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Azar P, Westenberg JN, Ignaszewski MJ, Wong JSH, Isac G, Mathew N, Krausz RM. Case report: acute care management of severe opioid withdrawal with IV fentanyl. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2022; 17:22. [PMID: 35382882 PMCID: PMC8980769 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-022-00305-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing number of individuals who use drugs in North America are preferentially consuming fentanyl over other opioids. This has significant consequences on the treatment and management of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its concurrent disorders, especially in acute care if opioid requirements are not met. CASE PRESENTATION We present a patient with severe OUD and daily injection of fentanyl, admitted to hospital for management of acute physical health issues. Due to high opioid requirements and history of patient-initiated discharge, intravenous fentanyl was administered for treatment of opioid withdrawal, and management of pain, which supported continued hospitalization for acute care treatment and aligned with substance use treatment goals. CONCLUSION This case demonstrates that intravenous fentanyl for management of OUD in hospital can be a feasible approach to meet opioid requirements and avoid fentanyl withdrawal among patients with severe OUD and daily fentanyl use, thereby promoting adherence to medical treatment and reducing the risk of patient-initiated discharge. There is an urgent need to tailor current treatment strategies for individuals who primarily use fentanyl. Carefully designed research is needed to further explore the use of IV fentanyl for acute care management of severe opioid withdrawal in a hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouya Azar
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, DHCC, Floor 8-2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Jean N Westenberg
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, DHCC, Floor 8-2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martha J Ignaszewski
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, DHCC, Floor 8-2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James S H Wong
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, DHCC, Floor 8-2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - George Isac
- Division of Critical Care Medicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nickie Mathew
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, DHCC, Floor 8-2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R Michael Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Krausz RM, Westenberg JN, Mathew N, Budd G, Wong JSH, Tsang VWL, Vogel M, King C, Seethapathy V, Jang K, Choi F. Shifting North American drug markets and challenges for the system of care. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:86. [PMID: 34930389 PMCID: PMC8685808 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug markets are dynamic systems which change based on demand, competition, legislation and revenue. Shifts that are not met with immediate and appropriate responses from the healthcare system can lead to public health crises with tragic levels of morbidity and mortality, as experienced Europe in the early 1990s and as is the case in North America currently. The major feature of the current drug market shift in North America is towards highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. An additional spike in stimulant use further complicates this issue. Without understanding the ever-changing dynamics of drug markets and consequent patterns of drug use, the healthcare system will continue to be ineffective in its response, and morbidity and mortality will continue to increase. Economic perspectives are largely neglected in research and clinical contexts, but better treatment alternatives need to consider the large-scale macroeconomic conditions of drug markets as well as the behavioural economics of individual substance use. It is important for policy makers, health authorities, first responders and medical providers to be aware of the clinical implications of drug market changes in order to best serve people who use drugs. Only with significant clinical research, a comprehensive reorganization of the system of care across all sectors, and an evidence-driven governance, will we be successful in addressing the challenges brought on by the recent shifts in drug markets.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Michael Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean N Westenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Research Group, Institute of Mental Health, UBC, David Strangway Building, 5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Nickie Mathew
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - George Budd
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James S H Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Vivian W L Tsang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marc Vogel
- University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Substance Use Disorders, Psychiatric Services of Thurgovia, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - Conor King
- Victoria Police Department, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Vijay Seethapathy
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kerry Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Fiona Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Pardo B, Taylor J, Caulkins J, Reuter P, Kilmer B. New synthetic drugs require new policies. Addiction 2021; 116:1317-1318. [PMID: 33611810 DOI: 10.1111/add.15442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jon Caulkins
- Stever University Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Peter Reuter
- School of Public Policy and Department of Criminology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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