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Pasman E, Lee G, Singer S, Burson N, Agius E, Resko SM. Attitudes toward medications for opioid use disorder among peer recovery specialists. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38640497 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2332597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Background: Peer recovery specialists (PRSs) are substance use service providers with lived experience in recovery. Although a large body of research demonstrates the efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), emerging research suggests PRSs' attitudes toward MOUD are ambivalent or mixed. Few studies have quantitatively assessed factors influencing PRSs' attitudes.Objectives: This study identifies personal and professional characteristics associated with attitudes toward MOUD among PRSs.Methods: PRSs working at publicly funded agencies in Michigan completed a self-administered web-based survey (N = 266, 60.5% women). Surveys assessed socio-demographics, treatment and recovery history, attitudes toward clients, and attitudes toward MOUD. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with attitudes toward MOUD.Results: A minority of PRSs (21.4%) reported a history of treatment with MOUD, while nearly two-thirds reported current 12-step involvement (62.5%). Compared to PRSs without a history of MOUD treatment, PRSs who had positive (b = 4.71, p < .001) and mixed (b = 3.36, p = .010) experiences with MOUD had more positive attitudes; PRSs with negative experiences with MOUD had less positive attitudes (b = -3.16, p = .003). Current 12-step involvement (b = -1.63, p = .007) and more stigmatizing attitudes toward clients (b = -.294, p < .001) were associated with less positive attitudes toward MOUD. Black PRSs had less positive attitudes than White PRSs (b = -2.50, p = .001), and women had more positive attitudes than men (b = 1.19, p = .038).Conclusion: PRSs' attitudes toward MOUD varied based on the nature of their lived experience. Findings highlight considerations for training and supervising PRSs who serve individuals with opioid use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Pasman
- Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Guijin Lee
- Department of Counseling and Human Development Services, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Samantha Singer
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nick Burson
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth Agius
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Stella M Resko
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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Heidari O, Winiker A, Dangerfield DT, Wenzel J, Rodney T, Mehta S, Genberg B. Understanding healthcare engagement for people who inject drugs. Res Nurs Health 2024; 47:242-250. [PMID: 37982368 PMCID: PMC10961200 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22355] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at an increased risk of multimorbid mental health and chronic diseases, which are frequently underdiagnosed and under-treated due to systemic barriers and ongoing substance use. Healthcare engagement is essential to address these conditions and prevent excess morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to understand how PWID engage in care for their chronic health conditions and substance use treatment given the known historic and pervasive barriers. We conducted 24 semistructured qualitative interviews informed by the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations between July-September 2019. Participants were sampled across a range of comorbidities, including co-occurring mental health disorders. Thematic analysis was conducted to explore experiences of healthcare engagement for multimorbid chronic diseases, mental health, and treatment for substance use disorder. Mean age for participants was 58 years; 63% reported male sex and 83% reported Black race. Interviews yielded themes regarding healthcare access and wraparound services, positive patient-provider relationships, service integration for substance use treatment and mental health, healthcare needs alignment, medication of opioid use disorder stigma, and acceptance of healthcare. Taken together, participants described how these themes enabled healthcare engagement. Engagement in care is crucial to support health and recovery. Clinical implications include the importance of strengthening patient-provider relationships, encouraging integration of medical and mental health services, and counseling on substance use treatment options in a non- stigmatizing manner. Additionally, policy to reimburse wrap-around support for substance use recovery can improve care engagement and outcomes related to chronic diseases, mental health, and substance use among PWID. No Patient or Public Contribution: While we acknowledge and thank ALIVE participants for their time for data collection and sharing their perspectives, no ALIVE participants, other people who use drugs, and service users were involved in data collection, analysis or interpretation of data, or in preparation of the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omeid Heidari
- Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Abigail Winiker
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Derek T Dangerfield
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Jennifer Wenzel
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamar Rodney
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shruti Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Becky Genberg
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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3
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Pasman E, O'Shay S, Brown S, Madden EF, Agius E, Resko SM. Ambivalence and contingencies: A qualitative examination of peer recovery coaches' attitudes toward medications for opioid use disorder. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 155:209121. [PMID: 37474006 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209121] [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: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Peer recovery coaches (PRCs) are an important provider group affecting medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) uptake and retention. However, some PRCs may have experiences and beliefs that do not align with the use of MOUD. This study examines PRCs' perceptions of MOUD and how PRCs' attitudes affect their interactions with clients. The article also explores factors influencing PRCs' attitudes. METHODS The study team conducted semi-structured interviews by phone with PRCs in Michigan (N = 34, July through September 2021). The study asked participants about their opinion of MOUD, how they help clients to make decisions about MOUD, and whether they have encountered negative attitudes toward MOUD in their work. Data analysis was guided by Tracy's (2020) iterative phronetic approach. RESULTS Nearly all PRCs acknowledged the social stigma surrounding MOUD. PRCs described the stigma toward MOUD as affecting treatment access, utilization, and recovery support. While most PRCs expressed support for many recovery pathways, support for MOUD was contingent on the type of medication and the conditions under which it is used. PRCs often described MOUD as acceptable only in the short-term when paired with psychosocial interventions, after nonpharmacological treatment attempts had failed. PRCs with concerns about MOUD reported sometimes avoiding discussions about MOUD with clients, spreading misinformation about MOUD, and encouraging clients to discontinue treatment. However, many PRCs expressed a desire to support clients' self-determination despite their own biases. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight a need for education and stigma reduction among PRCs and point to specific areas for intervention. PRCs described deeply engrained beliefs about MOUD rooted in their own treatment histories and recovery practices. Provision of high-quality training and supervision to shift attitudes among PRCs will be key to increasing the use of MOUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Pasman
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America.
| | - Sydney O'Shay
- Department of Communication Studies & Philosophy, Utah State University, 0720 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, United States of America
| | - Suzanne Brown
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America
| | - Erin Fanning Madden
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3939 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Agius
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America
| | - Stella M Resko
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America; Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, 71 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America
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4
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Pytell JD, Fojo AT, Keruly JC, Snow LN, Falade-Nwulia O, Moore RD, Chander G, Lesko CR. Measuring time in buprenorphine treatment stages among people with HIV and opioid use disorder by retention definition and its association with cocaine and hazardous alcohol use. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2023; 18:51. [PMID: 37660116 PMCID: PMC10474763 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-023-00408-8] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We use a novel, longitudinal approach to describe average time spent in opioid use disorder (OUD) cascade of care stages for people with HIV (PWH) and with OUD, incorporating four definitions of treatment retention. Using this approach, we describe the impact of cocaine or hazardous alcohol use on time spent retained on buprenorphine. METHODS We followed PWH with OUD enrolled in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort from their first buprenorphine treatment episode between 2013 and 2020. We estimated 4-year restricted mean time spent on buprenorphine below buprenorphine retention threshold, on buprenorphine above retention threshold, off buprenorphine and in HIV care, loss to follow-up, and death. Retention definitions were based on retention threshold (180 vs 90 days) and allowable treatment gap (7 vs 30 days). Differences in 2-year restricted mean time spent retained on buprenorphine were estimated for patients with and without cocaine or hazardous alcohol use. RESULTS The study sample (N = 179) was 63% male, 82% non-Hispanic Black, and mean age was 53 (SD 8) years. Patients spent on average 13.9 months (95% CI 11.4, 16.4) on buprenorphine over 4 years. There were differences in time spent retained on buprenorphine based on the retention definition, ranging from 6.5 months (95% CI 4.6, 8.5) to 9.6 months (95% CI 7.4, 11.8). Patients with cocaine use spent fewer months retained on buprenorphine. There were no differences for patients with hazardous alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS PWH with OUD spend relatively little time receiving buprenorphine in their HIV primary care clinic. Concurrent cocaine use at buprenorphine initiation negatively impact time on buprenorphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarratt D Pytell
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop B180, 12631 E. 17Th Ave, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Anthony T Fojo
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeanne C Keruly
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - LaQuita N Snow
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard D Moore
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Geetanjali Chander
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine R Lesko
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Barreveld AM, Mendelson A, Deiling B, Armstrong CA, Viscusi ER, Kohan LR. Caring for Our Patients With Opioid Use Disorder in the Perioperative Period: A Guide for the Anesthesiologist. Anesth Analg 2023; 137:488-507. [PMID: 37590794 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a rising public health crisis, impacting millions of individuals and families worldwide. Anesthesiologists can play a key role in improving morbidity and mortality around the time of surgery by informing perioperative teams and guiding evidence-based care and access to life-saving treatment for patients with active OUD or in recovery. This article serves as an educational resource for the anesthesiologist caring for patients with OUD and is the second in a series of articles published in Anesthesia & Analgesia on the anesthetic and analgesic management of patients with substance use disorders. The article is divided into 4 sections: (1) background to OUD, treatment principles, and the anesthesiologist; (2) perioperative considerations for patients prescribed medications for OUD (MOUD); (3) perioperative considerations for patients with active, untreated OUD; and (4) nonopioid and nonpharmacologic principles of multimodal perioperative pain management for patients with untreated, active OUD, or in recovery. The article concludes with a stepwise approach for the anesthesiologist to support OUD treatment and recovery. The anesthesiologist is an important leader of the perioperative team to promote these suggested best practices and help save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje M Barreveld
- From the Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew Mendelson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Brittany Deiling
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Catharina A Armstrong
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts
| | - Eugene R Viscusi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lynn R Kohan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
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Unudurthi SD, Wright KD, Klimpel JM, Sud A, Tan A, Warren BJ. Sudarshan Kriya Meditation Reduces Substance Abuse Cravings and Improves Physical and Emotional Well-Being of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: A Pilot Study. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2023; 61:51-59. [PMID: 36989479 DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20230321-01] [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: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is widely prevalent in the United States and there are high levels of comorbidity between OUD and mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychotherapy, in addition to medication-assisted therapy, are considered important components of long-term OUD treatment. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a breathing-based mind-body intervention that has been demonstrated to have multiple physiological and psychological benefits. In the current study, participants (N = 8) recruited from a rural community were offered SKY in addition to treatment-as-usual. Physical and psychological well-being were measured using the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale-24, Short Form-36, Perceived Stress Scale, and participant logs and journals. Of eight participants, seven (87.5%) successfully completed the SKY intervention. Compared to baseline, there was a significant decrease in substance use cravings (p = 0.04) and depression (p = 0.01). In addition, physical functioning and emotional well-being significantly increased after SKY. SKY demonstrated efficacy in improving physical and social functioning along with enhancing mental and emotional well-being. Larger-scale trials should be performed to validate these findings. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(8), 51-59.].
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Houston AR, Snyder-Young D, Perry M, Flessen M, Lincoln AK. 'Let Others Love You Back to Health': The Role of Performance-based Support Groups for People in Recovery. Community Ment Health J 2023; 59:1097-1108. [PMID: 36692703 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01089-y] [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: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Peer support groups have become widely utilized among those in recovery from problematic substance use. Yet, these peer-based programs vary and research examining their effectiveness has yielded mixed results. Relatively less is known about the impacts of arts-based peer recovery programs. Some research suggests that theatre may offer a powerful tool to address biopsychosocial changes among individuals in recovery. To explore the role of arts-based peer support programs, we draw on qualitative interviews with performers in two arts-based recovery programs. Our findings suggest that arts-based peer recovery programs may aid individuals in recovery in four main ways. Performing allowed participants to build relationships with others in recovery, channel experiences creatively while challenging stigma, foster confidence and recovery-identity formation, aiding participants in working through emotional impacts of prior substance use. These findings support emerging scholarship examining the role of performance in challenging stereotypes about substance use to aid those in recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R Houston
- Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
| | - Dani Snyder-Young
- Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
- College of Arts, Media and Design, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | | | - Maren Flessen
- Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
- College of Arts, Media and Design, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Alisa K Lincoln
- Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
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8
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CERDÁ MAGDALENA, KRAWCZYK NOA, KEYES KATHERINE. The Future of the United States Overdose Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities. Milbank Q 2023; 101:478-506. [PMID: 36811204 PMCID: PMC10126987 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points People are dying at record numbers from overdose in the United States. Concerted action has led to a number of successes, including reduced inappropriate opioid prescribing and increased availability of opioid use disorder treatment and harm-reduction efforts, yet ongoing challenges include criminalization of drug use and regulatory and stigma barriers to expansion of treatment and harm-reduction services. Priorities for action include investing in evidence-based and compassionate policies and programs that address sources of opioid demand, decriminalizing drug use and drug paraphernalia, enacting policies to make medication for opioid use disorder more accessible, and promoting drug checking and safe drug supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- MAGDALENA CERDÁ
- Center for Opioid Epidemiology and PolicyNYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | - NOA KRAWCZYK
- Center for Opioid Epidemiology and PolicyNYU Grossman School of Medicine
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9
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Mauro PM, Kaur N, Askari MS, Keyes KM. Alcohol or Drug Self-Help Use Among Adults in the United States: Age, Period, and Cohort Effects Between 2002 and 2018. Int J Ment Health Addict 2023:1-15. [PMID: 36785551 PMCID: PMC9907883 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-023-01012-2] [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] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In the context of an ongoing and worsening drug overdose epidemic in the USA, increases in free support services like self-help groups may be expected. We estimated differences in self-help use by age, period, or cohort among people who may have needed treatment. We included N = 92,002 adults from the 2002-2018 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health who met past-year DSM-IV substance use disorder criteria or received alcohol/drug treatment in any location. We used hierarchical age-period-cohort (HAPC) modeling to estimate average age-period-cohort associations with self-help. Level-1 covariates included age, race and ethnicity, household income, and sex. We quantified level-2 variance components using the median odds ratio (MOR). We found small positive HAPC period effects for alcohol/drug self-help that were driven by alcohol-specific effects. Birth cohort differences were observed starting at age 48. Younger birth cohorts, especially among Black adults, were less likely to report self-help use than older birth cohorts. MOR was consistently elevated for cohort effects (MOR = 1.17; covariance parameter: 0.15; 95% CI [0.11, 0.23]) but not for period effects. Overall, self-help use did not increase in the context of substantial treatment needs and worsening overdose racialized disparities. Instead, cohort effects explained trends in alcohol/drug self-help. Findings could indicate that younger birth cohorts may need additional supports, especially services tailored for Black and Hispanic people. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11469-023-01012-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia M. Mauro
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Navdep Kaur
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Melanie S. Askari
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Katherine M. Keyes
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
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10
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Carl A, Pasman E, Broman MJ, Lister JJ, Agius E, Resko SM. Experiences of Healthcare and Substance Use Treatment Provider-based Stigma Among Patients Receiving Methadone. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2023; 6:100138. [PMID: 36994374 PMCID: PMC10040326 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) are efficacious, however only one-third of individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD) enter into treatment. Low rates of MOUD utilization are partially due to stigma. This study examines provider-based stigma toward MOUD and identifies factors associated with experiencing stigma related to MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers among people receiving methadone. Methods Clients receiving MOUD at an opioid treatment program (N = 247) were recruited to complete a cross-sectional computer-based survey assessing socio-demographics, substance use, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-stigma, and recovery supports/barriers. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with hearing negative comments about MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers. Results 27.9% and 56.7% of respondents reported they sometimes/often hear negative comments about MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers, respectively. Logistic regression results indicate that individuals who experience more negative consequences resulting from their OUD (OR=1.09, p=.019) had greater odds of hearing negative comments from substance use treatment providers. Age (OR=0.966, p=.017) and treatment stigma (OR=1.42, p=.030) were associated with greater odds of hearing negative comments from healthcare providers. Conclusions Stigma can be a deterrent to seeking substance use treatment, healthcare, and recovery support. Understanding factors associated with experiencing stigma from substance use treatment providers and healthcare providers is important as these individuals may act as advocates for those with OUD. This study highlights individual factors associated with hearing negative comments about methadone and other MOUD and point to areas for targeted education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Carl
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Emily Pasman
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Michael J. Broman
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Jamey J. Lister
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 120 Albany Street, Tower One, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elizabeth Agius
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Stella M. Resko
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, 71 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Corresponding author.
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11
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Gannon K, Pasman E. "Knowing or not knowing": Living as harm reductionists in Twelve Step recovery. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 145:208954. [PMID: 36880914 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.208954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Gannon
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Address: 60 College St, 3rd fl, New Haven, CT 06510, United States.
| | - Emily Pasman
- Wayne State University School of Social Work, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
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12
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Englander H, Gregg J, Levander XA. Envisioning Minimally Disruptive Opioid Use Disorder Care. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:799-803. [PMID: 36401107 PMCID: PMC9676870 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07939-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Most people who need and want treatment for opioid addiction cannot access it. Among those who do get treatment, only a fraction receive evidence-based, life-saving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). MOUD access is not simply a matter of needing more clinicians or expanding existing treatment capacity. Instead, many facets of our health systems and policies create unwarranted, inflexible, and punitive practices that create life-threatening barriers to care. In the USA, opioid use disorder care is maximally disruptive. Minimally disruptive medicine (MDM) is a framework that focuses on achieving patient goals while imposing the smallest possible burden on patients' lives. Using MDM framing, we highlight how current medical practices and policies worsen the burden of treatment and illness, compound life demands, and strain resources. We then offer suggestions for programmatic and policy changes that would reduce disruption to the lives of those seeking care, improve health care quality and delivery, begin to address disparities and inequities, and save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honora Englander
- Section of Addiction Medicine in Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. .,Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | | | - Ximena A Levander
- Section of Addiction Medicine in Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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13
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Frone MR, Casey Chosewood L, Osborne JC, Howard JJ. Workplace Supported Recovery from Substance Use Disorders: Defining the Construct, Developing a Model, and Proposing an Agenda for Future Research. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCE 2022; 6:475-511. [PMID: 37206918 PMCID: PMC10193449 DOI: 10.1007/s41542-022-00123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) represent a critical public and occupational health issue. Therefore, understanding the process of SUD recovery has become an issue of growing importance among substance use and recovery professionals. Nonetheless, despite the acknowledged importance of employment for SUD recovery, little conceptual or empirical work exists on how the workplace might support or undermine SUD recovery. In this article, we address this limitation in several ways. First, to promote a better understanding of SUD recovery for occupational health researchers, we provide a brief overview of the nature of a SUD, prior definitions of SUD recovery, and general themes associated with the recovery process. Second, we develop a working definition of workplace supported recovery. Third, we present a heuristic conceptual model showing how the workplace might impact the SUD recovery process. Fourth, using this model and research from the substance use and occupational health literatures, we develop a series of general research propositions. These propositions highlight broad directions requiring more detailed conceptualization and empirical research to understand better how work conditions may support or undermine the process of employee SUD recovery. Our overarching goal is to motivate innovative conceptualization and research on workplace supported recovery from SUDs. Such research may inform the development and evaluation of workplace interventions and policies supporting SUD recovery and highlight the benefits of workplace supported SUD recovery for employees, employers, and communities. Research on this issue may allow occupational health researchers to impact a significant societal and occupational health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Frone
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - L. Casey Chosewood
- Office of the Director, Office for Total Worker Health®, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jamie C. Osborne
- Office of the Director, Office for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - John J. Howard
- Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, DC, United States
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Gibbons JB, McCullough JS, Zivin K, Brown ZY, Norton EC. Association Between Buprenorphine Treatment Gaps, Opioid Overdose, and Health Care Spending in US Medicare Beneficiaries With Opioid Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:1173-1179. [PMID: 36197659 PMCID: PMC9535497 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Importance Nonadherence to buprenorphine may increase patient risk of opioid overdose and increase health care spending. Quantifying the impacts of nonadherence can help inform clinician practice and policy. Objective To estimate the association between buprenorphine treatment gaps, opioid overdose, and health care spending. Design, Setting, and Participants This longitudinal case-control study compared patient opioid overdose and health care spending in buprenorphine-treated months with treatment gap months. Individuals who were US Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder who received at least 1 two-week period of continuous buprenorphine treatment between 2010 and 2017 were included. Analysis took place between January 2010 and December 2017. Interventions A gap in buprenorphine treatment in a month lasting more than 15 consecutive days. Main Outcomes and Measures Opioid overdose and total, medical, and drug spending (combined patient out-of-pocket and Medicare spending). Results Of 34 505 Medicare beneficiaries (17 927 [520%] male; 16 578 [48.1%] female; mean [SD] age, 49.5 [12.7] years; 168 [0.5%] Asian; 2949 [8.5%] Black; 2089 [6.0%] Hispanic; 266 [0.8%] Native American; 28 525 [82.7%] White; 508 [1.5%] other race), 11 524 beneficiaries (33.4%) experienced 1 or more buprenorphine treatment gaps. Treatment gap beneficiaries, compared with nontreatment gap beneficiaries, were more likely to be younger, be male, have a disability, and be Medicaid dual-eligible while less likely to be White, close to a buprenorphine prescriber, and treated with buprenorphine monotherapy (ie, buprenorphine hydrochloride). Beneficiaries were 2.89 (95% CI, 2.20-3.79) times more likely to experience an opioid overdose during buprenorphine treatment gap months compared with treated months. During treatment gap months, spending was $196.41 (95% CI, $110.53-$282.30) more than in treated months. Patients who continued to take buprenorphine dosages of greater than 8 mg/d and 16 mg/d were 2.61 and 2.84 times more likely to overdose in a treatment gap month, respectively, while patients taking buprenorphine dosages of 8 mg/d or less were 3.62 times more likely to overdose in a treatment gap month (maintenance of >16 mg/d: hazard ratio (HR), 2.64 [95% CI, 1.80-3.87]; maintenance of >8 mg/d: HR, 2.84 [95% CI, 2.13-3.78]; maintenance of ≤8 mg/d: HR, 3.62 [95% CI, 1.54-8.50]). Buprenorphine monotherapy was associated with greater risk of overdose and higher spending during treatment gaps months than buprenorphine/naloxone. Conclusions and Relevance Medicare patients treated with buprenorphine between 2010 and 2017 had a lower associated opioid overdose risk and spending during treatment months than treatment gap months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason B. Gibbons
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey S. McCullough
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
| | - Kara Zivin
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Zach Y. Brown
- Department of Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Edward C. Norton
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
- Department of Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Stopka TJ, Rottapel RE, Ferguson WJ, Pivovarova E, Toro-Mejias LD, Friedmann PD, Evans EA. Medication for opioid use disorder treatment continuity post-release from jail: A qualitative study with community-based treatment providers. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 110:103803. [PMID: 35965159 PMCID: PMC10117037 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People released from jail are at elevated opioid overdose risk. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are effective in reducing overdoses. MOUD treatment was recently mandated in seven Massachusetts jails, but little is known about barriers and facilitators to treatment continuity post-release. We aimed to assess MOUD provider perspectives on treatment continuity among people released from jail. METHODS We conducted qualitative interviews with 36 medical, supervisory, and administrative staff at MOUD programs that serve jail-referred patients. We used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) implementation science framework to guide development of instruments, codes, and analyses. We employed deductive and inductive coding, and a grounded theory analytical approach to identify salient themes. RESULTS Inner context findings highlighted necessary adjustments among jail staff to approve MOUD treatment, especially with agonist medications that were previously considered contraband. Participants perceived that some staff within jails favored abstinence-based recovery, viewing agonists as a crutch. Bridging results highlighted the importance of inter-agency communication and coordination to ensure information transfer for seamless treatment continuity in the community post-release. Pre-release planning, release on pre-scheduled dates, medication provision to cover gaps between jail release and intake at community MOUD sites, and exchange of treatment information across agencies were viewed as paramount to success. Unexpected early releases and releases from court were viewed as barriers to treatment coordination. Outer context domains were largely tied to social determinants of health. Substantial barriers to treatment continuity included shelter, food security, employment, transportation, and insurance reactivation. CONCLUSION Through qualitative interviews with community-based MOUD staff, we identified salient barriers and facilitators to treatment continuity post-release from jails. Findings point to needed investments in care coordination, staffing, and funding to strengthen jail-to-community-based MOUD treatment, removing barriers to continuity, and decreasing opioid overdose deaths during this high-risk transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Stopka
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 200 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States.
| | - Rebecca E Rottapel
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 200 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
| | - Warren J Ferguson
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, United States
| | - Ekaterina Pivovarova
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, United States
| | - Lizbeth Del Toro-Mejias
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01655, United States; Baystate Health, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA, 01199, United States
| | - Peter D Friedmann
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01655, United States; Baystate Health, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA, 01199, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Evans
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 312 Arnold House, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, United States
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Knaub RJ, Evans J, Yang C, Roura R, McGinn T, Verschoore B, Ricketts EP, Rothman RE, Latkin CA, Hsieh YH. A pilot study of a mixed-method approach to design an ED-based peer mHealth referral tool for HIV/HCV and opioid overdose prevention services. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 238:109585. [PMID: 35926299 PMCID: PMC9620482 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intersecting epidemics of opioid misuse, injection drug use, and HIV/HCV have resulted in record overdose deaths and sustained high levels of HIV/HCV transmissions. Literature on social networks suggests opportunities to connect people who use drugs (PWUD) and their peers to HIV/HCV and opioid overdose prevention services. However, little evidence exists on how to design such peer referral interventions in emergency department (ED) settings. METHODS A mixed-method study was conducted to assess the feasibility of an mHealth-facilitated 'patient to peer social network referral program' for PWUD. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and quantitative surveys were conducted with urban ED patients (n = 15), along with 3 focus group discussions (FGDs) (n = 19). RESULTS Overall, 34 participants were enrolled (71 % males, 53 % Black). 13/15 IDI participants reported a history of opioid overdose; all had witnessed overdose events; all received HIV/HCV testing. From survey responses, most would invite their peers for HIV/HCV testing and naloxone training; and anticipated peers to accept referrals (HIV: 60 %, HCV: 73 %, naloxone: 93 %). Qualitative data showed PWUD shared health-related information with each other but preferred word of mouth rather than text messages. Participants used smartphones regularly and suggested using Internet advertising for prevention services. Participants expressed enthusiasm for ED-based peer mHealth referral platform to prevention services, as well as referring their peers to proposed services, with monetary incentives. CONCLUSION ED-based peer referral intervention to HIV/HCV testing and naloxone training was viewed favorably by PWUD. Frequent smartphone use among PWUD suggests that the medium could be a promising mode for peer referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross J. Knaub
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Julie Evans
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Cui Yang
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Raúl Roura
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Tanner McGinn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Benjamin Verschoore
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Erin P. Ricketts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Richard E. Rothman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Carl A. Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Yu-Hsiang Hsieh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Drug court utilization of medications for opioid use disorder in high opioid mortality communities. J Subst Abuse Treat 2022; 141:108850. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Lane S, Moreland A, Khan S, Hartwell K, Haynes L, Brady K. Disparities in years of potential life lost to Drug-involved overdose deaths in South Carolina. Addict Behav 2022; 126:107181. [PMID: 34864477 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION South Carolina has experienced a surge in fatal overdoses, primarily fueled by opioid-involved overdose deaths. This work aims to quantify the burden of premature mortality due to fatal opioid-involved overdoses in South Carolina while documenting the contribution of synthetic opioids to excess mortality, examining substance specific geographic and demographic patterns of mortality burden, and measuring the effect of fatal opioid and synthetic opioid-involved overdoses on average lifespan. METHODS We obtained death certificates for fatalities involving opioids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and psychostimulants (N = 3,726) in South Carolina from 2014 to 2018. Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) was used to examine gender, racial, and geographic disparities in mortality burden. We assessed the contribution of synthetic opioid poisoning to the overall opioid mortality burden over time and calculated the effect of fatal opioid and synthetic opioid-involved overdoses on average lifespan. RESULTS From 2014 to 2018, opioid-involved overdose deaths resulted in 124,451 YPLL. The average age of fatal male and female opioid-involved overdoses decreased 2.8 and 3.9 years, respectively. Synthetic opioids increasingly contributed to opioid YPLL, accounting for 22% in 2014 to 64% in 2018. Mortality burden was not shared equally between races, sexes, or rural/urban counties. The largest change occurred in black male synthetic opioid-involved deaths (2234%). Rural counties comprised 44-48% of the population adjusted YPLL despite containing 34% of the population. CONCLUSION Opioid-involved overdoses account for a critical cause of mortality in South Carolina, demonstrate significant impact on YPLL and highlight mortality burden disparities in gender, race, and rural/urban settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Lane
- Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Angela Moreland
- Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Sazid Khan
- South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, 1801 Main St., 4(th) Floor, Columbia, SC, 29201, USA; RTI International, Community Health Research Division, 3040 East Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Karen Hartwell
- Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Louise Haynes
- Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Kathleen Brady
- Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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Meacham MC, Nobles AL, Tompkins DA, Thrul J. "I got a bunch of weed to help me through the withdrawals": Naturalistic cannabis use reported in online opioid and opioid recovery community discussion forums. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263583. [PMID: 35134074 PMCID: PMC8824349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of research has reported on the potential opioid-sparing effects of cannabis and cannabinoids, but less is known about specific mechanisms. The present research examines cannabis-related posts in two large online communities on the Reddit platform (“subreddits”) to compare mentions of naturalistic cannabis use by persons self-identifying as actively using opioids versus persons in recovery. We extracted all posts mentioning cannabis-related keywords (e.g., “weed”, “cannabis”, “marijuana”) from December 2015 through August 2019 from an opioid use subreddit and an opioid recovery subreddit. To investigate how cannabis is discussed at-scale, we identified and compared the most frequent phrases in cannabis-related posts in each subreddit using term-frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) weighting. To contextualize these findings, we also conducted a qualitative content analysis of 200 random posts (100 from each subreddit). Cannabis-related posts were about twice as prevalent in the recovery subreddit (n = 908; 5.4% of 16,791 posts) than in the active opioid use subreddit (n = 4,224; 2.6% of 159,994 posts, p < .001). The most frequent phrases from the recovery subreddit referred to time without using opioids and the possibility of using cannabis as a “treatment.” The most frequent phrases from the opioid subreddit referred to concurrent use of cannabis and opioids. The most common motivations for using cannabis were to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms in the recovery subreddit, often in conjunction with anti-anxiety and GI-distress “comfort meds,” and to enhance the “high” when used in combination with opioids in the opioid subreddit. Despite limitations in generalizability from pseudonymous online posts, this examination of reports of naturalistic cannabis use in relation to opioid use identified withdrawal symptom management as a common motivation. Future research is warranted with more structured assessments that examines the role of cannabis and cannabinoids in addressing both somatic and affective symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith C. Meacham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Alicia L. Nobles
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - D. Andrew Tompkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Johannes Thrul
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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20
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Kepner W, Meacham MC, Nobles AL. Types and Sources of Stigma on Opioid Use Treatment and Recovery Communities on Reddit. Subst Use Misuse 2022; 57:1511-1522. [PMID: 35815614 PMCID: PMC9937434 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2091786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Background: Digitally-mediated peer support may improve opioid use disorder (OUD) recovery. Our objective was to examine the types and sources of stigma that people seek support for in online OUD recovery communities (subreddits) on Reddit. Methods: We extracted all posts containing stigma keywords from three subreddits as well as a random sample that do not contain stigma keywords. We conducted deductive content analysis to confirm that the post self-described an experience of stigma and identify the type (condition, intervention) and source (provider-based, public, self, structural) of stigma. Results: Two-hundred and fifty-nine posts self-reported a stigmatizing experience. The majority of posts described an intervention stigma associated with medications for OUD. Posts discussing intervention stigma acknowledged the role of stigma in their treatment decision-making and quality of their treatment program. The most frequent sources of stigma were the public (including family members), provider-based (healthcare and pharmacy workers), structural (workplace, law enforcement, child protective services, and abstinence-based self-help groups), and self. No posts mentioned courtesy stigma. Posts sought assistance in navigating their experiences and participating in advocacy to counter stigmatized narratives. Conclusions: Our study indicates that people in online communities seek support to disclose and manage experiences of stigma on Reddit in similar ways to people in offline communities with the noted exception of an absence of discussions of courtesy stigma. Since each subreddit is a microcosm of varying needs, we suggest areas of future work for collaborative resources developed between stakeholders of these subreddits and public health that work within the preexisting Reddit social norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Kepner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, California
| | - Meredith C Meacham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alicia L Nobles
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, California
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Providing peer navigation services to women with a history of opioid misuse pre- and post-release from jail: A program description. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 6:e106. [PMID: 36128341 PMCID: PMC9453575 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.441] [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] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Justice system-involved women with opioid use disorder (OUD) experience layered health risks and stigma, yet peer navigation services during reentry may support positive outcomes. This manuscript offers a program description of a women’s peer navigation intervention delivered pre- and post-release from jail to remove barriers to women’s access to OUD treatment, including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Methods: All data were collected as part of a NIH/NIDA-funded national cooperative, the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) project. Through the larger study’s intervention, women in jail with OUD are connected via videoconference to a peer navigator, who provides an initial reentry recovery assessment and 12+ weeks of recovery support sessions post-release. Qualitative analyses examined peers’ notes from initial sessions with women (N = 50) and in-depth interviews with peers (N = 3). Results: Peers’ notes from initial sessions suggest that women anticipate challenges to successful recovery and community reentry. More than half of women (51.9%) chose OUD treatment as their primary goal, while others selected more basic needs (e.g. housing, transportation). In qualitative interviews, peers described women’s transitions to the community as unpredictable, creating difficulties for reentry planning, particularly for rural women. Peers also described challenges with stigma against MOUD and establishing relationships via telehealth, but ultimately believed their role was valuable in providing resource referrals, support, and hope for recovery. Conclusions: For women with OUD, peer navigation can offer critical linkages to services at release from jail, in addition to hope, encouragement, and solidarity. Findings provide important insights for future peer-based interventions.
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22
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Stenersen MR, Thomas K, Struble C, Moore KE, Burke C, McKee S. The impact of self-help groups on successful substance use treatment completion for opioid use: An intersectional analysis of race/ethnicity and sex. J Subst Abuse Treat 2021; 136:108662. [PMID: 34840040 PMCID: PMC8940633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108662] [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: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Race/ethnicity and sex disparities in substance use and substance use treatment completion are well documented in the literature. Previous literature has shown that participation in self-help groups is associated with higher rates of substance use treatment completion. While most of this research has focused on the completion of treatment for alcohol and stimulant use, research examining this relationship using an intersectional approach for individuals in treatment for opioid use is limited. METHODS Thus, the current study utilized responses from the Treatment Episodes Data Set-Discharges, 2015-2017 to examine disparities in the relationship between participation in self-help groups and substance use treatment completion for individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use based on sex, race, and ethnicity. RESULTS Results revealed a positive association between participation in self-help groups and treatment completion among those in treatment for opioid use across race, ethnicity, and sex. Further, the study found several differences in this association based on one's race, ethnicity, and sex. When compared to men of other races/ethnicities, the association between self-help group participation and treatment completion was highest among Black men. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study extend the knowledge-base about self-help participation's role in promoting successful substance use treatment completion to individuals in treatment for opioid use. Results also highlight the need to examine treatment outcomes with an intersectional lens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathryn Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Cara Struble
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Kelly E Moore
- Department of Psychology, East Tennessee States University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
| | - Catherine Burke
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Sherry McKee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
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Dopp AR, Manuel JK, Breslau J, Lodge B, Hurley B, Kase C, Osilla KC. Value of family involvement in substance use disorder treatment: Aligning clinical and financing priorities. J Subst Abuse Treat 2021; 132:108652. [PMID: 34742609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family members' support (e.g., informational, tangible, emotional) has important and lasting impacts on individuals' recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). Unfortunately, SUD services in the United States do not consistently incorporate patients' family members effectively. One barrier to family involvement in SUD services is the mechanisms through which SUD services in the United States are commonly financed. METHOD Using our recent experiences with developing a group intervention for support persons of patients with opioid use disorder, we illustrate how gaps in feasible financing models limit SUD service systems from effectively implementing and sustaining family services for individuals receiving SUD treatment. DISCUSSION Long-term availability of family-inclusive interventions will require collaboration with payors and health systems. We offer two sets of recommendations for funding family involvement in SUD services; one set of immediately implementable recommendations and other longer-term goals requiring structural changes in SUD service delivery and financing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R Dopp
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, United States of America.
| | - Jennifer K Manuel
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 401 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States of America; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, United States of America.
| | - Joshua Breslau
- RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Ave #600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | | | - Brian Hurley
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 313 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States of America.
| | - Courtney Kase
- RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Ave #600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | - Karen Chan Osilla
- Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305, United States of America.
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Wallace B, MacKinnon K, Strosher H, Macevicius C, Gordon C, Raworth R, Mesley L, Shahram S, Marcellus L, Urbanoski K, Pauly B. Equity-oriented frameworks to inform responses to opioid overdoses: a scoping review. JBI Evid Synth 2021; 19:1760-1843. [PMID: 34137739 DOI: 10.11124/jbies-20-00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this scoping review was to systematically identify and describe literature that uses a health equity-oriented approach for preventing and reducing the harms of stigma or overdose for people who use illicit drugs or misuse prescription opioids. INCLUSION CRITERIA To be included, papers had to both: i) use a health equity-oriented approach, defined as a response that addresses health inequities and aims to reduce drug-related harms of stigma or overdose; and ii) include at least one of the following concepts: cultural safety, trauma- and violence-informed care, or harm reduction. We also looked for papers that included an Indigenous-informed perspective in addition to any of the three concepts. METHODS An a priori protocol was published and the JBI methodology for conducting scoping reviews was employed. Published and unpublished literature from January 1, 2000, to July 31, 2019, was included. The databases searched included CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Sociological Abstracts and Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest), JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PROSPERO, Aboriginal Health Abstract Database, First Nations Periodical Index, and the National Indigenous Studies Portal. The search for unpublished studies included ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Google Scholar, and targeted web searches. Screening and data extraction were performed by two reviewers using templates developed by the authors. Data extraction included specific details about the population, concepts, context, and key findings or recommendations relevant to the review objectives. RESULTS A total of a total of 1065 articles were identified and screened, with a total of 148 articles included. The majority were published in the previous five years (73%) and were from North America (78%). Most articles only focused on one of the three health equity-oriented approaches, most often harm reduction (n = 79), with only 16 articles including all three. There were 14 articles identified that also included an Indigenous-informed perspective. Almost one-half of the papers were qualitative (n = 65; 44%) and 26 papers included a framework. Of these, seven papers described a framework that included all three approaches, but none included an Indigenous-informed perspective. Recommendations for health equity-oriented approaches are: i) inclusion of people with lived and living experience; ii) multifaceted approaches to reduce stigma and discrimination; iii) recognize and address inequities; iv) drug policy reform and decriminalization; v) ensure harm-reduction principles are applied within comprehensive responses; and vi) proportionate universalism. Gaps in knowledge and areas for future research are discussed. CONCLUSIONS We have identified few conceptual frameworks that are both health equity-oriented and incorporate multiple concepts that could enrich responses to the opioid poisoning emergency. More research is required to evaluate the impact of these integrated frameworks for action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Wallace
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Karen MacKinnon
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Evidence-Informed Nursing and Healthcare (CEiNHC): A JBI Affiliated Group, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Heather Strosher
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Celeste Macevicius
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Carol Gordon
- Centre for Evidence-Informed Nursing and Healthcare (CEiNHC): A JBI Affiliated Group, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Library Service, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Raworth
- Library Service, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Lacey Mesley
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sana Shahram
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia: Okanagan campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Lenora Marcellus
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Evidence-Informed Nursing and Healthcare (CEiNHC): A JBI Affiliated Group, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Karen Urbanoski
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Bernadette Pauly
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Krawczyk N, Williams AR, Saloner B, Cerdá M. Who stays in medication treatment for opioid use disorder? A national study of outpatient specialty treatment settings. J Subst Abuse Treat 2021; 126:108329. [PMID: 34116820 PMCID: PMC8197774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintenance treatments with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are highly effective at reducing overdose risk while patients remain in care. However, few patients initiate medication and retention remains a critical challenge across settings. Much remains to be learned about individual and structural factors that influence successful retention, especially among populations dispensed MOUD in outpatient settings. METHODS We examined individual and structural characteristics associated with MOUD treatment retention among a national sample of adults seeking MOUD treatment in outpatient substance use treatment settings using the 2017 Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharges (TEDS-D). The study assessed predictors of retention in MOUD using multivariate logistic regression and accelerated time failure models. RESULTS Of 130,300 episodes of MOUD treatment in outpatient settings, 36% involved a duration of care greater than six months. The strongest risk factors for treatment discontinuation by six months included being of younger age, ages 18-29 ((OR):0.52 [95%CI:0.50-0.54]) or 30-39 (OR:0.57 [95%CI:0.55-0.59); experiencing homelessness (OR: 0.70 [95%CI:0.66-0.73]); co-using methamphetamine (OR:0.48 [95%CI:0.45-0.51]); and being referred to treatment by a criminal justice source (OR:0.55 [95%CI:0.52-0.59) or by a school, employer, or community source (OR:0.71 [95%CI:0.66-0.76). CONCLUSIONS Improving retention in treatment is a pivotal stage in the OUD cascade of care and is critical to reducing overdose deaths. Efforts should prioritize interventions to improve retention among patients who are both prescribed and dispended MOUD, especially youth, people experiencing homelessness, polysubstance users, and people referred to care by the justice system who have especially short stays in care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Krawczyk
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, United States of America.
| | - Arthur Robin Williams
- Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, United States of America
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
| | - Magdalena Cerdá
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, United States of America
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Abstract
: Buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder is safe and effective, but only a fraction of Americans who need treatment receive it. One reason for this is that many buprenorphine treatment programs have rigid requirements for entry and continuation, limiting the number of people who receive treatment. "Low-threshold treatment" is a term used to describe an alternative approach that attempts to remove as many barriers to treatment as possible. However, few studies have described its essential features. In this article, we define low-threshold treatment and propose the approach be guided by the following principles: same-day treatment entry; harm-reduction approach; flexibility; and wide availability in places where people with opioid use disorder go. We discuss the evidence and rationale for these principles and directions for future research.
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Scott K, Murphy CM, Yap K, Moul S, Hurley L, Becker SJ. Health Professional Stigma as a Barrier to Contingency Management Implementation in Opioid Treatment Programs. TRANSLATIONAL ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021; 7:166-176. [PMID: 34485617 PMCID: PMC8412039 DOI: 10.1037/tps0000245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Contingency management (CM) has robust evidence of effectiveness as an adjunct to medication for opioid use disorders. However, CM implementation in opioid treatment programs has been limited by a myriad of well-documented barriers. One relatively unexplored barrier that may hinder CM implementation is health professional stigma toward patients with opioid use disorders. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 43 health professionals (21 leaders, 22 front-line counselors) from 11 different opioid treatment programs across Rhode Island to explore their familiarity with CM and to elucidate barriers and facilitators to CM implementation. Interviews were transcribed and coded by 3 independent raters using a reflexive team approach. Transcripts were analyzed for both a priori and emergent themes. Health professional stigma was identified as an emergent major theme with 4 distinct subthemes: (a) distrust of patients (44%, N = 19); (b) infantilizing views about patients (19%, N = 8); (c) belief that patients do not deserve prizes (19%, N = 8); and (d) recognition of patient self-stigma and community-based stigma (23%, N = 10). In addition, we identified multiple instances of health professional use of potentially stigmatizing language toward patients with opioid use disorders via terms such as drug abuser, addict, and clean or dirty urine screens (70%, N = 30). Stigma themes were identified in 86% of the transcripts, highlighting potential targets for multilevel implementation strategies. Findings of this study suggest that multiple types of health professional stigma should be considered and proactively addressed in efforts by psychologists to implement CM and other evidence-based interventions in opioid treatment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli Scott
- Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
| | - Cara M Murphy
- Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
| | - Kimberly Yap
- Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
| | - Samantha Moul
- Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
| | - Linda Hurley
- CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Sara J Becker
- Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
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Wen H, Druss BG, Saloner B. Self-Help Groups And Medication Use In Opioid Addiction Treatment: A National Analysis. Health Aff (Millwood) 2021; 39:740-746. [PMID: 32364856 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Self-help groups and medications (buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone) both play important roles in opioid addiction treatment. The relative use of these two treatment modalities has not been characterized in a national study. Using national treatment data, we found that self-help groups were rarely provided in conjunction with medication treatment: Among all adult discharges from opioid addiction treatment in the period 2015-17, 10.4 percent used both self-help groups and medications, 29.2 percent used only medications, 29.8 percent used only self-help groups, and 30.5 percent used neither self-help groups nor medications. Use of self-help groups without medication is most common in residential facilities, among those with criminal justice referrals, and among uninsured or privately insured patients, as well as in the South and West regions of the US. These subgroups may be important targets for future efforts to identify and overcome barriers to medication treatment and create multimodal paths to recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hefei Wen
- Hefei Wen ( hefei_wen@hphci. harvard. edu ) is a faculty member in the Division of Health Policy and Insurance Research, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, in Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Benjamin G Druss
- Benjamin G. Druss is the Rosalynn Carter Chair and a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, in Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Brendan Saloner is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, Maryland
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Morse E, Binswanger IA, Taylor E, Gray C, Stimmel M, Timko C, Harris AHS, Smelson D, Finlay AK. Strategies to improve implementation of medications for opioid use disorder reported by veterans involved in the legal system: A qualitative study. J Subst Abuse Treat 2021; 129:108353. [PMID: 34080564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108353] [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: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Veterans involved in the legal system have a high risk of overdose mortality but limited utilization of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). To increase the use of MOUD in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and reduce overdose mortality, the VHA should incorporate strategies identified by legal-involved veterans to improve quality of care and ensure that their patients' experiences are integrated into care delivery. This study aims to determine strategies to increase use of MOUD from the perspective of legal-involved veterans with a history of opioid use or opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS Between February 2018 and March 2019, we conducted semistructured interviews with 18 veterans with a history of opioid use or OUD and legal involvement (15 men and 3 women; mean age 41, standard deviation 13, range 28-61). Veterans were from 9 geographically dispersed United States VHA facilities. The study analyzed verbatim transcripts using the framework method. The primary focus was themes that represented legal-involved veteran-identified strategies to improve the use of MOUD. RESULTS The 18 veterans interviewed had legal involvement directly related to their opioid use and most (n = 15; 83%) had previously used MOUD. Veteran-identified strategies to improve access to and use of MOUD included: (1) VHA should provide transportation or telehealth services; (2) legal agencies should increase access to MOUD during incarceration; (3) the VHA should reduce physician turnover; (4) the VHA should improve physician education to deliver compassionate, patient-centered treatment; (5) the VHA should improve veteran education about MOUD; and (6) the VHA should provide social support opportunities to veterans. CONCLUSIONS Legal-involved veterans provided strategies that can inform and expand MOUD to better meet their needs and the treatment needs of all patients with OUD. The VHA should consider incorporating these strategies into care, and should evaluate their impact on patients' experience, initiation of and retention on medications, and overdose rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Morse
- Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, 10065 E Harvard Ave #300, Denver, CO 80231, USA.
| | - Ingrid A Binswanger
- Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, 10065 E Harvard Ave #300, Denver, CO 80231, USA; Colorado Permanente Medical Group, 1835 Franklin St, Denver, CO 80218, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Emmeline Taylor
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Colorado, 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA.
| | - Caroline Gray
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
| | - Matthew Stimmel
- Veterans Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (MS), 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
| | - Christine Timko
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1199 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Alex H S Harris
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Always Building, Suite M121, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-2200, USA.
| | - David Smelson
- Center for Organization and Implementation Science, Edith Nourse Rogers VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730, USA.
| | - Andrea K Finlay
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
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30
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Madden EF, Prevedel S, Light T, Sulzer SH. Intervention Stigma toward Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Subst Use Misuse 2021; 56:2181-2201. [PMID: 34538213 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1975749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are evidence-based treatments, yet can be controversial among some populations. This study provides a systematic review of prejudice and discrimination toward MOUD, a form of "intervention stigma," or stigma associated with a particular medical treatment. A systematic search strategy was used in PsychInfo and PubMed to identify studies published between 1998 and 2018. Studies that empirically examined stigma toward MOUD were included if the manuscript was of moderate or high quality. Studies were analyzed using thematic synthesis. The search yielded 972 studies, of which 28 were included. Most studies utilized qualitative methods to examine intervention stigma toward methadone or buprenorphine, with one including naltrexone. Studies demonstrated that intervention stigma among healthcare providers was influenced by lack of training and abstinent treatment preferences. Providers equated MOUD with illicit substance use and at times refused to care for MOUD patients. Stigma among peer patients seeking treatment was also influenced by abstinent treatment preferences, and among the general public stigma was influenced by lack of MOUD knowledge. Intervention stigma was also driven at the policy level by high regulation of methadone, which fueled diversion and hindered social functioning among patients. Few studies indicated how to reduce intervention stigma toward MOUD. Intervention stigma affects both provision and perceptions of methadone and buprenorphine, decreasing access and utilization of MOUD. Future research should further develop and test MOUD stigma reduction interventions in a variety of social contexts to improve access to care and reduce patient barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Fanning Madden
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Suzanne Prevedel
- Utah State University Extension, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Timothy Light
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University-Southern Utah, Ivins, Utah, USA
| | - Sandra H Sulzer
- Utah State University Extension, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
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Sibley AL, Schalkoff CA, Richard EL, Piscalko HM, Brook DL, Lancaster KE, Miller WC, Go VF. "I Was Raised in Addiction": Constructions of the Self and the Other in Discourses of Addiction and Recovery. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:2278-2290. [PMID: 33148139 PMCID: PMC7649922 DOI: 10.1177/1049732320948829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to address how conceptualizations of addiction shape the lived experiences of people who use drugs (PWUDs) during the current opioid epidemic. Using a discourse analytic approach, we examine interview transcripts from 27 PWUDs in rural Appalachian Ohio. We investigate the ways in which participants talk about their substance use, what these linguistic choices reveal about their conceptions of self and other PWUDs, and how participants' discursive caches might be constrained by or defined within broader social discourses. We highlight three subject positions enacted by participants during the interviews: addict as victim of circumstance, addict as good Samaritan, and addict as motivated for change. We argue participants leverage these positions to contrast themselves with a reified addict-other whose identity carries socially ascribed characteristics of being blameworthy, immoral, callous, and complicit. We implicate these processes in the perpetuation of intragroup stigma and discuss implications for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adams L. Sibley
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Adams L. Sibley, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 302 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive CB7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vivian F. Go
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Lefebvre RC, Chandler RK, Helme DW, Kerner R, Mann S, Stein MD, Reynolds J, Slater MD, Anakaraonye AR, Beard D, Burrus O, Frkovich J, Hedrick H, Lewis N, Rodgers E. Health communication campaigns to drive demand for evidence-based practices and reduce stigma in the HEALing communities study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 217:108338. [PMID: 33152673 PMCID: PMC7534788 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is testing whether the Communities that Heal (CTH) intervention can decrease opioid overdose deaths through the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in highly impacted communities. One of the CTH intervention components is a series of communications campaigns to promote the implementation of EBPs, increase demand for naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and decrease stigma toward people with opioid use disorder and the use of EBPs, especially MOUD. This paper describes the approach to developing and executing these campaigns. METHODS The HCS communication campaigns are developed and implemented through a collaboration between communication experts, research site staff, and community coalitions using a three-stage process. The Prepare phase identifies priority groups to receive campaign messages, develops content for those messages, and identifies a "call to action" that asks people to engage in a specific behavior. In the Plan phase, campaign resources are produced, and community coalitions develop plans to distribute campaign materials. During the Implement stage, these distribution plans guide delivery of content to priority groups. Fidelity measures assess how community coalitions follow their distribution plan as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation. An evaluation of the communication campaigns is planned. CONCLUSIONS If successful, the Prepare-Plan-Implement process, and the campaign materials, could be adapted and used by other communities to address the opioid crisis. The campaign evaluation will extend the evidence base for how communication campaigns can be developed and implemented through a community-engaged process to effectively address public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Craig Lefebvre
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Redonna K. Chandler
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, 3WFN RM 09D02, 301 North Stonestreet Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Donald W. Helme
- Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, 271 Blazer Dining, Lexington, KY, 40506-0042, USA
| | - Robin Kerner
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Sarah Mann
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 376 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Michael D. Stein
- School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jennifer Reynolds
- Health Communications and Marketing, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORAU), 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA.
| | - Michael D. Slater
- School of Communication, The Ohio State University, 3016 Derby Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Amarachi R. Anakaraonye
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
| | - Dacia Beard
- School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Olivia Burrus
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA.
| | - Jenna Frkovich
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA.
| | - Haley Hedrick
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA.
| | - Nicky Lewis
- Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, 363 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lexington, KY 40526, USA.
| | - Emma Rodgers
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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Krawczyk N, Mojtabai R, Stuart E, Fingerhood M, Agus D, Lyons BC, Weiner JP, Saloner B. Opioid agonist treatment and fatal overdose risk in a state-wide US population receiving opioid use disorder services. Addiction 2020; 115:1683-1694. [PMID: 32096302 PMCID: PMC7426244 DOI: 10.1111/add.14991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Evidence from randomized controlled trials establishes that medication treatment with methadone and buprenorphine reduces opioid use and improves treatment retention. However, little is known about the role of such medications compared with non-medication treatments in mitigating overdose risk among US patient populations receiving treatment in usual care settings. This study compared overdose mortality among those in medication versus non-medication treatments in specialty care settings. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using state-wide treatment data linked to death records. Survival analysis was used to analyze data in a time-to-event framework. SETTING Services delivered by 757 providers in publicly funded out-patient specialty treatment programs in Maryland, USA between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016. PARTICIPANTS A total of 48 274 adults admitted to out-patient specialty treatment programs in 2015-16 for primary diagnosis of opioid use disorder. MEASUREMENTS Main exposure was time in medication treatment (methadone/buprenorphine), time following medication treatment, time exposed to non-medication treatments and time following non-medication treatment. Main outcome was opioid overdose death during and after treatment. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Propensity score weights were adjusted for patient information on sex, age, race, region of residence, marital and veteran status, employment, homelessness, primary opioid, mental health treatment, arrests and criminal justice referral. FINDINGS The study population experienced 371 opioid overdose deaths. Periods in medication treatment were associated with substantially reduced hazard of opioid overdose death compared with periods in non-medication treatment [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.08-0.40]. Periods after discharge from non-medication treatment (aHR = 5.45, 95% CI = 2.80-9.53) and medication treatment (aHR = 5.85, 95% CI = 3.10-11.02) had similar and substantially elevated risks compared with periods in non-medication treatments. CONCLUSIONS Among Maryland patients in specialty opioid treatment, periods in treatment are protective against overdose compared with periods out of care. Methadone and buprenorphine are associated with significantly lower overdose death compared with non-medication treatments during care but not after treatment is discontinued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Krawczyk
- Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ramin Mojtabai
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Elizabeth Stuart
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Michael Fingerhood
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Deborah Agus
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - B. Casey Lyons
- Office of Provider Engagement and Regulation, Maryland Department of Health, Catonsville, MD,Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jonathan P. Weiner
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
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34
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Human Rights, Stigma, and Substance Use. Health Hum Rights 2020; 22:51-60. [PMID: 32669788 PMCID: PMC7348456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary purpose of political, civil, socioeconomic, and cultural rights is to protect the dignity of all human beings. Good mental health and well-being is defined by the "social, psychosocial, economic, and physical environment that enables individuals and populations to live a life of dignity, with full enjoyment of their rights and in the equitable pursuit of their potential."1 Stigmatization, discrimination, and negative stereotypes are barriers to mental health and well-being.2 Individuals with mental health problems, including those with drug dependence, suffer stigmatization, which is a direct affront to dignity and may have enduring health impacts. This paper discusses the implications of stigma for a human-rights based approach to improving mental health among those with drug dependence, with a focus on the opioid epidemic now ravaging the United States. It explores the public health burden of stigma related to substance misuse, including stigma in the context of treatment and health care. It also discusses the role of policy initiatives-including decriminalization-in addressing stigma related to substance misuse.
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Andraka-Christou B, Nguyen T, Bradford DW, Simon K. Assessing the impact of drug courts on provider-directed marketing efforts by manufactures of medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder. J Subst Abuse Treat 2019; 110:49-58. [PMID: 31952628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid use disorder (OUD) has become an increasingly consequential public health concern, especially in the United States where 47,600 opioid overdose deaths occurred in 2017 (Scholl, Seth, Kariisa, Wilson, & Baldwin, 2019). Medications for OUD (MOUD) are effective for decreasing opioid-related morbidity and mortality, including within the criminal justice system (Hedrich et al., 2012; Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives, 2019; Moore et al., 2019).While a stronger evidence base exists for agonist MOUD than for antagonist MOUD, a national study of drug courts found that half prohibited agonist MOUD (Matusow et al., 2013).Furthermore, recent media reports suggest that the pharmaceutical manufacturer of an antagonist MOUD has marketed its product towards drug court judges (Goodnough & Zernike, 2017; Harper, 2017). However, no study to date has systematically examined the relationship between MOUD marketing practices and drug courts. This ecological study examines the association at the county level between MOUD manufacturer payments to prescribers and drug court locations. METHOD We extracted provider-directed payments from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)'s Sunshine Act Open Payments data 2014-2017, isolating those records mentioning any MOUD. We compared provider-directed payments for two major MOUDs: buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone, in counties with and without drug courts. RESULTS The presence of any adult drug courts in the county is associated with a 7.86 percentage-point increase in the likelihood of providers in that county receiving any MOUD-related payments (about 22.46% of the sample mean, p<0.001) and with a 10.70% increase in the amount of these payments per 1000 county residents (p<0.001). The association between other forms of drug courts such as juvenile drug courts and Driving-Under-the-Influence courts (DUI) courts are less significant and slightly smaller in magnitude compared to those of adult drug courts. We did not find significant difference between payments by the manufacturer of Vivitrol and manufacturers of Zubsolv, Bunavail, and Suboxone (oral forms of buprenorphine). CONCLUSIONS Our results show an ecological association at the county level between MOUD manufacturer payments to prescribers and drug court presence. However, we did not examine a causal association between these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Andraka-Christou
- Department of Health Management & Informatics, University of Central Florida, United States of America.
| | - Thuy Nguyen
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Indiana University-Bloomington, United States of America
| | - David W Bradford
- Department of Public Administration and Policy, University of Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kosali Simon
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Indiana University-Bloomington, United States of America
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“One Out of Ten Ain’t Going to Make It”: An Analysis of Recovery Capital in the Rural Upper Midwest. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0022042619859309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Substance use and associated fatalities are disproportionately experienced by rural communities. This study used consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze focus group data from individuals in short- and long-term recovery in rural Michigan and Minnesota. Coding was conducted within a recovery capital framework to improve understanding of the resources and barriers participants experienced in their recovery. Key findings included barriers related to transportation, as well as access to and availability of sober meetings and sober living activities. Participants perceived connections to culturally appropriate treatment as particularly important. A reconstruction of social networks from those promoting addiction to those supporting recovery was also prominently emphasized. Recovery capital appears to be a useful framework for assessing how rural communities are experiencing substance use crises, in addition to identifying areas of low capital and high need in supporting long-term recovery.
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Truong C, Krawczyk N, Dejman M, Marshall-Shah S, Tormohlen K, Agus D, Bass J. Challenges on the road to recovery: Exploring attitudes and experiences of clients in a community-based buprenorphine program in Baltimore City. Addict Behav 2019; 93:14-19. [PMID: 30682677 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This qualitative study identifies and describes experiences and challenges to retention of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who participated in a low-threshold combined buprenorphine-peer support treatment program in Baltimore. METHODS In-depth semi-structured interviews with staff and former clients of the Project Connections Buprenorphine Program (PCBP) (9 people) and focus group discussions with current and previous clients of PCBP (7 people) were conducted. Content analysis was used to extract themes regarding barriers to enrolling and remaining in, and transitioning from the program. RESULTS Primary challenges identified by the participants included struggles with cravings and symptoms of withdrawal, comorbid mental health issues, criminal justice system involvement, medication stigma, and conflicts over level of flexibility regarding program requirements and the role of employment. CONCLUSIONS This study identified several obstacles clients face when seeking care through a combined buprenorphine-peer support model. Findings highlight potential programmatic factors that can be improved and additional resources that may support treatment retention rates and better outcomes. Despite challenges, low-threshold and community-based programs can increase access to effective maintenance treatment for OUD, especially among vulnerable populations who may not have access to formal health services.
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Feder KA, Krawczyk N, Mojtabai R, Crum RM, Kirk G, Mehta SH. Health insurance coverage is associated with access to substance use treatment among individuals with injection drug use: Evidence from a 12-year prospective study. J Subst Abuse Treat 2018; 96:75-81. [PMID: 30466552 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understand how insurance impacts access to services among people who have injected drugs. METHODS 1748 adults who have injected drugs were assessed at twice-annual study visits between 2006 and 2017 (18,869 visits). Use of specialty substance use treatment, receipt of buprenorphine, and having a regular source of medical care were assessed for association with concurrent insurance coverage. Random intercept logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS When participants acquired insurance, they were more likely to report specialty substance use treatment (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.5), a buprenorphine prescription (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.0 to 5.5), and a regular source of medical care (aOR 6.3, 95% CI 5.1 to 7.8). CONCLUSION Insurance is associated with increased use of three important services for individuals who inject drugs. IMPLICATIONS Expanding insurance may facilitate access to substance use treatment and other needed health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Feder
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House 782, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America.
| | - Noa Krawczyk
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America
| | - Ramin Mojtabai
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America
| | - Rosa M Crum
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America
| | - Gregory Kirk
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America
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Jones MR, Viswanath O, Peck J, Kaye AD, Gill JS, Simopoulos TT. A Brief History of the Opioid Epidemic and Strategies for Pain Medicine. Pain Ther 2018; 7:13-21. [PMID: 29691801 PMCID: PMC5993682 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-018-0097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has resulted from myriad causes and will not be solved by any simple solution. Consequent to a staggering increase in opioid-related deaths in the USA, various governmental inputs and stakeholder strategies have been proposed and implemented with varying success. This article summarizes the history of opioid use and explores the causes for the present day epidemic. Recent trends in opioid-related data demonstrate an almost fourfold increase in overdose deaths from 1999 to 2008. Tragically, opioids claimed over 64,000 lives just last year. Some solutions have undergone legislation, including the limitation of numbers of opioids postsurgery, as well as growing national prevalence of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols which focus on reduced postoperative opioid consumption and shortened hospital stays. Stricter prescribing practices and prescription monitoring programs have been instituted in the recent past. Improvement in abuse deterrent strategies which is a major focus of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all opioid preparations will likely play an important role by increasing the safety of these medications. Future potential strategies such as additional legislative policies, public awareness, and physician education are also detailed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Jones
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Omar Viswanath
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacquelin Peck
- Johns Hopkins Medical Center, All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Alan D Kaye
- Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jatinder S Gill
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas T Simopoulos
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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