1
|
Brummer J, Thylstrup B, Melis F, Hesse M. Predictors of retention in heroin-assisted treatment in Denmark 2010-2018 - A record-linkage study. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2024:209449. [PMID: 38960145 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While randomized-controlled trials have shown that heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is superior to methadone maintenance alone in treatment of refractory clients, little is known about client factors associated with retention in HAT in routine care. METHODS This retrospective cohort study assessed predictors of retention in first treatment episode among a consecutive cohort of clients admitted to HAT in Denmark from 2010 to 2018, who could be matched to the Danish population register and for whom a Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was available at admission (N = 432). The study derived predictors from client self-reports at intake and administrative data available in national registers. Cox proportional hazards regression modelled retention in treatment. RESULTS The one-year retention rate was 69.63 % (95 % CI 65.06 %-73.74 %), and the median time in treatment was 2.45 years (95 % CI, 1.83-3.12). Bivariate analyses showed that retention was lower for clients who had recent cocaine or benzodiazepine use and among those who had experienced an overdose in the year prior to enrollment in HAT. Age below 40, recent illegal activity, poorer emotional wellbeing, previous residential treatment experience, and previous intensive outpatient treatment were also predictors of dropout from HAT. CONCLUSIONS This observational study found that retention in HAT in routine care was similar to rates observed in randomized-controlled trials conducted in other countries. The results suggest that addressing polysubstance use as part of the HAT program may promote long-term retention, as may directing resources to certain subgroups identified at intake, including clients under 40 years and those who report recent criminal activity, emotional problems, or overdoses. The findings that previous residential treatment and intensive outpatient treatment were associated with dropout were unexpected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Brummer
- Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Emdrup Campus, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Tuborgvej 164, Building A, 2(nd) Floor, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
| | - Birgitte Thylstrup
- Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Emdrup Campus, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Tuborgvej 164, Building A, 2(nd) Floor, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
| | - Francesca Melis
- Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Morten Hesse
- Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Emdrup Campus, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Tuborgvej 164, Building A, 2(nd) Floor, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stephenson L, Van Den Heuvel C, Humphries M, Byard RW. Prescribed and Diverted Methadone Toxicity in South Australia: An Update. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2024; 45:124-129. [PMID: 38064311 DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000897] [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: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Methadone is one of the most common medications currently prescribed for the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUDs). While methadone maintenance programs (MMPs) have been highly successful in the management and treatment of OUDs resulting in a reduced number of fatalities, the risk of overdose/toxicity remains. The current study was undertaken to analyze trends in overdoses attributed to prescribed and diverted methadone in South Australia (SA) between 2000 and 2019. Over the 20-year period, 344 methadone-related deaths occurred in SA with a significant increase in deaths over the study period ( P = 0.03). The mean age of decedents was 42.5 years with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1, with approximately 20% of decedents enrolled in a MMP at the time of death. Overall, only 5.2% of cases demonstrated methadone diversion, which was associated with methadone prescribed for chronic pain and was most likely to be diverted from a friend/housemate or a partner. However, the source of methadone in more than half of cases was unknown, so this is likely a significant underestimate of actual MMP methadone diversion and total methadone diversion.
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen YH, Xenitidis A, Hoffmann P, Matthews L, Padmanabhan SG, Aravindan L, Ressler R, Sivam I, Sivam S, Gillispie CF, Sadhasivam S. Opioid use disorder in pediatric populations: considerations for perioperative pain management and precision opioid analgesia. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2024; 17:455-465. [PMID: 38626303 PMCID: PMC11116045 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2024.2343915] [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: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Opioids are commonly used for perioperative analgesia, yet children still suffer high rates of severe post-surgical pain and opioid-related adverse effects. Persistent and severe acute surgical pain greatly increases the child's chances of chronic surgical pain, long-term opioid use, and opioid use disorder. AREAS COVERED Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are often inadequate in treating a child's severe surgical pain. Research suggests that 'older' and longer-acting opioids such as methadone are providing better methods to treat acute post-surgical pain. Studies indicate that lower repetitive methadone doses can decrease the incidence of chronic persistent surgical pain (CPSP). Ongoing research explores genetic components influencing severe surgical pain, inadequate opioid analgesia, and opioid use disorder. This new genetic research coupled with better utilization of opioids in the perioperative setting provides hope in personalizing surgical pain management, reducing pain, opioid use, adverse effects, and helping the fight against the opioid pandemic. EXPERT OPINION The opioid and analgesic pharmacogenomics approach can proactively 'tailor' a perioperative analgesic plan to each patient based on underlying polygenic risks. This transition from population-based knowledge of pain medicine to individual patient knowledge can transform acute pain medicine and greatly reduce the opioid epidemic's socioeconomic, personal, and psychological strains globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Han Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Paul Hoffmann
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leslie Matthews
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Ruth Ressler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, USA
| | - Inesh Sivam
- North Allegheny High School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sahana Sivam
- North Allegheny High School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chase F. Gillispie
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia 25701
| | - Senthilkumar Sadhasivam
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Amundsen EJ, Odsbu I, Skurtveit SO, Gjersing L. Patterns of filled prescriptions and the association with risk of drug-induced death. A population-based nested case-control register study. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2024; 33:e5763. [PMID: 38357780 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5763] [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] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Opioid analgesics (OA) and other pharmaceuticals have been associated with drug-induced deaths. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding patterns of use of these pharmaceuticals in the population and regarding such associations. We identify and describe subgroups of people with different patterns of filled prescriptions of OA and other relevant pharmaceuticals and examine associations with drug-induced deaths. In addition, we estimate the proportion of drug-induced deaths with a filled OA prescription and OA as cause of death. METHODS A Norwegian population-based nested case-control register study with cases (drug-induced deaths 2010-2018, N = 2388) and population controls matched for age, gender and year of inclusion (N = 21 465). Patterns of filled prescriptions for opioid analgesics (OA), benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related drugs, gabapentinoids, ADHD medication and antidepressants/antipsychotics were explored by k-means cluster analysis. Associations with drug-induced deaths were estimated by conditional logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Overlap of filled OA prescriptions and OA as cause of death was estimated. RESULTS Five clusters were identified: 'few prescriptions', 'weak OA', 'ADHD medication', 'sedative/psychiatric morbidity' and 'strong OA'. The 'strong OA' cluster had higher socioeconomic status compared to the other groupings. The risk of drug-induced death was also highest in this cluster (OR = 35.5; CI 25.6-49.3) and, for 68% (CI 64-73) of cases, filled prescriptions for OA was indicated as the underlying cause of death. CONCLUSIONS The cluster analysis identified a subgroup with filled prescriptions of OA and other pharmaceuticals and a higher socioeconomic status than other subgroups. This subgroup had a high risk of drug-induced death that needs to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen J Amundsen
- Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingvild Odsbu
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Svetlana O Skurtveit
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linn Gjersing
- Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Håkansson A, Janfada-Baloo S, Berge J. No obvious effect on mortality from a patient choice reform expanding access to opioid disorder treatment - results from a natural experiment of policy change in Sweden. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2023; 18:64. [PMID: 37932776 PMCID: PMC10629127 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-023-00577-4] [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: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid-related overdose deaths remain a common cause of death in many settings, and opioid maintenance treatment is evidence-based for the treatment of opioid use disorders. However, access to such treatment varies and is limited in many settings. METHODS The present study examines the longitudinal effects of a regional patient choice reform which substantially increased availability to opioid maintenance treatment in one Swedish county, starting from 2014. A previous follow-up, limited in time, indicated a possible effect on mortality from this intervention, demonstrating a lower increase in overdose deaths than in counties without this reform. The present study follows overdose deaths through 2021, and compares the intervention county to the remaining parts in the country, using death certificate statistics from the national causes of death register. RESULTS The present study does not demonstrate any significant difference in the development of overdose mortality in the county where this reform substantially expanded treatment access, compared to other counties in the country. CONCLUSIONS The study underlines the importance to maintain extensive efforts against overdose deaths over and above the treatment of opioid use disorders, such as low-threshold provision of opioid antidotes or other interventions specifically addressing overdose risk behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Håkansson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Psychiatry, Lund, Sweden.
- Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center/Competence Center Addiction, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Sahar Janfada-Baloo
- Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center/Competence Center Addiction, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Jonas Berge
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Psychiatry, Lund, Sweden
- Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center/Competence Center Addiction, Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Perino J, Demourgues M, Ramaroson H, Bezin J, Micallef J, Miremont-Salamé G, Frauger E, Gilleron V, Ong N, Daveluy A. Increase in hospitalisation-associated methadone intoxication in France following first COVID-19 lockdown. Public Health 2023; 223:1-6. [PMID: 37572562 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.07.004] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the French Addictovigilance Network drew attention to the need to facilitate access to methadone while ensuring its safe use, in order to avoid the occurrence of overdoses and deaths. The objectives of the study were to assess the impact of the lockdowns on the incidence of methadone-use-related hospitalisations (MUHs) and describe the characteristics of patients and hospitalisations. STUDY DESIGN An interrupted time series using the unobserved components model was performed to predict the monthly incidence of MUHs in 2020 on the basis of previous years' data and compared with MUHs observed. Data were presented with prediction intervals (PI95%). METHODS This retrospective study was conducted on patients hospitalised in France for methadone between 2014 and 2020, using the French national database hospital discharge database. Patients' characteristics and hospitalisations were described over four periods: before lockdown, first lockdown, after first lockdown, and second lockdown. RESULTS Compared to the predictions, a higher incidence of MUH was found during the first lockdown, especially in March 2020 (66 cases vs. 51.3; PI95%: 34-65), and there was a large increase during the month following the end of the first lockdown (79 cases vs. 61; PI95%: 46-75). Coconsumptions (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine) were more frequent during the first lockdown, whereas patients aged over 30 years were more concerned thereafter. The second lockdown did not present any particularity. CONCLUSIONS The first lockdown had a significant impact on the incidence of MUHs. These results confirm the data from the reinforced national monitoring during first lockdown published in 2020, where methadone was the primary substance involved in overdoses and deaths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Perino
- Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, CHU de Bordeauxx, Centre de Pharmacovigilance de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; University Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - M Demourgues
- Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, CHU de Bordeauxx, Centre de Pharmacovigilance de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - H Ramaroson
- Service d'Information Médicale, Unité de Coordination et d'Analyse de l'Information Médicale-département d'Information Médicale (UCAIM-DIM), CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - J Bezin
- University Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - J Micallef
- Centre d'Addictovigilance, Aix Marseille University, AP-HM, INSERM, Institute Neuroscience System, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, Marseille, France
| | - G Miremont-Salamé
- Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, CHU de Bordeauxx, Centre de Pharmacovigilance de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; University Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, Centre d'Addictovigilance, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - E Frauger
- Centre d'Addictovigilance, Aix Marseille University, AP-HM, INSERM, Institute Neuroscience System, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, Marseille, France
| | - V Gilleron
- Service d'Information Médicale, Unité de Coordination et d'Analyse de l'Information Médicale-département d'Information Médicale (UCAIM-DIM), CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - N Ong
- Service d'Information Médicale, Unité de Coordination et d'Analyse de l'Information Médicale-département d'Information Médicale (UCAIM-DIM), CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - A Daveluy
- Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, CHU de Bordeauxx, Centre de Pharmacovigilance de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; University Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, Centre d'Addictovigilance, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fugelstad A. What lessons from Sweden's experience could be applied in the United States in response to the addiction and overdose crisis? Addiction 2022; 117:1189-1191. [PMID: 35373488 PMCID: PMC9325407 DOI: 10.1111/add.15847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fugelstad
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fugelstad A, Ågren G, Ramstedt M, Thiblin I, Hjelmström P. Oxycodone-related deaths in Sweden 2006-2018. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 234:109402. [PMID: 35306392 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM To identify and characterize oxycodone related deaths in Sweden from 2006 to 2018 and to compare them to other opioid-related deaths. METHODS To assess the factors contributing to the deaths, we used multinomial logistic regression to compare oxycodone-related deaths extracted from all forensic autopsy examinations and toxicology cases in the age groups 15-34 (reference group), 35-54 and 55-74 with regard to sex, presence of benzodiazepines and alcohol at the time of death, prescription of oxycodone, benzodiazepines and antidepressants, previous substance use-related (SUD) treatment, and manner of death. The oxycodone related deaths were compared with deaths with presence of other opioids. RESULT We identified 575 oxycodone-related deaths, and the rate increased during the study period from 0.10 to 1.12 per 100,000 in parallel with an increase of oxycodone prescriptions from 3.17 to 30.33 per 1000. Oxycodone-related deaths amounted to 10.0% of all opioid-related deaths. The deaths occurred mainly in older patients previously being prescribed oxycodone. Benzodiazepines were present at the time of death in 403 (70%) and alcohol in 259 (45%). Prescriptions of any opioid for pain (61%), oxycodone (50%), benzodiazepines (67%) and antidepressants (55%) were common. Only 15% had received treatment for SUD during the last year. CONCLUSION Oxycodone-related deaths increased in Sweden between 2006 and 2018 in parallel to an increase in oxycodone prescriptions. The increase occurred mainly in older patients being prescribed oxycodone for pain. There might be specific interventions needed to avoid oxycodone-related deaths compared to other opioid-related deaths associated with illicit opioid use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fugelstad
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gunnar Ågren
- Former National Institute of Public Health, SE-11662 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Ramstedt
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN), SE-11664 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingmar Thiblin
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section for Forensic Medicine, Uppsala University, SE-75140 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang B, Gu X, Gao S, Xu D. Classification accuracy and functional difference prediction in different brain regions of drug abuser prefrontal lobe basing on machine-learning. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2021; 18:5692-5706. [PMID: 34517508 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2021288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Taking different types of addictive drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin, and mixed drugs causes brain functional Changes. Based on the prefrontal functional near-infrared spectroscopy, this study was designed with an experimental paradigm that included the induction of resting and drug addiction cravings. Hemoglobin concentrations of 30 drug users (10 on methamphetamine, 10 on heroin, and 10 on mixed type) were collected. For these three types of individuals, the convolutional neural networks (CNN) was designed to classify eight Brodmann areas and the entire prefrontal area, and the average accuracy of the three classifications on each functional area was obtained. As a result, the classification accuracy was lower on the left side than on the right in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the drug users, while it was higher on the left than on the right in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), frontopolar prefrontal cortex (FPC), and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Then the differences in eight functional areas between the three types of individuals were statistically analyzed, and results showed significant differences in the right VLPFC and right OFC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Banghua Yang
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xuelin Gu
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shouwei Gao
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Ding Xu
- Shanghai Drug Rehabilitation Administration Bureau, Shanghai 200080, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Giorgetti A, Pascali J, Montisci M, Amico I, Bonvicini B, Fais P, Viero A, Giorgetti R, Cecchetto G, Viel G. The Role of Risk or Contributory Death Factors in Methadone-Related Fatalities: A Review and Pooled Analysis. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11030189. [PMID: 33810163 PMCID: PMC8004630 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11030189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methadone-related deaths are characterized by a wide range of post-mortem blood concentrations, due to the high pharmacokinetic/dynamic inter-individual variability, the potential subjective tolerance state and to other risk factors or comorbidities, which might enhance methadone acute toxicity. In the present study, the association among pre-existing and external conditions and diseases and the resultant methadone death capacity have been investigated. Beside a systematic literature review, a retrospective case-control study was done, dividing cases in which methadone was the only cause of death (controls), and those with associated clinical-circumstantial (naive/non-tolerant state), pathological (pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases) or toxicological (other drugs detected) conditions. Methadone concentrations were compared between the two groups and the association with conditions/diseases was assessed by multiple linear and binomial logistic regressions. Literature cases were 139, in house 35, consisting of 22 controls and 152 cases with associated conditions/diseases. Mean methadone concentrations were 2122 ng/mL and 715 ng/mL in controls and cases respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Lower methadone concentrations (by 24, 19 and 33% respectively) were detected in association with naive/non-tolerant state, pulmonary diseases and presence of other drugs, and low levels of methadone (<600 ng/mL) might lead to death in the presence of the above conditions/diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Giorgetti
- DIMEC, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.G.); (P.F.)
| | - Jennifer Pascali
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Massimo Montisci
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Irene Amico
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Barbara Bonvicini
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Paolo Fais
- DIMEC, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.G.); (P.F.)
| | - Alessia Viero
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, via Conca 71, 60126 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Guido Viel
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (J.P.); (M.M.); (I.A.); (B.B.); (A.V.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Andersson L, Håkansson A, Berge J, Johnson B. Changes in opioid-related deaths following increased access to opioid substitution treatment. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2021; 16:15. [PMID: 33568184 PMCID: PMC7876792 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-021-00351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid-related mortality is high and increasing in the Western world, and interventions aimed at reducing opioid-related deaths represent an important area of study. In Skåne County, Sweden, a patient choice reform resulted in increased access to opioid substitution treatment (OST). In addition, a gradual shift towards less restrictive terms for exclusion from OST has been implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these policy changes on opioid-related deaths. METHODS Detailed data on opioid-related deaths in Skåne during the 2 years prior to and following the policy change were obtained from forensic records and from health care services. Data on overdose deaths for Skåne and the rest of Sweden were obtained using publicly available national register data. Time periods were used as the predictor for opioid-related deaths in the forensic data. The national level data were used in a natural experiment design in which rates of overdose deaths were compared between Skåne and the rest of Sweden before and after the intervention. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the number of deaths in Skåne between the data collection periods (RR: 1.18 95% CI:0.89-1.57, p= 0.251). The proportion of deaths among patients enrolled in OST increased between the two periods (2.61, 1.12-6.10, p= 0.026). There was no change in deaths related to methadone or buprenorphine in relation to deaths due to the other opioids included in the study (0.92, 0.51-1.63, p= 0.764). An analysis of national mortality data showed an annual relative decrease in unintentional drug deaths in Skåne compared to the rest of Sweden following the onset of the reform (0.90, 0.84-0,97, p= 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Opioid-related deaths, as assessed using forensic data, has not changed significantly in Skåne following a change to lower-threshold OST. By contrast, national level data indicate that the policy change has been associated with decreased overdose deaths. The discrepancy between these results highlights the need for more research to elucidate this issue. The result that more patients die during ongoing OST following an increase in access to treatment underlines the need for further preventive interventions within the OST treatment setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Andersson
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas Berge
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Malmö Addiction Centre, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Björn Johnson
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|