residential treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2020. Longer treatment retention is associated with better outcomes (e.g., reduced substance use). Entering treatment with higher stress may be associated with shorter retention. This paper examines the impact of perceived stress at admission on SUD treatment retention in short-term residential treatment. Methods A sample of 271 treatment episodes with admissions between October 2019 and February 2020 were collected from de-identified records of an urban mid-Atlantic adult 28-day short-term residential SUD treatment facility. Treatment completion involved finishing 28 days. Sociodemographic, substance use, perceived stress, and treatment discharge variables were analyzed. Bivariate analyses examined differences between treatment completion and early discharge, and Cox regression investigated the effect of perceived stress on treatment retention with covariates. Results The sample was primarily male (73.8%) and non-Hispanic Black (71.6%). A majority used heroin as their primary substance (54.6%) and reported polysubstance use (72.3%). About half (51.3%) completed treatment, and completed an average of 18.7 (SD = 10.7) days. Those who prematurely discharged from treatment stayed an average of 8.9 (SD = 7.0) days. The Cox regression model found that higher perceived stress (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.028; 95% CI = [1.005, 1.053], p =.019) and a race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic Black (AHR = 1.546, 95% CI = [1.037, 2.305], p =.033) predicted premature discharge. Conclusions Perceived stress at admission is associated with shorter treatment retention. Early stress management interventions may help increase treatment retention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orrin D. Ware
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work, United States
| | - Paul Sacco
- University of Maryland School of Social Work, United States
| | - John G. Cagle
- University of Maryland School of Social Work, United States
| | - Jodi J. Frey
- University of Maryland School of Social Work, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Miles J, Treitler P, Hermida R, Nyaku AN, Simon K, Gupta S, Crystal S, Samples H. Racial/ethnic disparities in timely receipt of buprenorphine among Medicare disability beneficiaries. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 252:110963. [PMID: 37748421 PMCID: PMC10615876 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicare disability beneficiaries (MDBs) have disproportionately high risk of opioid use disorder (OUD) and related harms given high rates of comorbidities and high-dose opioid prescribing. Despite this increased risk, little is known about timely receipt of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including potential disparities by patient race/ethnicity or moderation by county-level characteristics. METHODS National Medicare claims for a sample of MDBs with incident OUD diagnosis between March 2016 and June 2019 were linked with county-level data. Multivariable mixed effects Cox proportional hazards models estimated time (in days) to buprenorphine receipt within 180 days of incident OUD diagnosis. Primary exposures included individual-level race/ethnicity and county-level buprenorphine prescriber availability, percent non-Hispanic white (NHW) residents, and Social Deprivation Index (SDI) score. RESULTS The sample (n=233,079) was predominantly White (72.3%), ≥45 years old (76.3%), and male (54.8%). Black (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.50; 95% CI, 0.47-0.54), Asian/Pacific Islander (aHR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.72), Hispanic/Latinx (aHR=0.81; 95% CI, 0.76-0.87), and Other racial/ethnic groups (aHR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.97) had a lower likelihood of timely buprenorphine than non-Hispanic white beneficiaries after adjusting for individual and county-level confounders. Timely buprenorphine receipt was positively associated with county-level buprenorphine prescriber availability (aHR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.07), percent non-Hispanic white residents (aHR=1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01), and SDI (aHR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10). CONCLUSIONS Racial/ethnic disparities highlight the need to improve access to care for underserved groups. Implementing equity-focused quality and performance measures and developing interventions to increase office-based buprenorphine prescribing in predominantly minority race/ethnicity counties may reduce disparities in timely access to medication for OUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Miles
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Peter Treitler
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Richard Hermida
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Amesika N Nyaku
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Kosali Simon
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sumedha Gupta
- Department of Economics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephen Crystal
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Hillary Samples
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gibbons JB, Harris SJ, Solomon KT, Sugarman O, Hardy C, Saloner B. Increasing overdose deaths among Black Americans: a review of the literature. Lancet Psychiatry 2023; 10:719-726. [PMID: 37236218 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00119-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, opioid overdose fatalities among Black Americans surpassed those among White Americans for the first time in US history. This Review analyses the academic literature on disparities in overdose deaths to highlight potential factors that could explain these increases in overdose deaths among Black Americans. Overall, we find that differences in structural and social determinants of health; inequality in the access, use, and continuity of substance use disorder and harm reduction services; variability in fentanyl exposure and risk; and changes in social and economic circumstances since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are central to explaining this trend. We conclude with a discussion of opportunities for US policy reform and opportunities for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason B Gibbons
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Samantha J Harris
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Olivia Sugarman
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carlos Hardy
- Maryland Recovery Organization Connecting Communities, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Magee T, Peters C, Jacobsen SM, Nees D, Dunford B, Ford AI, Vassar M. Inequities in the treatment of opioid use disorder: A scoping review. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 152:209082. [PMID: 37271346 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the lack of access to evidenced-based OUD treatment and the corresponding overdose crisis, researchers must evaluate and report health care inequities involving the treatment of OUD. Additionally, clinicians should be aware of these inequities in the treatment of patients. METHODS We carried out a scoping review of the literature regarding health inequities in treatment for OUD in July 2022. The study team retrieved articles published between 2016 and 2021 from MEDLINE and Ovid Embase. After authors received training, screening and data extraction were performed in masked, duplicate fashion. The team screened a total of 3673 titles and abstracts, followed by 172 articles for full-text review. The inequities that we examined were race/ethnicity, sex or gender, income, under-resourced/rural, occupational status, education level, and LGBTQ+. We used Stata 17.0 (StataCorp, LLC, College Station, TX) to summarize data and statistics of the studies within our sample. RESULTS A total of 44 studies evaluating inequities in OUD treatment met inclusion criteria. The most common inequity that studies examined was race/ethnicity (34/44 [77.27 %] studies), followed by under-resourced/rural (19/44 [43.18 %] studies), and sex or gender (18/44 [40.91 %] studies). LGBTQ+ (0/44 [0.0 %] studies) was not reported in the included studies. Our results indicate that many historically marginalized populations experience inequities related to access and outcomes in OUD treatment. The included studies in our scoping review occasionally demonstrated inconsistent findings. CONCLUSIONS Gaps exist within the literature on health inequities in treatment for OUD. The most examined inequities were race/ethnicity, under-resourced/rural and sex or gender, while studies did not examine LGBTQ+ status. Future research should aim to advance and supplement literature investigating health inequities in OUD treatment to ensure inclusive, patient-centered care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Magee
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States.
| | - Caleb Peters
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Samuel M Jacobsen
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Danya Nees
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Bryan Dunford
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Alicia Ito Ford
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Matt Vassar
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
McCormack RP, Rotrosen J, Gauthier P, D'Onofrio G, Fiellin DA, Marsch LA, Novo P, Liu D, Edelman EJ, Farkas S, Matthews AG, Mulatya C, Salazar D, Wolff J, Knight R, Goodman W, Williams J, Hawk K. Implementing Programs to Initiate Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in High-Need, Low-Resource Emergency Departments: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. Ann Emerg Med 2023; 82:272-287. [PMID: 37140493 PMCID: PMC10524047 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that implementation facilitation would enable us to rapidly and effectively implement emergency department (ED)-initiated buprenorphine programs in rural and urban settings with high-need, limited resources and dissimilar staffing structures. METHODS This multicenter implementation study employed implementation facilitation using a participatory action research approach to develop, introduce, and refine site-specific clinical protocols for ED-initiated buprenorphine and referral in 3 EDs not previously initiating buprenorphine. We assessed feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness by triangulating mixed-methods formative evaluation data (focus groups/interviews and pre/post surveys involving staff, patients, and stakeholders), patients' medical records, and 30-day outcomes from a purposive sample of 40 buprenorphine-receiving patient-participants who met research eligibility criteria (English-speaking, medically stable, locator information, nonprisoners). We estimated the primary implementation outcome (proportion receiving ED-initiated buprenorphine among candidates) and the main secondary outcome (30-day treatment engagement) using Bayesian methods. RESULTS Within 3 months of initiating the implementation facilitation activities, each site implemented buprenorphine programs. During the 6-month programmatic evaluation, there were 134 ED-buprenorphine candidates among 2,522 encounters involving opioid use. A total of 52 (41.6%) practitioners initiated buprenorphine administration to 112 (85.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.7% to 90.4%) unique patients. Among 40 enrolled patient-participants, 49.0% (35.6% to 62.5%) were engaged in addiction treatment 30 days later (confirmed); 26 (68.4%) reported attending one or more treatment visits; there was a 4-fold decrease in self-reported overdose events (odds ratio [OR] 4.03; 95% CI 1.27 to 12.75). The ED clinician readiness increased by a median of 5.02 (95% CI: 3.56 to 6.47) from 1.92/10 to 6.95/10 (n(pre)=80, n(post)=83). CONCLUSIONS The implementation facilitation enabled us to effectively implement ED-based buprenorphine programs across heterogeneous ED settings rapidly, which was associated with promising implementation and exploratory patient-level outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John Rotrosen
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Gail D'Onofrio
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - David A Fiellin
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Lisa A Marsch
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
| | - Patricia Novo
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - David Liu
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, MD
| | - E Jennifer Edelman
- Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Sarah Farkas
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kathryn Hawk
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lowenstein M, Perrone J, McFadden R, Xiong RA, Meisel ZF, O'Donnell N, Abdel-Rahman D, Moon J, Mitra N, Delgado MK. Impact of Universal Screening and Automated Clinical Decision Support for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Emergency Departments: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis. Ann Emerg Med 2023; 82:131-144. [PMID: 37318434 PMCID: PMC11019868 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Emergency department (ED)-initiated buprenorphine improves outcomes in patients with opioid use disorder; however, adoption varies widely. To reduce variability, we implemented a nurse-driven triage screening question in the electronic health record to identify patients with opioid use disorder, followed by targeted electronic health record prompts to measure withdrawal and guide next steps in management, including initiation of treatment. Our objective was to assess the impact of screening implementation in 3 urban, academic EDs. METHODS We conducted a quasiexperimental study of opioid use disorder-related ED visits using electronic health record data from January 2020 to June 2022. The triage protocol was implemented in 3 EDs between March and July 2021, and 2 other EDs in the health system served as controls. We evaluated changes in treatment measures over time and used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare outcomes in the 3 intervention EDs with those in the 2 controls. RESULTS There were 2,462 visits in the intervention hospitals (1,258 in the preperiod and 1,204 in the postperiod) and 731 in the control hospitals (459 in the preperiod and 272 in the postperiod). Patient characteristics within the intervention and control EDs were similar across the time periods. Compared with the control hospitals, the triage protocol was associated with a 17% greater increase in withdrawal assessment, using the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) (95% CI 7 to 27). Buprenorphine prescriptions at discharge also increased by 5% (95% CI 0% to 10%), and naloxone prescriptions increased by 12% points (95% CI 1% to 22%) in the intervention EDs relative to controls. CONCLUSION An ED triage screening and treatment protocol led to increased assessment and treatment of opioid use disorder. Protocols designed to make screening and treatment the default practice have promise in increasing the implementation of evidence-based treatment ED opioid use disorder care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Lowenstein
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Jeanmarie Perrone
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Rachel McFadden
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ruiying Aria Xiong
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Zachary F Meisel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Nicole O'Donnell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Dina Abdel-Rahman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jeffrey Moon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Nandita Mitra
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mucio Kit Delgado
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ramey OL, Bonny AE, Silva Almodóvar A, Nahata MC. Retention in Office-Based Opioid Treatment and Impact on Emergency Department Use in Adolescents and Young Adults With Opioid Use Disorder. J Adolesc Health 2023; 73:148-154. [PMID: 37032210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Longer retention in medication treatment (MT) of addiction is associated with improved health outcomes among adults with opioid use disorder. MT remains underutilized among adolescents and young adults (AYA); factors associated with MT retention are not well-defined and effect of retention on treatment outcomes is unknown. This study examined patient characteristics associated with retention in an office-based opioid treatment program for AYA patients and determined the impact of retention time on emergency department (ED) utilization. METHODS This was a retrospective study of AYA patients from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2020. Retention time was the difference between first and last appointment, analyzing follow-up periods of one and two years. Linear regression assessed factors associated with retention. Negative binomial regression showed effect of retention on ED utilization. RESULTS A total of 407 patients were included. Factors positively associated with retention were diagnosis of anxiety, depression, and nicotine use disorder, White race, private insurance, and Medicaid insurance; however, stimulant/cocaine use disorder was negatively associated (one-year follow-up, p ≤ .028; two-year follow-up, p ≤ .017). Longer retention was associated with reduced risk of ED utilization at one-year (incident rate ratio = 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.72-0.99; p = .03) and two-year follow-ups (incident rate ratio = 0.86 95% confidence interval: 0.77-0.96; p = .008). DISCUSSION Diagnosis of anxiety, depression, nicotine use disorder, and stimulant/cocaine use disorder, and insurance and race can influence retention in MT. Longer retention in MT was associated with lower ED visits, decreasing health care utilization. MT programs should evaluate various interventions to optimize opportunities for increasing retention among their patient cohorts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia L Ramey
- Institute of Therapeutic Innovations and Outcomes (ITIO), Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Andrea E Bonny
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio; Division of Adolescent Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Armando Silva Almodóvar
- Institute of Therapeutic Innovations and Outcomes (ITIO), Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Milap C Nahata
- Institute of Therapeutic Innovations and Outcomes (ITIO), Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Holland WC, Li F, Nath B, Jeffery MM, Stevens M, Melnick ER, Dziura JD, Khidir H, Skains RM, D’Onofrio G, Soares WE. Racial and ethnic disparities in emergency department-initiated buprenorphine across five health care systems. Acad Emerg Med 2023; 30:709-720. [PMID: 36660800 PMCID: PMC10467357 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid overdose deaths have disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic populations, in part due to disparities in treatment access. Emergency departments (EDs) serve as a resource for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), many of whom have difficulty accessing outpatient addiction programs. However, inequities in ED treatment for OUD remain poorly understood. METHODS This secondary analysis examined racial and ethnic differences in buprenorphine access using data from EMBED, a study of 21 EDs across five health care systems evaluating a clinical decision support system for initiating ED buprenorphine. The primary outcome was receipt of buprenorphine, ED administered or prescribed. Hospital type (academic vs. community) was evaluated as an effect modifier. Hierarchical models with cluster effects for site and clinician were used to assess buprenorphine receipt by race and ethnicity. RESULTS Black patients were less likely to receive buprenorphine (6.4% [51/801] vs. White patients 8.5% [268/3154], odds ratio [OR] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.78). This association persisted after adjusting for age, insurance, gender, clinician X-waiver, hospital type, and urbanicity (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.64, 95% CI 0.48-0.84) but not when discharge diagnosis was included (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56-1.02). Hispanic patients were more likely to receive buprenorphine (14.8% [122/822] vs. non-Hispanic patients, 11.6% [475/4098]) in unadjusted (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.09-1.83) and adjusted models (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.83) but not including discharge diagnosis (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 0.99-1.77). Odds of buprenorphine were similar in academic and community EDs by race (interaction p = 0.97) and ethnicity (interaction p = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS Black patients with OUD were less likely to receive buprenorphine whereas Hispanic patients were more likely to receive buprenorphine in academic and community EDs. Differences were attenuated with discharge diagnosis, as fewer Black and non-Hispanic patients were diagnosed with opioid withdrawal. Barriers to medication treatment are heterogenous among patients with OUD; research must continue to address the multiple drivers of health inequities at the patient, clinician, and community level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fangyong Li
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Bidisha Nath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Molly M. Jeffery
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Health Care Policy Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Maria Stevens
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Health Care Policy Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Edward R. Melnick
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James D. Dziura
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hazar Khidir
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- National Clinician Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rachel M. Skains
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gail D’Onofrio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - William E. Soares
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Healthcare Delivery and Population Science, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Samples H, Nowels MA, Williams AR, Olfson M, Crystal S. Buprenorphine After Nonfatal Opioid Overdose: Reduced Mortality Risk in Medicare Disability Beneficiaries. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:19-29. [PMID: 36906496 PMCID: PMC10293066 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Opioid-involved overdose mortality is a persistent public health challenge, yet limited evidence exists on the relationship between opioid use disorder treatment after a nonfatal overdose and subsequent overdose death. METHODS National Medicare data were used to identify adult (aged 18-64 years) disability beneficiaries who received inpatient or emergency treatment for nonfatal opioid-involved overdose in 2008-2016. Opioid use disorder treatment was defined as (1) buprenorphine, measured using medication days' supply, and (2) psychosocial services, measured as 30-day exposures from and including each service date. Opioid-involved overdose fatalities were identified in the year after nonfatal overdose using linked National Death Index data. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the associations between time-varying treatment exposures and overdose death. Analyses were conducted in 2022. RESULTS The sample (N=81,616) was mostly female (57.3%), aged ≥50 years (58.8%), and White (80.9%), with a significantly elevated overdose mortality rate, compared with the general U.S. population (standardized mortality ratio=132.4, 95% CI=129.9, 135.0). Only 6.5% of the sample (n=5,329) had opioid use disorder treatment after the index overdose. Buprenorphine (n=3,774, 4.6%) was associated with a significantly lower risk of opioid-involved overdose death (adjusted hazard ratio=0.38, 95% CI=0.23, 0.64), but opioid use disorder-related psychosocial treatment (n=2,405, 2.9%) was not associated with risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio=1.18, 95% CI=0.71, 1.95). CONCLUSIONS Buprenorphine treatment after nonfatal opioid-involved overdose was associated with a 62% reduction in the risk of opioid-involved overdose death. However, fewer than 1 in 20 individuals received buprenorphine in the subsequent year, highlighting a need to strengthen care connections after critical opioid-related events, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hillary Samples
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey.
| | - Molly A Nowels
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Center for Health Services Research, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Arthur R Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Mark Olfson
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Stephen Crystal
- Center for Health Services Research, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers School of Social Work, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Oldfield BJ, Chen K, Joudrey PJ, Biegacki ET, Fiellin DA. Availability of Specific Programs and Medications for Addiction Treatment to Vulnerable Populations: Results from the Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards (ATLAS) Survey. J Addict Med 2023; 17:477-480. [PMID: 37579115 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to describe addiction treatment facilities by their offerings of medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) and/or for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and by their offering services to groups with barriers to care: uninsured and publicly insured, youth, seniors, individuals preferring to receive care in Spanish, and sexual minority individuals. METHODS We examined addiction treatment facility survey data in 6 US states. We performed bivariate analyses comparing facilities that offered MAUD, MOUD, and both (main outcomes). We then constructed a multivariable model to identify predictors of offering MAUD, MOUD, or both, including exposures that demonstrate programming for special populations. RESULTS Among 2474 facilities, 1228 (50%) responded between October 2019 and January 2020. Programs were offered for youth (30%), elderly (40%), Spanish-speaking (37%), and sexual minority populations (39%), with 58% providing MAUD, 67% providing MOUD, and 56% providing both. Among those providing MAUD, MOUD, or both, a majority (>60% for all exposures) offered programming to vulnerable populations. With Delaware as reference, Louisiana (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.67) and North Carolina (aOR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.72) facilities had lesser odds of offering both MAUD and MOUD. All exposures identifying facilities offering treatment to vulnerable groups were associated with offerings of MAUD and/or MOUD except for offerings to youth; these facilities had less odds of offering MOUD (aOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.31-0.62). CONCLUSIONS There are facility-level disparities in providing MAUD and MOUD by state, and facilities with youth programming have lesser odds of offering MOUD than other facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Oldfield
- From the Fair Haven Community Health Care, New Haven, CT (BJO); Program in Addiction Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (BJO, ETB, DAF); Office of Ambulatory Care and Population Health, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY (KC); Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY (KC); Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA (PJJ); Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (DAF); and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT (DAF)
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jones KF, O'Reilly Jacob M, Spetz J, Hailer L, Tierney M. Eliminate the buprenorphine DEA X waiver: Justification using a policy analysis approach. J Nurs Scholarsh 2023; 55:655-664. [PMID: 36624606 PMCID: PMC10159879 DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug overdoses have reached a historic milestone of over 100,000 deaths in a single year, 75,673 related to opioids. The acceleration in opioid-related deaths coupled with stark health inequities demands a close examination of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment barriers and swift consideration of policy changes. DESIGN The aim of this buprenorphine policy analysis is to summarize existing buprenorphine barriers and present policy solutions to improve access and actualize the contributions of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). METHODS The policy analysis follows five sequential steps: (1) defining the problem, (2) identifying key stakeholders, (3) assessing the landscape of relevant policies, (4) describing viable policy options, and (5) making final recommendations. RESULTS Although there are laudable efforts to improve buprenorphine access, such as the new buprenorphine guidelines issued in April 2021, without larger-scale changes to federal, state, and scope of practice laws, overdose rates will continue to rise. We recommend a multipronged policy approach to improve buprenorphine treatment access, including eliminating the DEA X waiver, improving OUD education, and adopting full practice authority for APRNs in all states. CONCLUSION Incremental change is no longer sufficient to address opioid overdose deaths. Bolder and coordinated policy action is possible and necessary to empower the full clinical workforce to apply evidence-based life-saving treatments for OUD. The critical contributions of nurses in advancing equitable access to OUD care are emphasized in the National Academy of Medicine's Report, Future of Nursing: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Nurses are named as instrumental in improving buprenorphine access. Policy changes that acknowledge and build on evidence-based treatment expansion strategies are sorely needed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE One of the most robust tools to combat opioid overdose deaths is buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and gold standard medication treatment for OUD, but only 5% of the prescribing workforce possess the required Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) X waiver. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are accelerating the growth in waiver update and buprenorphine use, despite the considerable barriers and limitations described in this policy analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Fitzgerald Jones
- Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mongan Institute for Aging and Serious Illness, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monica O'Reilly Jacob
- Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joanne Spetz
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Matthew Tierney
- Office of Population Health, UCSF Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Waite MR, Heslin K, Cook J, Kim A, Simpson M. Predicting substance use disorder treatment follow-ups and relapse across the continuum of care at a single behavioral health center. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 147:208933. [PMID: 36805798 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2022.208933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Substance use disorder is often a chronic condition, and its treatment requires patient access to a continuum of care, including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. Ideally, patients complete treatment at the most suitable level for their immediate individual needs, then transition to the next appropriate level. In practice, however, attrition rates are high, as many patients discharge before successfully completing a treatment program or struggle to transition to follow-up care after program discharge. Previous studies analyzed up to two programs at a time in single-center datasets, meaning no studies have assessed patient attrition and follow-up behavior across all five levels of substance use treatment programs in parallel. METHODS To address this major gap, this retrospective study collected patient demographics, enrollment, discharge, and outcomes data across five substance use treatment levels at a large Midwestern psychiatric hospital from 2017 to 2019. Data analyses used descriptive statistics and regression analyses. RESULTS Analyses found several differences in treatment engagement based on patient-level variables. Inpatients were more likely to identify as Black or female compared to lower-acuity programs. Patients were less likely to step down in care if they were younger, Black, had Medicare coverage were discharging from inpatient treatment, or had specific behavioral health diagnoses. Patients were more likely to relapse if they were male or did not engage in follow-up SUD treatment. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should assess mechanisms by which these variables influence treatment access, develop programmatic interventions that encourage appropriate transitions between programs, and determine best practices for increasing access to treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mindy R Waite
- Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services, Advocate Aurora Health, 1220 Dewey Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213, USA; Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Kayla Heslin
- Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Jonathan Cook
- Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Aengela Kim
- Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA; Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, 3333 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
| | - Michelle Simpson
- Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA; AAH Ed Howe Center for Health Care Transformation, Advocate Aurora Health, 960 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Faude S, Delgado MK, Perrone J, McFadden R, Xiong RA, O'Donnell N, Wood C, Solomon G, Lowenstein M. Variability in opioid use disorder clinical presentations and treatment in the emergency department: A mixed-methods study. Am J Emerg Med 2023; 66:53-60. [PMID: 36706482 PMCID: PMC10038883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is strong evidence for emergency department (ED)-initiated treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). However, implementation is variable, and ED management of OUD may differ by clinical presentation. Our aim was to use mixed methods to explore variation in ED-based OUD care by patient clinical presentation and understand barriers and facilitators to ED implementation of OUD treatment across scenarios. METHODS We analyzed treatment outcomes in OUD-related visits within three urban, academic EDs from 12/2018 to 7/2020 following the implementation of interventions to increase ED-initiated OUD treatment. We assessed differences in treatment with medications for OUD (MOUDs) by clinical presentation (overdose, withdrawal, others). These data were integrated with results from 5 focus groups conducted with 28 ED physicians and nurses January to April 2020 to provide a richer understanding of clinician perspectives on caring for ED patients with OUD. RESULTS Of the 1339 total opioid-related visits, there were 265 (20%) visits for overdose, 123 (9%) for withdrawal, and 951 (71%) for other OUD-related conditions. 23% of patients received MOUDs during their visit or at discharge. Treatment with MOUDs was least common in overdose presentations (6%) and most common in withdrawal presentations (69%, p < 0.001). Buprenorphine was prescribed at discharge in 15% of visits, including 42% of withdrawal visits, 14% of other OUD-related visits, and 5% of overdose visits (p < 0.001). In focus groups, clinicians highlighted variation in ED presentations among patients with OUD. Clinicians also highlighted key aspects necessary for successful treatment initiation including perceived patient receptivity, provider confidence, and patient clinical readiness. CONCLUSIONS ED-based treatment of OUD differed by clinical presentation. Clinician focus groups identified several areas where targeted guidance or novel approaches may improve current practices. These results highlight the need for tailored clinical guidance and can inform health system and policy interventions seeking to increase ED-initiated treatment for OUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Faude
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - M Kit Delgado
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Jeanmarie Perrone
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Rachel McFadden
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Ruiying Aria Xiong
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Nicole O'Donnell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America. Nicole.O'
| | - Christian Wood
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Gabrielle Solomon
- School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Margaret Lowenstein
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Carroll G, Solomon KT, Heil J, Saloner B, Stuart EA, Patel EY, Greifer N, Salzman M, Murphy E, Baston K, Haroz R. Impact of Administering Buprenorphine to Overdose Survivors Using Emergency Medical Services. Ann Emerg Med 2023; 81:165-175. [PMID: 36192278 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of utilizing emergency medical services units to administer high dose buprenorphine after an overdose to treat withdrawal symptoms, reduce repeat overdose, and provide a next-day substances use disorder clinic appointment to initiate long-term treatment. METHODS This was a retrospective matched cohort study of patients who experienced an overdose and either received emergency medical services care from a buprenorphine-equipped ambulance or a nonbuprenorphine-equipped ambulance in Camden, New Jersey, an urban community with high overdose rates. There were 117 cases and 123 control patients in the final sample. RESULTS Compared with a nonbuprenorphine-equipped ambulance, exposure to a buprenorphine-equipped ambulance was associated with greater odds of engaging in opioid use disorder treatment within 30 days of an emergency medical services encounter (unadjusted odds ratio: 5.62, 95% confidence interval, 2.36 to 13.39). Buprenorphine-equipped ambulance engagement did not decrease repeat overdose compared to the comparison group. Patients who received buprenorphine experienced a decrease in withdrawal symptoms. Their clinical opiate withdrawal scale score decreased from an average of 9.27 to 3.16. buprenorphine-equipped ambulances increased on-scene time by 6.12 minutes. CONCLUSION Patients who encountered paramedics trained to administer buprenorphine and able to arrange prompt substance use disorder treatment after an acute opioid overdose demonstrated a decrease in opioid withdrawal symptoms, an increase in outpatient addiction follow-up care, and showed no difference in repeat overdose. Patients receiving buprenorphine in the out-of-hospital setting did not experience precipitated withdrawal. Expanded out-of-hospital treatment of opiate use disorder is a promising model for rapid access to buprenorphine after an overdose in a patient population that often has limited contact with the health care system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Carroll
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ.
| | | | - Jessica Heil
- Division of Addiction, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Esita Y Patel
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Noah Greifer
- Harvard University Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Cambridge, MA
| | - Matthew Salzman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ
| | - Emily Murphy
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ
| | - Kaitlan Baston
- Division of Addiction, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ
| | - Rachel Haroz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chambers LC, Hallowell BD, Samuels EA, Daly M, Baird J, Beaudoin FL. An evaluation of the association between specific post-overdose care services in emergency departments and subsequent treatment engagement. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2023; 4:e12877. [PMID: 36643599 PMCID: PMC9833281 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the association between receipt of specific post-overdose care services in the emergency department (ED) and subsequent engagement in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) after discharge. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of Rhode Island residents treated at 1 of 4 EDs for opioid overdose who were not engaged in OUD treatment and were discharged home (May 2016-April 2021). Electronic health record data were used to identify ED services received, and state administrative data were used to define subsequent engagement in OUD treatment within 30 days. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between ED services received and subsequent treatment engagement. Results Overall, 1008 people not engaged in OUD treatment were treated at study EDs for opioid overdose and discharged home, of whom 146 (14%) subsequently engaged in OUD treatment within 30 days. Most patients were aged 25 to 44 years (59%) and non-Hispanic White (69%). Receipt of behavioral counseling in the ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-2.71) and initiation of buprenorphine treatment in/from the ED (aOR = 5.86, 95% CI = 2.70-12.71) were associated with treatment engagement. Receipt of a take-home naloxone kit or naloxone prescription and referral to treatment at discharge were not associated with treatment engagement. Overall, 49% of patients received behavioral counseling in the ED, and 3% initiated buprenorphine in/from the ED. Conclusion Strategies for increasing provision of behavioral counseling and initiation of buprenorphine in the ED may be useful for improving subsequent engagement in OUD treatment after discharge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Chambers
- Substance Use Epidemiology ProgramRhode Island Department of HealthProvidenceRhode IslandUSA,Division of Infectious DiseasesThe Miriam HospitalProvidenceRhode IslandUSA,Department of EpidemiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Benjamin D. Hallowell
- Substance Use Epidemiology ProgramRhode Island Department of HealthProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. Samuels
- Department of EpidemiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA,Department of Emergency MedicineBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA,Drug Overdose Prevention ProgramRhode Island Department of HealthProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Mackenzie Daly
- Research, Data Evaluation, and Compliance UnitRhode Island Department of Behavioral HealthcareDevelopmental Disabilities, and HospitalsProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Janette Baird
- Department of Emergency MedicineBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Francesca L. Beaudoin
- Department of EpidemiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA,Department of Emergency MedicineBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hailu R, Mehrotra A, Huskamp HA, Busch AB, Barnett ML. Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2252381. [PMID: 36692880 PMCID: PMC10038015 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.52381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Little is known about the potential implications of the rapid transition to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). OBJECTIVE To examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study analyzed deidentified administrative claims data from OptumLabs Data Warehouse. Claims for telemedicine visits were included for both the prepandemic period (March 14, 2019, to March 13, 2020) and pandemic period (March 14, 2020, to March 13, 2021). Patients with OUD and continuous enrollment in either commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage plans were included. Clinicians who provided office-based OUD care were included and categorized into low, medium, or high telemedicine use groups. Patients were attributed to the clinician (and corresponding telemedicine use group) from whom they received a plurality of OUD visits. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The 4 outcomes were all outpatient visits, OUD visits (in person vs telemedicine) within 90 days of an index visit, medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing, and OUD-related clinical events (including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation center stay, or injection drug use-related infections). RESULTS The analysis included 11 801 patients (mean [SD] age, 53.9 [15.7] years; 5902 males [50.0%]) who were treated by 1768 clinicians. Clinicians with low vs high telemedicine use conducted a mean (SD) of 2.1% (2.5%) vs 69.5% (18.6%) of their office visits virtually in the pandemic period. While telemedicine use for OUD increased significantly from the prepandemic to pandemic periods, total OUD visit volume (in person plus telemedicine) per patient episode remained stable among both high (2.6 to 2.7 visits per patient episode) and low (3.1 to 3.3 visits per patient episode) telemedicine use groups. In adjusted analyses comparing the prepandemic with pandemic periods, there was no differential change in MOUD initiation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.84-1.19), MOUD days' supply (differential change in days' supply, -0.27; 95% CI, -1.84 to 1.30), or OUD-related clinical events (adjusted OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.73-1.24) among patients who were treated by clinicians in low vs high telemedicine use groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this study revealed that clinical outcomes were similar among patients who were treated by clinicians with high and low telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that telemedicine is a comparable alternative to in-person OUD care. There was no evidence that telemedicine was associated with increased access to or improved quality of OUD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Hailu
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Haiden A Huskamp
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alisa B Busch
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L Barnett
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Husain JM, Cromartie D, Fitzelle-Jones E, Brochier A, Borba CPC, Montalvo C. A qualitative analysis of barriers to opioid agonist treatment for racial/ethnic minoritized populations. J Subst Abuse Treat 2023; 144:108918. [PMID: 36403456 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinical guidelines strongly recommend opioid agonist treatment (OAT) as first-line treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). However, racial/ethnic minoritized patients are less likely to receive OAT compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Reasons for this treatment gap must be elucidated to address racial/ethnic disparities in OAT. Our objective is to evaluate perceptions of and barriers to OAT across racial/ethnic groups in individuals with OUD (not on OAT). METHODS This qualitative study used semi-structured telephone interviews of adult patients (n = 41) with OUD (not currently being treated with OAT) from the Boston area from September 2020 through February 2021. We developed a codebook through author consensus based on review of themes in initial transcripts. We performed qualitative thematic analysis of the transcripts. We evaluated patients' perceptions of treatment for OUD across the study population and analyzed differences and similarities in perceptions between racial and ethnic groups. RESULTS Across all racial/ethnic categories in our sample, anticipated stigma was the most frequently reported barrier to OAT and most patients preferred non-OAT methods for treatment. Non-Hispanic White participants had more favorable opinions of OAT compared to racial/ethnic minoritized participants. Racial/ethnic minoritized participants reported social support as the main facilitator to addiction treatment, while non-Hispanic White participants reported self-motivation as the most important factor. Racial/ethnic minoritized participants preferred treatment for OUD via non-OAT treatments and their second most preferred option was residential treatment. Non-Hispanic White participants preferred naltrexone and their second most preferred option was non-OAT treatments. CONCLUSIONS Racial/ethnic minoritized patients' preference for residential treatment and social support, along with their distrust of OAT, illustrates a desire for psychosocial and peer recovery-based care that addresses social determinants of health. Addiction specialists may improve engagement with and treatment of racial/ethnic minoritized groups with culturally tailored interventions for OUD that offer psychosocial treatment in combination with OAT, and by partnering with organizations with strong ties to racial/ethnic minoritized communities. This kind of response would reflect the structural and cultural humility that is needed to adequately address the OUD needs of these underserved populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jawad M Husain
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA, United States of America.
| | - Devin Cromartie
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Emma Fitzelle-Jones
- New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Annelise Brochier
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Christina P C Borba
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Cristina Montalvo
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Anderson A, Walker B, Shao Y, LaVeist TA, Callison K. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medication-Assisted Treatment: Evidence from Louisiana Medicaid During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:266-268. [PMID: 36344642 PMCID: PMC9640815 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07893-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Anderson
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Brigham Walker
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yixue Shao
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Thomas A LaVeist
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kevin Callison
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Bartholomew TS, Andraka-Cristou B, Totaram RK, Harris S, Doblecki-Lewis S, Ostrer L, Serota DP, Forrest DW, Chueng TA, Suarez E, Tookes HE. "We want everything in a one-stop shop": acceptability and feasibility of PrEP and buprenorphine implementation with mobile syringe services for Black people who inject drugs. Harm Reduct J 2022; 19:133. [PMID: 36463183 PMCID: PMC9719627 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00721-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A recent surge in HIV outbreaks, driven by the opioid and stimulant use crises, has destabilized our progress toward targets set forth by Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America for the high-priority community of people who inject drugs (PWID), particularly Black PWID. METHODS In order to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of using a mobile syringe services program (SSP) for comprehensive HIV prevention via PrEP and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), our mixed methods approach included a quantitative assessment and semi-structured qualitative interviews with Black PWID (n = 30) in Miami-Dade County who were actively engaged in mobile syringe services. RESULTS Participants felt that delivery of MOUD and PrEP at a mobile SSP would be both feasible and acceptable, helping to address transportation, cost, and stigma barriers common within traditional healthcare settings. Participants preferred staff who are compassionate and nonjudgmental and have lived experience. CONCLUSIONS A mobile harm reduction setting could be an effective venue for delivering comprehensive HIV prevention services to Black PWID, a community that experiences significant barriers to care via marginalization and racism in a fragmented healthcare system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S. Bartholomew
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Health Services Research and Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St., #1020, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Barbara Andraka-Cristou
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA ,grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Rachel K. Totaram
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Shana Harris
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA ,grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Anthropology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Susanne Doblecki-Lewis
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Lily Ostrer
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - David P. Serota
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - David W. Forrest
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL USA
| | - Teresa A. Chueng
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Edward Suarez
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Hansel E. Tookes
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wakeman SE, Lambert E, Kung S, Brisbon NM, Carroll AD, Hickman TT, Covahey C, Sequist TD, Weiner SG. Trends in buprenorphine treatment disparities during the COVID pandemic in Massachusetts. Subst Abus 2022; 43:1317-1321. [PMID: 35896001 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2022.2095077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Racial, sex, and age disparities in buprenorphine treatment have previously been demonstrated. We evaluated trends in buprenorphine treatment disparities before and after the onset of the COVID pandemic in Massachusetts. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from an integrated health system comparing 12-months before and after the March 2020 Massachusetts COVID state of emergency declaration, excluding March as a washout period. Among patients with a clinical encounter during the study periods with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder or opioid poisoning, we extracted outpatient buprenorphine prescription rates by age, sex, race and ethnicity, and language. Generating univariable and multivariable Poisson regression models, we calculated the probability of receiving buprenorphine. Results: Among 4,530 patients seen in the period before the COVID emergency declaration, 57.9% received buprenorphine. Among 3,653 patients seen in the second time period, 55.1% received buprenorphine. Younger patients (<24) had a lower likelihood of receiving buprenorphine in both time periods (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR), 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.75 before vs. aPR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60-0.96 after). Male patients had a greater likelihood of receiving buprenorphine compared to female patients in both time periods (aPR: 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00-1.11 vs. aPR: 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.16). Racial disparities emerged in the time period following the COVID pandemic, with non-Hispanic Black patients having a lower likelihood of receiving buprenorphine compared to non-Hispanic white patients in the second time period (aPR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72-0.99). Conclusions: Following the onset of the COVID pandemic in Massachusetts, ongoing racial, age, and gender disparities were evident in buprenorphine treatment with younger, Black, and female patients less likely to be treated with buprenorphine across an integrated health system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wakeman
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Mass General Brigham, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eugene Lambert
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sunny Kung
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Aleta D Carroll
- Mass General Brigham, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thu-Trang Hickman
- Mass General Brigham, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Thomas D Sequist
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Mass General Brigham, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott G Weiner
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bond C, Challen K, Milne WK. Hot off the press: Medications for opioid use disorder In the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:1503-1505. [PMID: 36197068 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
34
|
Racial/ethnic residential segregation and the availability of opioid and substance use treatment facilities in US counties, 2009–2019. SSM Popul Health 2022; 20:101289. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
35
|
Alegría M, Falgas-Bague I, Fukuda M, Zhen-Duan J, Weaver C, O’Malley I, Layton T, Wallace J, Zhang L, Markle S, Lincourt P, Hussain S, Lewis-Fernández R, John DA, McGuire T. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Substance Use Treatment in Medicaid Managed Care in New York City: The Role of Plan and Geography. Med Care 2022; 60:806-812. [PMID: 36038524 PMCID: PMC9588705 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim was to assess the magnitude of health care disparities in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and the role of health plan membership and place of residence in observed disparities in Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) plans in New York City (NYC). DATA SOURCE Medicaid claims and managed care plan enrollment files for 2015-2017 in NYC. RESEARCH DESIGN We studied Medicaid enrollees with a SUD diagnosis during their first 6 months of enrollment in a managed care plan in 2015-2017. A series of linear regression models quantified service disparities across race/ethnicity for 5 outcome indicators: treatment engagement, receipt of psychosocial treatment, follow-up after withdrawal, rapid readmission, and treatment continuation. We assessed the degree to which plan membership and place of residence contributed to observed disparities. RESULTS We found disparities in access to treatment but the magnitude of the disparities in most cases was small. Plan membership and geography of residence explained little of the observed disparities. One exception is geography of residence among Asian Americans, which appears to mediate disparities for 2 of our 5 outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Reallocating enrollees among MMC plans in NYC or evolving trends in group place of residence are unlikely to reduce disparities in treatment for SUD. System-wide reforms are needed to mitigate disparities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Alegría
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Irene Falgas-Bague
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Marie Fukuda
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Jenny Zhen-Duan
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Cole Weaver
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Isabel O’Malley
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Timothy Layton
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Lulu Zhang
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Sheri Markle
- Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Pat Lincourt
- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Albany, NY
| | - Shazia Hussain
- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Albany, NY
| | - Roberto Lewis-Fernández
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | | | - Thomas McGuire
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Outpatient Mental Health Follow-up and Recurrent Self-harm and Suicide Among Patients Admitted to the ICU for Self-harm: A Population-based Cohort Study. Chest 2022; 163:815-825. [PMID: 36445799 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients surviving an ICU admission for deliberate self-harm are at high risk of recurrent self-harm or suicide after discharge. It is unknown whether mental health follow-up after discharge (with either a family physician or psychiatrist) reduces this risk. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the association between mental health follow-up after discharge and recurrent self-harm among patients admitted to the ICU for intentional self-harm? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Population-based cohort study of consecutive adults (≥ 18 years of age) from Ontario, Canada, who were admitted to ICU because of intentional self-harm between 2009 and 2017. We categorized patients according to follow-up, with 'early follow-up' indicating 1 to 21 days after discharge, 'late follow-up' indicating 22 to 60 days after discharge, and 'no follow-up' indicating no follow-up within 60 days of discharge. We conducted analyses using a cause-specific extended Cox regression model to account for varying time for mental health follow-up relative to the outcomes of interest. The primary outcome was recurrent ICU admission for self-harm within 1 year of discharge. RESULTS We included 9,569 consecutive adults admitted to the ICU for deliberate self-harm. Compared with receiving no mental health follow-up, both early follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.75) and late follow-up (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.22-2.35) were associated with increased risk in recurrent ICU admission for self-harm. As compared with no follow-up, neither early follow-up (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.70-1.73) nor late follow-up (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.84-2.83) were associated with increased risk of death by suicide. INTERPREATION Among adults admitted to the ICU for deliberate self-harm, mental health follow-up after discharge was not associated with reduced risk of recurrent ICU admission for self-harm or death resulting from suicide, and patients seeking outpatient follow-up may be those at highest risk of these outcomes. Future research should focus on additional and novel methods of risk mitigation in this vulnerable population.
Collapse
|
37
|
Jones CM, Shoff C, Hodges K, Blanco C, Losby JL, Ling SM, Compton WM. Receipt of Telehealth Services, Receipt and Retention of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, and Medically Treated Overdose Among Medicare Beneficiaries Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:981-992. [PMID: 36044198 PMCID: PMC9434479 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Federal emergency authorities were invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic to expand use of telehealth for new and continued care, including provision of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). OBJECTIVE To examine receipt of telehealth services, MOUD (methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release [ER] naltrexone) receipt and retention, and medically treated overdose before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This exploratory longitudinal cohort study used data from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from September 2018 to February 2021. Two cohorts (before COVID-19 pandemic from September 2018 to February 2020 and during COVID-19 pandemic from September 2019 to February 2021) of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 18 years and older with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification OUD diagnosis. EXPOSURES Pre-COVID-19 pandemic vs COVID-19 pandemic cohort demographic characteristics, medical and substance use, and psychiatric comorbidities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Receipt and retention of MOUD, receipt of OUD and behavioral health-related telehealth services, and experiencing medically treated overdose. RESULTS The pre-COVID-19 pandemic cohort comprised 105 240 beneficiaries; of these, 61 152 (58.1%) were female, 71 152 (67.6%) were aged 45 to 74 years, and 82 822 (79.5%) non-Hispanic White. The COVID-19 pandemic cohort comprised 70 538 beneficiaries; of these, 40 257 (57.1%) were female, 46 793 (66.3%) were aged 45 to 74 years, and 55 510 (79.7%) were non-Hispanic White. During the study period, a larger percentage of beneficiaries in the pandemic cohort compared with the prepandemic cohort received OUD-related telehealth services (13 829 [19.6%] vs 593 [0.6%]; P < .001), behavioral health-related telehealth services (28 902 [41.0%] vs 1967 [1.9%]; P < .001), and MOUD (8854 [12.6%] vs 11 360 [10.8%]; P < .001). The percentage experiencing a medically treated overdose during the study period was similar (18.5% [19 491 of 105 240] in the prepandemic cohort vs 18.4% [13 004 of 70 538] in the pandemic cohort; P = .65). Receipt of OUD-related telehealth services in the pandemic cohort was associated with increased odds of MOUD retention (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.41) and lower odds of medically treated overdose (aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.63-0.71). Among beneficiaries in the pandemic cohort, those receiving MOUD from opioid treatment programs only (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.47-0.63) and those receiving buprenorphine from pharmacies only (aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98) had lower odds of medically treated overdose compared with beneficiaries who did not receive MOUD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Emergency authorities to expand use of telehealth and provide flexibilities for MOUD provision during the pandemic were used by Medicare beneficiaries initiating an episode of OUD-related care and were associated with improved retention in care and reduced odds of medically treated overdose. Strategies to expand provision of MOUD and increase retention in care are urgently needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Jones
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carla Shoff
- Information Products and Analytics Group, US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kevin Hodges
- Information Products and Analytics Group, US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carlos Blanco
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jan L. Losby
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Shari M. Ling
- US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wilson M. Compton
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Calcaterra SL, Bottner R, Martin M, Englander H, Weinstein ZM, Weimer MB, Lambert E, Ronan MV, Huerta S, Zaman T, Ullal M, Peterkin AF, Torres-Lockhart K, Buresh M, O’Brien MT, Snyder H, Herzig SJ. Management of opioid use disorder, opioid withdrawal, and opioid overdose prevention in hospitalized adults: A systematic review of existing guidelines. J Hosp Med 2022; 17:679-692. [PMID: 35880821 PMCID: PMC9474657 DOI: 10.1002/jhm.12908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospitalizations related to the consequences of opioid use are rising. National guidelines directing in-hospital opioid use disorder (OUD) management do not exist. OUD treatment guidelines intended for other treatment settings could inform in-hospital OUD management. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the quality and content of existing guidelines for OUD treatment and management. DATA SOURCES OVID MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid PsychINFO, EBSCOhost CINHAL, ERCI Guidelines Trust, websites of relevant societies and advocacy organizations, and selected international search engines. STUDY SELECTION Guidelines published between January 2010 to June 2020 addressing OUD treatment, opioid withdrawal management, opioid overdose prevention, and care transitions among adults. DATA EXTRACTION We assessed quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. DATA SYNTHESIS Nineteen guidelines met the selection criteria. Most recommendations were based on observational studies or expert consensus. Guidelines recommended the use of nonstigmatizing language among patients with OUD; to assess patients with unhealthy opioid use for OUD using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Diseases-5th Edition criteria; use of methadone or buprenorphine to treat OUD and opioid withdrawal; use of multimodal, nonopioid therapy, and when needed, short-acting opioid analgesics in addition to buprenorphine or methadone, for acute pain management; ensuring linkage to ongoing methadone or buprenorphine treatment; referring patients to psychosocial treatment; and ensuring access to naloxone for opioid overdose reversal. CONCLUSIONS Included guidelines were informed by studies with various levels of rigor and quality. Future research should systematically study buprenorphine and methadone initiation and titration among people using fentanyl and people with pain, especially during hospitalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L. Calcaterra
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard Bottner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Marlene Martin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Honora Englander
- Section of Addiction Medicine and Division of Hospital Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Zoe M. Weinstein
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Eugene Lambert
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA and Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Matthew V. Ronan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA and Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA
| | - Sergio Huerta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, NM, USA
| | - Tauheed Zaman
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Monish Ullal
- Department of Internal Medicine at Highland Hospital, Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa F. Peterkin
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Megan Buresh
- Division of Addiction Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Meghan T. O’Brien
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hannah Snyder
- Family Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shoshana J. Herzig
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA and Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kim SJ, Medina M, Chang J. Healthcare Utilization of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder in US Hospitals from 2016 to 2019: Focusing on Racial and Regional Variances. Clin Drug Investig 2022; 42:853-863. [PMID: 36001256 PMCID: PMC9399995 DOI: 10.1007/s40261-022-01192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of US population-based research on healthcare utilization differences caused by opioid misuse. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore disparities in healthcare utilization by type of opioid use disorder, race, region, and other patient factors for a more targeted prevention and treatment program. METHODS The National Inpatient Sample of the United States was used to identify patients with opioid use disorder (n = 101,231, weighted n = 506,155) from 2016 to 2019. Type of opioid use disorder was defined as opioid dependence/unspecified use, adverse effects of opioids, opioid misuse, and opioid poisoning (also known as overdose). We examined the sample characteristics and the association between type of disorder, racial and regional variables, and healthcare utilization, measured by hospital charges and length of stay. The multivariate survey linear regression model was used. RESULTS Among 506,155 patients, most were categorized as opioid dependence/unspecified use (56.3%) and opioid poisoning (42.7%). The number of opioid use disorder patients during the study decreased; however, overall total charges and length of stay continuously increased. Survey linear results showed that opioid poisoning, adverse effects, and abuse were associated with higher hospital charges than opioid dependence; however, length of stay was significantly lower for these groups. White patients compared with minorities, and West, Northeast, and South regions were associated with higher hospital charges and length of stay. CONCLUSION Significant differences in healthcare utilization exist between type of disorder, race, and region. Such findings illustrate that tailored treatment regimens are required to bridge the gaps in care and combat the opioid crisis. Minorities with opioid use disorder utilize healthcare the least, possibly because of affordability, and need culturally sensitive and financially feasible treatment options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Jung Kim
- Department of Health Administration and Management, College of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea.,Center for Healthcare Management Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Software Convergence, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Mar Medina
- School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Jongwha Chang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Beaudoin FL, Jacka BP, Li Y, Samuels EA, Hallowell BD, Peachey AM, Newman RA, Daly MM, Langdon KJ, Marshall BDL. Effect of a Peer-Led Behavioral Intervention for Emergency Department Patients at High Risk of Fatal Opioid Overdose: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2225582. [PMID: 35943744 PMCID: PMC9364125 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.25582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses are at record levels, and emergency department (ED) visits may be an opportune time to intervene. Peer-led models of care are increasingly common; however, little is known about their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a peer-led behavioral intervention compared with the standard behavioral intervention delivered in the ED on engagement in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment within 30 days after the ED encounter. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This randomized clinical trial recruited 648 patients from 2 EDs from November 15, 2018, to May 31, 2021. Patients were eligible to participate if they were in the ED for an opioid overdose, receiving treatment related to an opioid use disorder, or identified as having had a recent opioid overdose. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to receive a behavioral intervention from a certified peer recovery specialist (n = 323) or a standard intervention delivered by a hospital-employed licensed clinical social worker (n = 325). A certified peer recovery specialist was someone with at least 2 years of recovery who completed a 45-hour training program and had 500 hours of supervised work experience. After the ED intervention, the certified peer recovery specialists offered continued contact with participants for up to 90 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was receipt of SUD treatment within 30 days of enrollment, assessed with deterministic linkage of statewide administrative databases. Treatment engagement was defined as admission to a formal, publicly licensed SUD treatment program or receipt of office-based medication for opioid use disorder within 30 days of the initial ED visit. RESULTS Among the 648 participants, the mean (SD) age was 36.9 (10.8) years, and most were male (442 [68.2%]) and White (444 [68.5%]). Receipt of SUD treatment occurred for 103 of 323 participants (32%) in the intervention group vs 98 of 325 participants (30%) in the usual care group within 30 days of the ED visit. Among all participants, the most accessed treatments were outpatient medication for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, 119 [18.4%]; methadone, 44 [6.8%]) and residential treatment (44 [6.8%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Overall, this study found that a substantial proportion of participants in both groups engaged in SUD treatment within 30 days of the ED visit. An ED-based behavioral intervention is likely effective in promoting treatment engagement, but who delivers the intervention may be less influential on short-term outcomes. Further study is required to determine the effects on longer-term engagement in SUD care and other health outcomes (eg, recurrent overdose). TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03684681.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brendan P. Jacka
- Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Yu Li
- Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Elizabeth A. Samuels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | | | | | - Mackenzie M. Daly
- Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, Providence
| | - Kirsten J. Langdon
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Gupta
- White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Lin Q, Kolak M, Watts B, Anselin L, Pollack H, Schneider J, Taylor B. Individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood measures associated with opioid use stigma: Evidence from a nationally representative survey. Soc Sci Med 2022; 305:115034. [PMID: 35636049 PMCID: PMC9288898 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite growing awareness of opioid use disorder (OUD), fatal overdoses and downstream health conditions (e. g., hepatitis C and HIV) continue to rise in some populations. Various interrelated structural forces, together with social and economic determinants, contribute to this ongoing crisis; among these, access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and stigma towards people with OUD remain understudied. We combined data on methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone providers from SAMHSA’s 2019 directory, additional naltrexone providers from Vivitrol’s location finder service, with a nationally representative survey called “The AmeriSpeak survey on stigma toward people with OUD.” Integrating the social-ecological framework, we focus on individual characteristics, personal and family members’ experience with OUD, and spatial access to MOUD at the community level. We use nationally representative survey data from 3008 respondents who completed their survey in 2020. Recognizing that stigma is a multifaceted construct, we also examine how the process varies for different types of stigma, specifically perceived dangerousness and untrustworthiness, as well as social distancing measures under different scenarios. We found a significant association between stigma and spatial access to MOUD — more resources are related to weaker stigma. Respondents had a stronger stigma towards people experiencing current OUD (versus past OUD), and they were more concerned about OUD if the person would marry into their family (versus being their coworkers). Additionally, respondents’ age, sex, education, and personal experience with OUD were also associated with their stigma, and the association can vary depending on the specific type of stigma. Overall, stigma towards people with OUD was associated with both personal experiences and environmental measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinyun Lin
- Center for Spatial Data Science, University of Chicago, USA.
| | - Marynia Kolak
- Center for Spatial Data Science, University of Chicago, USA
| | | | - Luc Anselin
- Center for Spatial Data Science, University of Chicago, USA
| | - Harold Pollack
- School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Melnick ER, Nath B, Dziura JD, Casey MF, Jeffery MM, Paek H, Soares WE, Hoppe JA, Rajeevan H, Li F, Skains RM, Walter LA, Patel MD, Chari SV, Platts-Mills TF, Hess EP, D'Onofrio G. User centered clinical decision support to implement initiation of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in the emergency department: EMBED pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ 2022; 377:e069271. [PMID: 35760423 PMCID: PMC9231533 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of a user centered clinical decision support tool versus usual care on rates of initiation of buprenorphine in the routine emergency care of individuals with opioid use disorder. DESIGN Pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (EMBED). SETTING 18 emergency department clusters across five healthcare systems in five states representing the north east, south east, and western regions of the US, ranging from community hospitals to tertiary care centers, using either the Epic or Cerner electronic health record platform. PARTICIPANTS 599 attending emergency physicians caring for 5047 adult patients presenting with opioid use disorder. INTERVENTION A user centered, physician facing clinical decision support system seamlessly integrated into user workflows in the electronic health record to support initiating buprenorphine in the emergency department by helping clinicians to diagnose opioid use disorder, assess the severity of withdrawal, motivate patients to accept treatment, and complete electronic health record tasks by automating clinical and after visit documentation, order entry, prescribing, and referral. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rate of initiation of buprenorphine (administration or prescription of buprenorphine) in the emergency department among patients with opioid use disorder. Secondary implementation outcomes were measured with the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework. RESULTS 1 413 693 visits to the emergency department (775 873 in the intervention arm and 637 820 in the usual care arm) from November 2019 to May 2021 were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 5047 patients with opioid use disorder (2787 intervention arm, 2260 usual care arm) under the care of 599 attending physicians (340 intervention arm, 259 usual care arm) for analysis. Buprenorphine was initiated in 347 (12.5%) patients in the intervention arm and in 271 (12.0%) patients in the usual care arm (adjusted generalized estimating equations odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.61 to 2.43, P=0.58). Buprenorphine was initiated at least once by 151 (44.4%) physicians in the intervention arm and by 88 (34.0%) in the usual care arm (1.83, 1.16 to 2.89, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS User centered clinical decision support did not increase patient level rates of initiating buprenorphine in the emergency department. Although streamlining and automating electronic health record workflows can potentially increase adoption of complex, unfamiliar evidence based practices, more interventions are needed to look at other barriers to the treatment of addiction and increase the rate of initiating buprenorphine in the emergency department in patients with opioid use disorder. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03658642.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward R Melnick
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bidisha Nath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - James D Dziura
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Martin F Casey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Molly M Jeffery
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Health Care Delivery Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Hyung Paek
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William E Soares
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Jason A Hoppe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Fangyong Li
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel M Skains
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lauren A Walter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mehul D Patel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Srihari V Chari
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Erik P Hess
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Gail D'Onofrio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Nguyen T, Ziedan E, Simon K, Miles J, Crystal S, Samples H, Gupta S. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Buprenorphine and Extended-Release Naltrexone Filled Prescriptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2214765. [PMID: 35648400 PMCID: PMC9161014 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance COVID-19 disrupted delivery of buprenorphine and naltrexone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), and during the pandemic, members of racial and ethnic minority groups experienced increased COVID-19 and opioid overdose risks compared with White individuals. However, whether filled buprenorphine and naltrexone prescriptions varied across racial and ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown. Objective To investigate whether disruptions in filled buprenorphine and naltrexone prescriptions differed by race and ethnicity and insurance status or payer type. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used retail pharmacy claims from May 2019 to June 2021 from the Symphony Health database, which includes 92% of US retail pharmacy claims, with race and ethnicity data spanning all insurance status and payer categories. Interrupted time series were used to estimate levels and trends of dispensed buprenorphine and naltrexone prescriptions before and after pandemic onset. Included individuals were those who filled buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone prescriptions. Data were analyzed from July 2021 through March 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures Weekly rates of dispensed buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone prescription fills per 1000 patients and proportion of longer (ie, ≥14 days' supply) buprenorphine prescription fills were calculated. Analyses were stratified by patient race and ethnicity and further by insurance status and payer type for White and Black patients. Results A total of 1 556 860 individuals who filled buprenorphine prescriptions (4359 Asian [0.3%], 94 657 Black [6.1%], 55 369 Hispanic [3.6%], and 664 779 White [42.7%]) and 127 506 individuals who filled extended-release naltrexone prescriptions (344 Asian [0.3%], 8186 Black [6.4%], 5343 Hispanic [4.2%], and 53 068 White [41.6%]) from May 6, 2019, to June 5, 2021, were analyzed. Prepandemic increases in buprenorphine fill rate flattened for all groups after COVID-19 onset (30.5 percentage point difference in trend; P < .001) compared with prepandemic trends. Significant level decreases in buprenorphine fills (ranging from 2.5% for Black patients; P = .009 to 4.0% for Hispanic patients; P = .009) at pandemic onset were observed for members of racial and ethnic minority groups but not White patients. At pandemic onset, rate of buprenorphine fills decreased in level for Medicare and cash-paying patients but with greater decreases for Black patients (Medicare: 10.0%; P < .001; cash: 20.0%; P < .001) than White patients (Medicare: 3.5%; P = .004; cash: 15.0%; P < .001). No decreases were found among Medicaid patients. Unlike buprenorphine, extended-release naltrexone had uniform level (from 10.0% for White patients with private insurance; P < .001 to 23.3% for Black patients with Medicare; P < .001) and trend (from 15.5 percentage points for White patients with Medicaid; P = .001 to 52.0 percentage points for Black patients with private insurance; P < .001) decreases across groups. Conclusions and Relevance This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with immediate decreases in filled buprenorphine prescriptions by members of racial and ethnic minority groups but not White individuals. These findings suggest that members of racial and ethnic minority groups had larger losses in buprenorphine access during the pandemic across payer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Nguyen
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Engy Ziedan
- Department of Economics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Kosali Simon
- O'Neil School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer Miles
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Stephen Crystal
- Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Health, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- School of Public Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Hillary Samples
- Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Sumedha Gupta
- Department of Economics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Stevens MA, Tsai J, Savitz ST, Nath B, Melnick ER, D’Onofrio G, Jeffery MM. Trends and Disparities in Access to Buprenorphine Treatment Following an Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visit Among an Insured Cohort, 2014-2020. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2215287. [PMID: 35657629 PMCID: PMC9166266 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.15287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study examines trends in access to buprenorphine treatment following an opioid-related emergency department (ED) visit among adults with commercial or Medicare Advantage health insurance between 2014 and 2020.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Stevens
- Department of Health Care Policy Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- OptumLabs, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
| | - Jennifer Tsai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Samuel T. Savitz
- Department of Health Care Policy Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Bidisha Nath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Edward R. Melnick
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Gail D’Onofrio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Molly Moore Jeffery
- Department of Health Care Policy Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- OptumLabs, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Samuels EA, Martin AF. Beyond the Waiver: Multilevel Interventions Needed to Expand Buprenorphine Treatment. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2212425. [PMID: 35552731 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Samuels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Alister F Martin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
This paper is the forty-third consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2020 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Schoenfeld EM, Westafer LM, Beck SA, Potee BG, Vysetty S, Simon C, Tozloski JM, Girardin AL, Soares WE. "Just give them a choice": Patients' perspectives on starting medications for opioid use disorder in the ED. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:928-943. [PMID: 35426962 PMCID: PMC9378535 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribed in the emergency department (ED) have the potential to save lives and help people start and maintain recovery. We sought to explore patient perspectives regarding the initiation of buprenorphine and methadone in the ED with the goal of improving interactions and fostering shared decision making (SDM) around these important treatment options. METHODS We conducted semistructured interviews with a purposeful sample of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) regarding ED visits and their experiences with MOUD. The interview guide was based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, a framework for examining decisional needs and tailoring decisional support, and the research team's experience with MOUD and SDM. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in an iterative process using both the Ottawa Framework and a social-ecological framework. Themes were identified and organized and implications for clinical care were noted and discussed. RESULTS Twenty-six participants were interviewed, seven in person in the ED and 19 via video conferencing software. The majority had tried both buprenorphine and methadone, and almost all had been in an ED for an issue related to opioid use. Participants reported social, pharmacological, and emotional factors that played into their decision making. Regarding buprenorphine, they noted advantages such as its efficacy and logistical ease and disadvantages such as the need to wait to start it (risk of precipitated withdrawal) and that one could not use other opioids while taking it. Additionally, participants felt that: (1) both buprenorphine and methadone should be offered; (2) because "one person's pro is another person's con," clinicians will need to understand the facets of the options; (3) clinicians will need to have these conversations without appearing judgmental; and (4) many patients may not be "ready" for MOUD, but it should still be offered. CONCLUSIONS Although participants were supportive of offering buprenorphine in the ED, many felt that methadone should also be offered. They felt that treatment should be tailored to an individual's needs and circumstances and clarified what factors might be important considerations for people with OUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Schoenfeld
- Department of Emergency Medicine UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
- Department for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
| | - Lauren M. Westafer
- Department of Emergency Medicine UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
- Department for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
| | | | | | - Sravanthi Vysetty
- Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Harrogate Tennessee USA
| | - Caty Simon
- Urban Survivors Union Greensboro North Carolina USA
- Whose Corner Is It Anyway Holyoke Massachusetts USA
| | - Jillian M. Tozloski
- Department of Emergency Medicine UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
| | - Abigail L. Girardin
- Department of Emergency Medicine UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
| | - William E. Soares
- Department of Emergency Medicine UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
- Department for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science UMASS Chan Medical School–Baystate Springfield Massachusetts USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Evaluating disparities in prescribing of naloxone after emergency department treatment of opioid overdose. J Subst Abuse Treat 2022; 139:108785. [PMID: 35537918 PMCID: PMC9187615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients who initially survive opioid-related overdose are at high risk for subsequent mortality. Our health system aimed to evaluate the presence of disparities in prescribing naloxone following opioid overdose. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of patients seen in our health system, which comprises two academic centers and eight community hospitals. Eligible patients had at least one visit to any of our hospital's emergency departments (EDs) with a diagnosis code indicating opioid-related overdose between May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2021. The primary outcome measure was prescription of nasal naloxone after at least one visit for opioid-related overdose during the study period. RESULTS The health system had 1348 unique patients who presented 1593 times to at least one of the EDs with opioid overdose. Of included patients, 580 (43.2%) received one or more prescriptions for naloxone. The majority (68.9%, n = 925) were male. For race/ethnicity, 74.5% (1000) were Non-Hispanic White, 8.0% (n = 108) were Non-Hispanic Black, and 13.0% (n = 175) were Hispanic/Latinx. Compared with the reference age group of 16-24 years, only those 65+ were less likely to receive naloxone (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.84). The study found no difference for gender (male aOR 1.23, 95% CI 0.97-1.57 compared to female). Hispanic/Latinx patients were more likely to receive a prescription when compared to Non-Hispanic White patients (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.22-2.44), while no difference occurred between Non-Hispanic Black compared to Non-Hispanic White patients (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 0.87-1.98). CONCLUSIONS Naloxone prescribing after overdose in our system was suboptimal, with fewer than half of patients with an overdose diagnosis code receiving this lifesaving and evidence-based intervention. Patients who were Hispanic/Latinx were more likely to receive naloxone than other race and ethnicity groups, and patients who were older were less likely to receive it. Health systems need ongoing equity-informed implementation of programs to expand access to naloxone to all patients at risk.
Collapse
|
50
|
Townsend T, Bohnert ASB, Lagisetty P, Haffajee RL. Did prescribing laws disproportionately affect opioid dispensing to Black patients? Health Serv Res 2022; 57:482-496. [PMID: 35243639 PMCID: PMC9108058 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether pain management clinic laws and prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) prescriber check mandates, two state opioid policies with relatively rapid adoption across states, reduced opioid dispensing more or less in Black versus White patients. DATA SOURCES Pharmacy claims data, US sample of commercially insured adults, 2007-2018. STUDY DESIGN Stratifying by race, we used generalized estimating equations with an event-study specification to estimate time-varying effects of each policy on opioid dispensing, comparing to the four pre-policy quarters and states without the policy. Outcomes included high-dosage opioids, overlapping opioid prescriptions, concurrent opioid/benzodiazepines, opioids from >3 prescribers, opioids from >3 pharmacies. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS We identified all prescription opioid dispensing to Black and White adults aged 18-64 without a palliative care or cancer diagnosis code. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Exactly 7,096,592 White and 1,167,310 Black individuals met inclusion criteria. Pain management clinic laws were associated with reductions in two outcomes; their association with high-dosage receipt was larger among White patients. In contrast, reductions due to PDMP mandates appeared limited to, or larger in, Black patients compared with White patients in four of five outcomes. For example, PDMP mandates reduced high-dosage receipt in Black patients by 0.7 percentage points (95% CI: 0.36-1.08 ppt.) over 4 years: an 8.4% decrease from baseline; there was no apparent effect in White patients. Similarly, while there was limited evidence that mandates reduced overlapping opioid receipt in White patients, they appeared to reduce overlapping opioid receipt in Black patients by 1.3 ppt. (95% CI: -1.66--1.01 ppt.) across post-policy years-a 14.4% decrease from baseline. CONCLUSIONS PDMP prescriber check mandates but not pain management clinic laws appeared to reduce opioid dispensing more in Black patients than White patients. Future research should discern the mechanisms underlying these disparities and their consequences for pain management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tarlise Townsend
- Affiliate, University of Michigan Department of Health Management and Policy; 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI.,Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Department of Population Health; 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY.,Postdoctoral Fellow, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing; 433 1st Ave, New York, NY
| | - Amy S B Bohnert
- University of Michigan Departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Epidemiology; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI.,Research Investigator, VA Center for Clinical Management Research; 2215 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Pooja Lagisetty
- Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Department of Internal Medicine; 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI.,Research Investigator, VA Center for Clinical Management Research; 2215 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Rebecca L Haffajee
- Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and Principal Deputy ASPE, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|