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Woodcock EA, Greenwald MK, Chen I, Feng D, Cohn JA, Lundahl LH. HIV chronicity as a predictor of hippocampal memory deficits in daily cannabis users living with HIV. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2023; 9:100189. [PMID: 37736522 PMCID: PMC10509297 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100189] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Antiretroviral medications have increased the lifespan of persons living with HIV (PLWH) thereby unmasking memory decline that may be attributed to chronological age, HIV symptomatology, HIV disease chronicity, and/or substance use (especially cannabis use which is common among PLWH). To date, few studies have attempted to disentangle these effects. In a sample of daily cannabis-using PLWH, we investigated whether hippocampal memory function, assessed via an object-location associative learning task, was associated with age, HIV chronicity and symptom severity, or substance use. Methods 48 PLWH (12.9 ± 9.6 years since HIV diagnosis), who were 44 years old on average (range: 24-64 years; 58 % male) and reported daily cannabis use (recent use confirmed by urinalysis) completed the study. We assessed each participant's demographics, substance use, medical history, current HIV symptoms, and hippocampal memory function via a well-validated object-location associative learning task. Results Multiple regression analyses found that living more years since HIV+ diagnosis predicted significantly worse associative learning total score (r=-0.40) and learning rate (r=-0.34) whereas chronological age, cannabis-use characteristics, and recent HIV symptom severity were not significantly related to hippocampal memory function. Conclusions In daily cannabis-using PLWH, HIV chronicity was related to worse hippocampal memory function independent from cannabis use, age, and HIV symptomatology. Object-location associative learning performance could serve as an 'early-warning' metric of cognitive decline among PLWH. Future research should examine longitudinal changes in associative learning proficiency and evaluate interventions to prevent hippocampal memory decline among PLWH. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01536899.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Woodcock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
| | - Mark K. Greenwald
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
| | - Irene Chen
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
| | - Danni Feng
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
| | - Jonathan A. Cohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
| | - Leslie H. Lundahl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
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Greenwald MK, Moses TEH, Lundahl LH, Roehrs TA. Anhedonia modulates benzodiazepine and opioid demand among persons in treatment for opioid use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1103739. [PMID: 36741122 PMCID: PMC9892948 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1103739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Benzodiazepine (BZD) misuse is a significant public health problem, particularly in conjunction with opioid use, due to increased risks of overdose and death. One putative mechanism underlying BZD misuse is affective dysregulation, via exaggerated negative affect (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress-reactivity) and/or impaired positive affect (anhedonia). Similar to other misused substances, BZD consumption is sensitive to price and individual differences. Although purchase tasks and demand curve analysis can shed light on determinants of substance use, few studies have examined BZD demand, nor factors related to demand. Methods This ongoing study is examining simulated economic demand for alprazolam (among BZD lifetime misusers based on self-report and DSM-5 diagnosis; n = 23 total; 14 male, 9 female) and each participant's preferred-opioid/route using hypothetical purchase tasks among patients with opioid use disorder (n = 59 total; 38 male, 21 female) who are not clinically stable, i.e., defined as being early in treatment or in treatment longer but with recent substance use. Aims are to determine whether: (1) BZD misusers differ from never-misusers on preferred-opioid economic demand, affective dysregulation (using questionnaire and performance measures), insomnia/behavioral alertness, psychiatric diagnoses or medications, or urinalysis results; and (2) alprazolam demand among BZD misusers is related to affective dysregulation or other measures. Results Lifetime BZD misuse is significantly (p < 0.05) related to current major depressive disorder diagnosis, opioid-negative and methadone-negative urinalysis, higher trait anxiety, greater self-reported affective dysregulation, and younger age, but not preferred-opioid demand or insomnia/behavioral alertness. Alprazolam and opioid demand are each significantly positively related to higher anhedonia and, to a lesser extent, depression symptoms but no other measures of negative-affective dysregulation, psychiatric conditions or medications (including opioid agonist therapy or inpatient/outpatient treatment modality), or sleep-related problems. Conclusion Anhedonia (positive-affective deficit) robustly predicted increased BZD and opioid demand; these factors could modulate treatment response. Routine assessment and effective treatment of anhedonia in populations with concurrent opioid and sedative use disorder may improve treatment outcomes. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03696017, identifier NCT03696017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark K. Greenwald
- Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Tabitha E. H. Moses
- Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Leslie H. Lundahl
- Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Timothy A. Roehrs
- Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Sleep Disorders Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, United States
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Berro LF, Zamarripa CA, Rowlett JK. Self-Administration of Fentanyl-Alprazolam Combinations by Rhesus Monkeys Responding under a Progressive-Ratio Schedule. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 383:199-207. [PMID: 36153004 PMCID: PMC9667979 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001191] [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: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the reinforcing effects of fentanyl, alone or in combination with the benzodiazepine alprazolam, in rhesus monkeys (3 females, 3 males). Subjects were trained to self-administer the opioid remifentanil (0.3 µg/kg/injection) under a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement. The reinforcing effects of fentanyl (0.1-10 µg/kg/injection) or alprazolam (1.0-100 µg/kg/injection) alone, or in combinations of fixed proportions (1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 fentanyl:alprazolam, with 1:1 based on the potencies of drugs alone) were evaluated in single-day test sessions (with double determinations). Dose-equivalence analysis was used to determine the extent to which fentanyl and alprazolam combinations differed from additivity. Fentanyl functioned as a positive reinforcer in all monkeys, while alprazolam was a reinforcer in 3 of 6 monkeys only. Therefore, drug combination data were grouped as "alprazolam-taking" and "non-alprazolam-taking" monkeys. For alprazolam-taking monkeys, we observed additive effects for the 3:1 and 1:3 combinations, and a significant supra-additive interaction for the 1:1 combination of fentanyl and alprazolam. For 2 of the 3 non-alprazolam-taking monkeys, the combination of fentanyl and alprazolam resulted in enhanced reinforcing effects relative to either drug alone. However, the one monkey showed primarily inhibitory, or suppressive effects, with the 3:1 dose combination resulting in a relatively modest rightward shift in the fentanyl dose-response function. In summary, our findings show that combining fentanyl and alprazolam generally result in proportion-dependent additive or supra-additive enhancements. These data raise the possibility that the prevalence of opioid-benzodiazepine polydrug abuse may reflect a unique enhancement of these drugs' reinforcing effects, although individual differences may exist. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Addressing the critical question of the degree to which benzodiazepines can modulate the abuse-related effects of opioids may provide improved pathways to treatment of this common form of polydrug addiction. In the present study, we show that combinations of the opioid fentanyl and the benzodiazepine alprazolam can be more reinforcing than either drug alone in a rhesus monkey model, suggesting that enhancement of reinforcement processes may underlie this prevalent form of polydrug use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais F Berro
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Center for Innovation & Discovery in Addictions, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - C Austin Zamarripa
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Center for Innovation & Discovery in Addictions, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - James K Rowlett
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Center for Innovation & Discovery in Addictions, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, Mississippi
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Moses TE, Rhodes GL, Tavakoli E, Christensen CW, Amirsadri A, Greenwald MK. Predictors of Retention and Drug Use Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Transferred to a Specialty "Second Chance" Methadone Program. Subst Abuse 2022; 16:11782218221138335. [PMID: 36407024 PMCID: PMC9669697 DOI: 10.1177/11782218221138335] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Many patients in methadone treatment have difficulty achieving or maintaining drug abstinence, and many clinics have policies that lead to discharging these patients. We designed a pilot "Second Chance" (SC) program for patients scheduled to be discharged from other local methadone clinics to be transferred to our clinic. Aim Determine whether SC patients' retention and opioid use is related to physical or mental health conditions, non-opioid substance use, or treatment features. Methods From December 2012 to December 2014, this program enrolled 70 patients who were discharged from other clinics in the area; we were their last remaining option for methadone treatment. Unlike the clinic's standard policies, the treatment focus for SC patients was retention rather than abstinence. This program focused on connection to care (eg, psychiatric services) and enabled patients to continue receiving services despite ongoing substance use. Each patient was assessed at treatment entry and followed until June 2016 to evaluate outcomes. Results SC patients receiving disability benefits (n = 37) vs. non-disabled (n = 33) had significantly (P < .05) higher rates of current DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric diagnosis (97% vs 70%), prescriptions for opioids (84% vs 55%) and benzodiazepines (65% vs 27%), and higher methadone doses at admission (58 vs 46 mg) but did not differ significantly in rates of 6-month or 1-year retention (77% and 56%, respectively) or all-drug use (39% positive urine drug screens). Methadone doses >65 mg predicted significantly longer retention and less opioid use, but these effects were not moderated by baseline characteristics. Conclusions Patients in methadone treatment struggling to achieve abstinence may benefit from retention-oriented harm-reduction programs. Higher methadone doses can improve retention and opioid abstinence despite psychiatric comorbidities. Further work is needed to improve program implementation and outcomes in this complex population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha E Moses
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gary L Rhodes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Emytis Tavakoli
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health
Sciences, Toronto, CA, Canada
| | - Carl W Christensen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Alireza Amirsadri
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mark K Greenwald
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA,Mark K Greenwald, Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901
Chrysler Service Drive, Suite 2A, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
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Ha TV, Hoffman IF, Miller WC, Mollan KR, Lancaster KE, Richardson P, Zeziulin O, Djoerban Z, Sripaipan T, Chu VA, Guo X, Hanscom B, Go VF. Association between drug use and ART use among people living with HIV who inject drugs in Vietnam, Ukraine and Indonesia: results from HPTN 074. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2022; 27:648-657. [PMID: 36742268 PMCID: PMC9897261 DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1989509] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background and objective Drug use type and frequency may affect Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) uptake for HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID). This paper assesses the association between self-reported baseline drug use and ART among HIV-infected PWID in Indonesia, Ukraine and Vietnam. Methods Data on self-reported baseline drug use and ART among HIV-infected PWID at the 26- and 52-week follow-ups were extracted from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074, a randomized, controlled vanguard study to facilitate HIV treatment for PWID in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit by study site and the whole HPTN 074 sample, using a 0.5 type I error rate. Results The response rate were 83.3% and 77.0% at 26th and 52th weeks. At 26-week, baseline use of over one non-opiate/non-stimulant drug was associated with lower odds of ART use among Indonesian participants (OR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.05-0.82); and baseline injecting drugs for over 20 days in the previous month was associated with lower odds of ART use among all HPTN 074 sample (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.97). Conclusion The association of a specific drug use pattern with later ART uptake implies the importance of medication-assisted treatment to enhance ART uptake and adherence among participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tran Viet Ha
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Irving F. Hoffman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - William C. Miller
- Department of Epidemiology, The Ohio State of University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Katie R. Mollan
- UNC CFAR, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Paul Richardson
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Teerada Sripaipan
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Viet Anh Chu
- The University of North Carolina, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Xu Guo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brett Hanscom
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Vivian F. Go
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Roache JD, Pavlicova M, Campbell A, Choo TH, Peavy M, Kermack AS, Nunes EV, Rotrosen J. Is extended release naltrexone superior to buprenorphine-naloxone to reduce drinking among outpatients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder? A secondary analysis of the CTN X:BOT trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:2569-2578. [PMID: 34698397 PMCID: PMC8722377 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The comparative effectiveness of extended-release naltrexone versus buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid relapse prevention (X:BOT) trial showed that following induction, treatment with the sublingual agonist (buprenorphine-naloxone, BUP-NX) or injected antagonist (extended release naltrexone, XR-NTX) produced similar reductions in opioid relapse in injection users with opioid use disorder (OUD). Because XR-NTX reduces drinking in alcohol use disorder (AUD), we conducted a secondary analysis of the X:BOT sample of patients successfully inducted onto treatment to determine whether XR-NTX (n = 204) was superior to BUP-NX (n = 270) in reducing drinking or heavy drinking in patients with OUD. METHODS Standard drink units consumed were measured using the Timeline Follow-back method. Mixed-models regression was used to examine the monthly frequency of any drinking and heavy drinking over 6 months of treatment. We used a proportional hazard survival analysis to examine the time to first drink. RESULTS Both treatment groups reduced drinking from baseline to posttreatment (small to medium effect), but no differences between groups were detected. However, only 29% (n = 136) of the sample had AUD and 19% (n = 26/136) of those were abstinent before treatment. Analysis of a subsample enriched for possible drinking included 136 individuals with an AUD diagnosis plus 43 who did not have AUD, but reported at least one day of heavy drinking prior to the study. However, this subsample reported only 32% of days of any drinking with a median of only 13% of days designated as "heavy." Within this subsample, at baseline, the BUP-NX group reported more mean drinks per drinking day than the XR-NTX group (p = 0.03); however, there were no other significant group differences on drinking observed before, during, or at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS There was an overall reduction in drinking during treatment of OUD using both agonist and antagonist medications, so that the hypothesis that XR-NTX would be superior to BUP-NX was not supported. The study is limited by low levels of comorbid AUD or heavy drinking observed in X:BOT trial participants seeking treatment for OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D. Roache
- Division of Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Martina Pavlicova
- Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Aimee Campbell
- Division on Substance Use Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Tse-Hwei Choo
- Mental Health Data Science, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | - Andrea S. Kermack
- Division of Substance Abuse, Departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert, Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Edward V. Nunes
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA
| | - John Rotrosen
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
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Arfken CL, Owens DD, Greenwald MK. US national treatment admissions with opioids and benzodiazepines. Drug Alcohol Rev 2020; 39:862-869. [PMID: 32748413 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Opioids and benzodiazepines (O/BZD) are increasingly involved in drug overdose deaths in the USA. Expanding treatment capacity may reduce these deaths. Knowledge about co-occurring O/BZD admissions compared to opioid admissions (opioid) is needed to plan this expansion. DESIGN AND METHODS US treatment admissions to specialty facilities for 2011-2017 were analysed for trends and 2017 for group differences. Due to 1.9 million admissions in 2017, comparisons between O/BZD and opioid admissions were summarised as effect sizes. Additional analysis compared the administratively pre-coded category 'other opiates and synthetics' to other opiates and synthetics/benzodiazepines admissions to control for possible similarity in drug source. Differences within O/BZD admissions by primary drug were explored. RESULTS Although opioid admissions showed a steady increase over time (25.9% to 38.2%), O/BZD admissions showed increases until decline in 2017 (3.2% to 4.0%). In 2017 no factor reached moderate effect size (≥0.2) in group comparisons or within the O/BZD admissions. Heroin was self-reported in 70% of both O/BZD and opioid admissions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS No meaningful US national differences on data routinely collected were found for O/BZD compared to opioid admissions including the subgroup with other opiates and synthetics only. Efforts to expand existing opioid treatment in specialty treatments may help reduce opioid and O/BZD deaths. However, the analysis could not address whether changes in treatment would improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Arfken
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
| | | | - Mark K Greenwald
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
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Morgan N, Daniels W, Subramaney U. An Inverse Relationship Between Alcohol and Heroin Use in Heroin Users Post Detoxification. Subst Abuse Rehabil 2020; 11:1-8. [PMID: 32021548 PMCID: PMC6955608 DOI: 10.2147/sar.s228224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Given that fewer than 50% of countries provide Opioid Agonist Maintenance Therapies (OAMT), it is important to assess whether other substances act as a substitute for heroin in recovering heroin users who receive detoxification models of treatment. There is a dearth of prospective studies from low-and-middle-income countries evaluating these patterns of substance use. Methods 300 heroin users from the Gauteng province of South Africa were assessed on entry into inpatient detoxification and then followed-up 3 and 9 months after leaving treatment. Treatment consisted of 1 week of detoxification followed by 6-8 weeks of psychosocial therapy. We measured the overall changes in the prevalence of heroin, alcohol and other drug use at baseline and postrehabilitation. Comparison of these outcomes at enrolment, 3 months and 9 months was performed by a Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) with the outcome as the dependent variable, observation point as the independent variable, and participant as the repeated measure. Injecting status and treatment completion were included as covariates. We also measured the individual pathways between heroin and alcohol use in the 210 participants that were seen at all three timepoints. Results Of the original cohort, 252 (84.0%) were re-interviewed at 3 months and 225 (75.0%) at 9 months. From baseline to 3 months, the proportion of past month heroin users decreased significantly to 65.5%; however, during this time, the proportion of past month alcohol users increased from 16.3% to 55.2% (p<0.0001). When assessing the pathways between heroin and alcohol use at an individual level, 55.4% (n-97) of those who were past month alcohol abstinent prior to rehabilitation were using alcohol at 3 months. From 3 to 9 months the proportion of heroin users increased to 72.4% (p<0.0001), and during this time, the proportion of alcohol users decreased. Conclusion After detoxification, a significant reduction in heroin use was observed with a concomitant increase in alcohol consumption. Under these circumstances, alcohol may have acted as a substitute for heroin in the short term. The initial reduction in heroin use 3 months postrehabilitation was followed by increased consumption 6 months later. This observation supports the need for interventions to prevent, monitor and treat high levels of alcohol use in heroin users post detoxification. The provision of OAMT is a necessary consideration to address both the risk of increased alcohol intake as well as the decline in heroin abstinence rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirvana Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - William Daniels
- School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ugasvaree Subramaney
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Morgan N, Daniels W, Subramaney U. Smoking heroin with cannabis versus injecting heroin: unexpected impact on treatment outcomes. Harm Reduct J 2019; 16:65. [PMID: 31805971 PMCID: PMC6896288 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-019-0337-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In several countries, especially in Africa, the dominant method of heroin intake is smoking a joint of cannabis laced with heroin. There is no data exploring the impact of smoking heroin with cannabis on treatment outcomes. Aim To compare treatment outcomes between people who inject heroin and people who smoke heroin with cannabis. Methodology Three hundred heroin users were assessed on admission to inpatient rehabilitation and after treatment. We compared drug use, psychopathology, criminality, social functioning and general health between heroin injectors and heroin-cannabis smokers at treatment entry, and at 3 and 9 months after rehabilitation. Results The sample comprised 211 (70.3%) heroin-cannabis smokers and 89 (29.7%) heroin injectors. Eighty-four percent were followed up at 3 months and 75% at 9 months. At 9 months, heroin-cannabis smokers had a higher proportion of those who relapsed to heroin use compared with intravenous (IV) users (p = 0.036). The median number of heroin use episodes per day was lower for IV users than heroin-cannabis smokers at both follow-up points (p = 0.013 and 0.0019). A higher proportion of IV users was HIV positive (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in psychopathology, general health, criminality and social functioning between IV users and heroin-cannabis smokers at all three time points. Conclusions Heroin users who do not inject drugs but use other routes of administration may have increased risk for relapse to heroin use after inpatient rehabilitation and should therefore have equal access to harm reduction treatment services. Advocating a transition from injecting to smoking heroin in an African context may pose unique challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirvana Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa.
| | - William Daniels
- School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ugasvaree Subramaney
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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