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Jones CM, Shoff C, Blanco C, Losby JL, Ling SM, Compton WM. Overdose, Behavioral Health Services, and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder After a Nonfatal Overdose. JAMA Intern Med 2024; 184:954-962. [PMID: 38884975 PMCID: PMC11184500 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.1733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Importance Recognizing and providing services to individuals at highest risk for drug overdose are paramount to addressing the drug overdose crisis. Objective To examine receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), naloxone, and behavioral health services in the 12 months after an index nonfatal drug overdose and the association between receipt of these interventions and fatal drug overdose. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was conducted in the US from January 2020 to December 2021 using claims, demographic, mortality, and other data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other sources. The cohort comprised Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 18 years or older with International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for a nonfatal drug overdose. Data analysis was performed from February to November 2023. Exposures Demographic and clinical characteristics, substance use disorder, and psychiatric comorbidities. Main Outcomes and Measures Receipt of MOUD, naloxone, and behavioral health services as well as subsequent nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses. Results The cohort consisted of 136 762 Medicare beneficiaries (80 140 females [58.6%]; mean (SD) age of 68.2 [15.0] years) who experienced an index nonfatal drug overdose in 2020. The majority of individuals had Hispanic (5.8%), non-Hispanic Black (10.9%), and non-Hispanic White (78.8%) race and ethnicity and lived in metropolitan areas (78.9%). In the 12 months after their index nonfatal drug overdose, 23 815 beneficiaries (17.4%) experienced at least 1 subsequent nonfatal drug overdose and 1323 (1.0%) died of a fatal drug overdose. Opioids were involved in 72.2% of fatal drug overdoses. Among the cohort, 5556 (4.1%) received any MOUD and 8530 (6.2%) filled a naloxone prescription in the 12 months after the index nonfatal drug overdose. Filling a naloxone prescription (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56-0.89), each percentage of days receiving methadone (AOR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99) or buprenorphine (AOR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99), and receiving behavioral health assessment or crisis services (AOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.22-0.28) were all associated with reduced adjusted odds of fatal drug overdose in the 12 months after the index nonfatal drug overdose. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that, despite their known association with reduced risk of a fatal drug overdose, only a small percentage of Medicare beneficiaries received MOUD or filled a naloxone prescription in the 12 months after a nonfatal drug overdose. Efforts to improve access to behavioral health services; MOUD; and overdose-prevention strategies, such as prescribing naloxone and linking individuals to community-based health care settings for ongoing care, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Jones
- Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Carla Shoff
- Office of the Administrator, 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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Shari M. Ling
- Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wilson M. Compton
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Sugarman OK, Saloner B, Richards TM, Lasser EC, Heath T, Idries S, Weiner JP, Bandara S. Association of buprenorphine retention and subsequent adverse outcomes following non-fatal overdose: An analysis using statewide linked Maryland databases. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 258:111281. [PMID: 38599134 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111281] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients receiving buprenorphine after a non-fatal overdose have lower risk of future nonfatal or fatal overdose, but less is known about the relationship between buprenorphine retention and the risk of adverse outcomes in the post-overdose year. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between the total number of months with an active buprenorphine prescription (retention) and the odds of an adverse outcome within the 12 months following an index non-fatal overdose. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied a cohort of people with an index non-fatal opioid overdose in Maryland between July 2016 and December 2020 and at least one filled buprenorphine prescription in the 12-month post-overdose observation period. We used individually linked Maryland prescription drug and hospital admissions data. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine buprenorphine retention and associated odds of experiencing a second non-fatal overdose, all-cause emergency department visits, and all-cause hospitalizations. RESULTS Of 5439 people, 25% (n=1360) experienced a second non-fatal overdose, 78% had an (n=4225) emergency department visit, and 37% (n=2032) were hospitalized. With each additional month of buprenorphine, the odds of experiencing another non-fatal overdose decreased by 4.7%, all-cause emergency department visits by 5.3%, and all-cause hospitalization decreased by 3.9% (p<.0001, respectively). Buprenorphine retention for at least nine months was a critical threshold for reducing overdose risk versus shorter buprenorphine retention. CONCLUSIONS Buprenorphine retention following an index non-fatal overdose event significantly decreases the risk of future overdose, emergency department use, and hospitalization even among people already on buprenorphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Sugarman
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States.
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States
| | - Thomas M Richards
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health IT, United States
| | - Elyse C Lasser
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health IT, United States
| | | | | | - Jonathan P Weiner
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health IT, United States
| | - Sachini Bandara
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, United States; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, United States
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Bernstein EY, Baggett TP, Trivedi S, Herzig SJ, Anderson TS. Outcomes After Initiation of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder at Hospital Discharge. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e243387. [PMID: 38551564 PMCID: PMC10980961 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) are significantly underused. Hospitalizations may provide an unmet opportunity to initiate MAUD, but few studies have examined clinical outcomes of patients who initiate these medications at hospital discharge. Objective To investigate the association between discharge MAUD initiation and 30-day posthospitalization outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was conducted among patients with Medicare Part D who had alcohol-related hospitalizations in 2016. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to December 2023. Exposures Discharge MAUD initiation was defined as oral naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram pharmacy fills within 2 days of discharge. Main outcomes The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or return to hospital (emergency department visits and hospital readmissions) within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included these components separately, return to hospital for alcohol-related diagnoses, and primary care or mental health follow-up within 30 days of discharge. Propensity score 3:1 matching and modified Poisson regressions were used to compare outcomes between patients who received and did not receive discharge MAUD. Results There were 6794 unique individuals representing 9834 alcohol-related hospitalizations (median [IQR] age, 54 [46-62] years; 3205 hospitalizations among females [32.6%]; 1754 hospitalizations among Black [17.8%], 712 hospitalizations among Hispanic [7.2%], and 7060 hospitalizations among White [71.8%] patients). Of these, 192 hospitalizations (2.0%) involved discharge MAUD initiation. After propensity matching, discharge MAUD initiation was associated with a 42% decreased incidence of the primary outcome (incident rate ratio, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.45 to 0.76]; absolute risk difference, -0.18 [95% CI, -0.26 to -0.11]). These findings were consistent among secondary outcomes (eg, incident rate ratio for all-cause return to hospital, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.73]) except for mortality, which was rare in both groups (incident rate ratio, 3.00 [95% CI, 0.42 to 21.22]). Discharge MAUD initiation was associated with a 51% decreased incidence of alcohol-related return to hospital (incident rate ratio, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.34 to 0.71]; absolute risk difference, -0.15 [95% CI, -0.22 to -0.09]). Conclusion and relevance In this cohort study, discharge initiation of MAUD after alcohol-related hospitalization was associated with a large absolute reduction in return to hospital within 30 days. These findings support efforts to increase uptake of MAUD initiation at hospital discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Y. Bernstein
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Travis P. Baggett
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Institute for Research, Quality, and Policy in Homeless Health Care, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shrunjal Trivedi
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shoshana J. Herzig
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Timothy S. Anderson
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Dai Z, Abate MA, Winstanley E, Kraner JC, Lundstrom E, Mock AR, Smith GS. Quantifying a potential protective effect of buprenorphine on fatality risk during acute fentanyl exposures. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2024; 158:209252. [PMID: 38070651 PMCID: PMC10947934 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Buprenorphine is an important therapy for opioid use disorder and may also reduce the risk of fatal overdoses in fentanyl exposures. However, the role of buprenorphine in reducing this risk has not been quantified. This cross-sectional study examined the association between buprenorphine presence, decedent characteristics, and other factors with the predicted fentanyl concentrations in overdose deaths. METHODS The study identified unintentional fentanyl overdose decedents (n = 3036) from the West Virginia Forensic Drug Database, 2011 through mid-2020. The main outcome was fentanyl concentrations in overdose deaths in the presence and absence of buprenorphine. A multiple linear regression model examined the association of fentanyl concentrations with buprenorphine presence based on the concentrations of the parent drug buprenorphine (B) and its metabolite norbuprenorphine (N), adjusting for demographics, toxicological characteristics (presence of multiple opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, marijuana, and alcohol), and comorbidities. We used a B/N concentration ratio < 1 as an indirect indicator of longer-term buprenorphine exposure prior to drug overdose death. RESULTS The median fentanyl concentration was 65 % higher when buprenorphine was present (N = 168) vs. absent (N = 2868) (0.028 vs. 0.017 μg/mL, p < 0.001). In the multivariable model, statistically significant associations occurred between buprenorphine presence and increased fentanyl concentrations (+28.7 %) with a B/N ratio < 1. Obesity, male sex, alcohol presence, and comorbid cardiovascular diseases were statistically significantly associated with lower (-11.3 % to -20.7 %) fentanyl concentrations, whereas marijuana presence and a history of substance use disorder were associated with statistically significant higher fentanyl concentrations (+8.8 % to +31.3 %). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that sustained or longer-term buprenorphine intake might exert some protective effect on fatalities resulting from fentanyl exposure as documented by the association of higher fentanyl blood concentrations with buprenorphine presence among fatal drug overdoses. As fentanyl availability and overdose rates increase nationally, buprenorphine is a vital tool for effective opioid use disorder treatment that might also reduce the risk of fatality in an acute fentanyl exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Dai
- West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, 64 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - Marie A Abate
- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown, 64 Medical Center Dr., WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - Erin Winstanley
- West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, 64 Medical Center Dr., WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - James C Kraner
- West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 619 Virginia Street West, Charleston, WV 25302, United States of America
| | - Eric Lundstrom
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, 64 Medical Center Dr., WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - Allen R Mock
- West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 619 Virginia Street West, Charleston, WV 25302, United States of America.
| | - Gordon S Smith
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, 64 Medical Center Dr., WV 26505, United States of America.
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DeBruin H, St Marie BJ. Health disparities in ethnic and racial minority populations with pain and opioid use disorder. J Opioid Manag 2023; 19:23-36. [PMID: 37879657 DOI: 10.5055/jom.2023.0796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare providers are not prepared to address health disparities among ethnic and racial minority populations with either persistent and chronic pain or substance use disorder (SUD). Recognizing biases from policies to provide pain management and treatment for SUD in our healthcare systems, from our individual state laws and federal guidelines, is necessary. Biases are embedded in the screening and treatment of patients with chronic pain through the use of screening tools, opioid treatment agreements, and prescription drug monitoring programs. Additionally, the punitive treatment of people of ethnic and racial minority populations who experience persistent and chronic pain, opioid use disorders, or other SUDs needs to be redirected to facilitate solutions rooted in equity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara J St Marie
- University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0231-9464
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Adams JW, Duprey M, Khan S, Cance J, Rice DP, Bobashev G. Examining buprenorphine diversion through a harm reduction lens: an agent-based modeling study. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:150. [PMID: 37848945 PMCID: PMC10580611 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00888-6] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent policies have lessened restrictions around prescribing buprenorphine-naloxone (buprenorphine) for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). The primary concern expressed by critics of these policies is the potential for buprenorphine diversion. However, the population-level effects of increased buprenorphine diversion are unclear. If replacing the use of heroin or fentanyl, use of diverted buprenorphine could be protective. METHODS Our study aim was to estimate the impact of buprenorphine diversion on opioid overdose using an agent-based model calibrated to North Carolina. We simulated the progression of opioid misuse and opioid-related outcomes over a 5-year period. Our status quo scenario assumed that 50% of those prescribed buprenorphine diverted at least one dose per week to other individuals with OUD and 10% of individuals with OUD used diverted buprenorphine at least once per week. A controlled prescription only scenario assumed that no buprenorphine would be diverted, while an increased diversion scenario assumed that 95% of those prescribed buprenorphine diverted and 50% of individuals with OUD used diverted buprenorphine. We assumed that use of diverted buprenorphine replaced the use of other opioids for that day. Sensitivity analyses increased the risk of overdose when using diverted buprenorphine, increased the frequency of diverted buprenorphine use, and simulated use of diverted buprenorphine by opioid-naïve individuals. Scenarios were compared on opioid overdose-related outcomes over the 5-year period. RESULTS Our status quo scenario predicted 10,658 (credible interval [CI]: 9699-11,679) fatal opioid overdoses. A scenario simulating controlled prescription only of buprenorphine (i.e., no diversion) resulted in 10,741 (9895-11,650) fatal opioid overdoses versus 10,301 (9439-11,244) within a scenario simulating increased diversion. Compared to the status quo, the controlled prescription only scenario resulted in a similar number of fatal overdoses, while the scenario with increased diversion of buprenorphine resulted in 357 (3.35%) fewer fatal overdoses. Even when increasing overdose risk while using diverted buprenorphine and incorporating use by opioid naïve individuals, increased diversion did not increase overdoses compared to a scenario with no buprenorphine diversion. CONCLUSIONS A similar number of opioid overdoses occurred under modeling conditions with increased rates of buprenorphine diversion among persons with OUD, with non-statistical trends toward lower opioid overdoses. These results support existing calls for low- to no-barrier access to buprenorphine for persons with OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sazid Khan
- RTI International, Research Triangle, NC, USA
| | | | - Donald P Rice
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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