Article
Substance Abuse
Jermaine D. Jones, Aimee N. Campbell, Laura Brandt, Verena E. Metz, Suky Martinez, Melanie Wall, Thomas Corbeil, Howard Andrews, Felipe Castillo, Joanne Neale, John Strang, Stephen Ross, Sandra D. Comer
Summary: Overdose education and naloxone distribution training can increase knowledge and competency in opioid overdose intervention. Different intensities of training did not significantly affect the success rate of naloxone utilization. More comprehensive training resulted in higher naloxone utilization within the first 3 months.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Jermaine D. Jones, Aimee N. Campbell, Laura Brandt, Verena E. Metz, Suky Martinez, Melanie Wall, Thomas Corbeil, Howard Andrews, Felipe Castillo, Joanne Neale, John Strang, Stephen Ross, Sandra D. Comer
Summary: This study found that all intensities of overdose education and naloxone distribution training can increase knowledge and competency among people who use opioids, with no significant difference in naloxone utilization rates, but more extensive training resulted in increased naloxone utilization in the first three months.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Kristin E. Schneider, Saba Rouhani, Noelle P. Weicker, Miles Morris, Susan G. Sherman
Summary: The study investigated the potential of businesses as sources of naloxone to prevent fatal overdoses. The results showed that although participants frequently encountered drug use and overdoses, their ability to intervene was limited. Efforts to train employees and keep naloxone on site are needed to enhance existing distribution efforts.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Brian C. Kelly, Mike Vuolo
Summary: The study found that the implementation of naloxone access laws did not adversely affect perceptions of heroin risk among the broader US population or vulnerable subgroups and diverse populations.
Article
Substance Abuse
Rebecca McDonald, Sibella Breidahl, Katri Abel-Ollo, Shabana Akhtar, Thomas Clausen, Ed Day, Mike Kelleher, Andrew McAuley, Helle Petersen, Martin Sefranek, Henrik Thiesen, John Strang
Summary: This study investigated the acceptability of different naloxone devices among target populations in addiction treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services in 5 European countries. The findings showed that most respondents considered the concentrated nasal naloxone spray the easiest device to use, but the overall carriage rate of naloxone kits was low.
EUROPEAN ADDICTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katja Troberg, Pernilla Isendahl, Marianne Alanko Blome, Disa Dahlman, Anders Hakansson
Summary: This study investigates participant characteristics and factors associated with naloxone refill and overdose reversal. The findings show that participants trained at needle exchange programs, with previous overdose experiences, or who had used sedatives were more likely to report overdose reversals. Most overdoses occurred in private settings, with the victim being a friend or acquaintance of the rescuer.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Rosanna Smart, Bryce Pardo, Corey S. Davis
Summary: The existing literature on naloxone access laws in the United States supports beneficial effects for increased naloxone distribution, but provides inconclusive evidence for reduced fatal opioid overdose. Mixed findings may reflect variation in the laws' design and implementation, confounding effects of concurrent policy adoption, or differential effectiveness in light of changing opioid environments.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xiao Zang, Sam E. Bessey, Maxwell S. Krieger, Benjamin D. Hallowell, Jennifer A. Koziol, Shayla Nolen, Czarina N. Behrends, Sean M. Murphy, Alexander Y. Walley, Benjamin P. Linas, Bruce R. Schackman, Brandon D. L. Marshall
Summary: This study compares various strategies for increasing naloxone distribution in community-based programs in Rhode Island to identify the most effective and efficient strategy in preventing opioid overdose deaths.
Article
Substance Abuse
Rachel French, Jamie Favaro, Shoshana Aronowitz
Summary: Access barriers to naloxone, including COVID quarantine, lack of knowledge, and cost, were identified in the study. The way individuals learned about the program differed based on personal proximity to overdose, with those closer to substance use more likely to find out through an active online search. Understanding these differences can help improve outreach efforts for naloxone programs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Damon Dhillon, Justin Ng, Kristen Sundvick, Farihah Ali, Tara Elton-Marshall, Pamela Leece, Katherine Rittenbach, Max Ferguson, Jane A. Buxton
Summary: Naloxone programs, especially 'take-home naloxone', have emerged as a key intervention in reducing opioid overdose deaths. Existing systematic reviews and best practice guidelines mainly focus on naloxone effectiveness, safety, provision feasibility, dosing and routes of administration, overdose response after naloxone administration, cost-effectiveness, training and education, as well as recommendations for policy, practice, and knowledge gaps.
Article
Substance Abuse
Desiree Eide, Philipp Lobmaier, Thomas Clausen
Summary: This study examined participants of a take-home naloxone (THN) program to understand their refill behavior and identify characteristics associated with higher rates of THN use. The findings suggest that THN programs should prioritize individuals actively using drugs, especially those who have witnessed overdoses before.
HARM REDUCTION JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Lauren A. Bell, Scott E. Hadland
Summary: Despite reductions in self-reported substance use, overdoses and overdose fatalities among adolescents and young adults continue to rise. This review focuses on the factors contributing to this epidemic, the signs of overdose, the importance of the overdose reversal medication naloxone, and recommendations to decrease the risk of unintentional overdose.
CURRENT OPINION IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Juliet M. Flam-Ross, Elizabeth Marsh, Michelle Weitz, Alexandra Savinkina, Bruce R. Schackman, Jianing Wang, R. W. M. A. Madushani, Jake R. Morgan, Joshua A. Barocas, Alexander Y. Walley, Stavroula A. Chrysanthopoulou, Benjamin P. Linas, Sabrina A. Assoumou
Summary: It remains unclear whether extended-release buprenorphine is cost-effective compared with transmucosal buprenorphine, although preliminary research suggests it may be an important addition to treatment options.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Janice Mok, M-J Milloy, Cameron Grant, Stephanie Lake, Kora DeBeck, Kanna Hayashi, M. Eugenia Socias
Summary: Approximately 1 in 4 participants reported using cannabis for harm reduction at least once during the study period. The most frequent reasons included substituting for stimulants (50%) and substituting for illicit opioids (31%). The use of cannabis for harm reduction is a common strategy among people who use drugs in the setting.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Substance Abuse
John Strang
Summary: This article discusses the background, scope, and key messages of take-home naloxone. Take-home naloxone as a harm reduction measure has the potential for global impact, but implementation still faces challenges and requires improvement in naloxone products, training, legislation, and funding support.
EUROPEAN ADDICTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Christopher L. Rowe, Glenn-Milo Santos, Wiley Kornbluh, Sumeet Bhardwaj, Mark Faul, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: ICD-10-CM codes had low sensitivity but high specificity for detecting self-reported substance use. They were more sensitive in detecting frequent use, especially among outpatient visits.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Madhukar H. Trivedi, Robrina Walker, Walter Ling, Adriane dela Cruz, Gaurav Sharma, Thomas Carmody, Udi E. Ghitza, Aimee Wahle, Mora Kim, Kathy Shores-Wilson, Steven Sparenborg, Phillip Coffin, Joy Schmitz, Katharina Wiest, Gavin Bart, Susan C. Sonne, Sidarth Wakhlu, A. John Rush, Edward V. Nunes, Steven Shoptaw
Summary: The study involved a randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of naltrexone plus bupropion in treating methamphetamine use disorder. Results showed a higher response rate among participants who received the treatment compared to those who received placebo, with gastrointestinal disorders being a common adverse event.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ayesha Appa, Meredith Adamo, Stephenie Le, Jennifer Davis, Lisa Winston, Sarah B. Doernberg, Henry Chambers, Marlene Martin, Nancy K. Hills, Phillip O. Coffin, Vivek Jain
Summary: PWUD with invasive S. aureus infections had lower rates of antibiotic completion and twice the risk of infection persistence/recurrence at 1 year compared to non-PWUD. Models for combined treatment of substance use disorders and infections, particularly MRSA, are needed.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Nimah Haq, Vanessa M. McMahan, Andrea Torres, Glenn-Milo Santos, Kelly Knight, Margot Kushel, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: This study evaluated racial disparities in opioid prescribing and stewardship among Black and White patients with chronic non-cancer pain. Findings showed that Black patients had lower past-year maximum opioid doses despite higher average pain and less injection drug use. This disparity may suggest bias in prescribing opioids for chronic pain among Black patients.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Hannah R. Tierney, Christopher L. Rowe, Diana A. Coffa, Shashi Sarnaik, Phillip O. Coffin, Hannah R. Snyder
Summary: The study examined clinical and demographic associations with inpatient medication for opioid use disorder initiation on general medicine services, as well as the impact of inpatient MOUD initiation by generalists on subsequent patient healthcare utilization. Results showed that inpatient generalists prescribing MOUD may help increase the number of patients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder after hospital discharge. Additional research is needed to further understand the effects of inpatient MOUD treatment without addiction specialty consultation.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Tasce Bongiovanni, Sophia Hernandez, Yeranui Ledesma, Rebecca Menza, Elizabeth Wick, Michael Steinman, Robert Mackersie, Deborah M. Stein, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: The study found that the risk of overdose death in trauma patients is associated with younger age, male sex, white race, and having undergone a urine drug screening. Overdose decedents were predominantly male, white, with a mean age of 48, and 40% of deaths were attributed to prescription opioids.
Article
Substance Abuse
Cathleen M. Beliveau, Vanessa M. McMahan, Justine Arenander, Martin S. Angst, Margot Kushel, Andrea Torres, Glenn-Milo Santos, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: The study found that over half of the patients used stimulants in the past year to treat pain, with women and those with more severe neuropathic pain symptoms being more likely to use stimulants. This suggests that stimulants may be used for pain self-management, especially in an era of reduced access to prescribed opioids.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Ayesha Appa, Luke N. Rodda, Caroline Cawley, Barry Zevin, Phillip O. Coffin, Monica Gandhi, Elizabeth Imbert
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ayesha Appa, Meredith Adamo, Stephenie Le, Jennifer Davis, Lisa Winston, Sarah B. Doernberg, Henry Chambers, Marlene Martin, Nancy K. Hills, Phillip Coffin, Vivek Jain
Summary: Among persons who use drugs hospitalized with invasive S. aureus infection, the odds of hospital readmission for infection were almost 4-fold higher following patient-directed discharge compared with standard discharge. All-cause 1-year mortality was similarly high in both groups, with drug overdose being a common cause of death in the patient-directed discharge group.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Glenn-Milo Santos, Janet Ikeda, Phillip Coffin, John E. Walker, Tim Matheson, Matthew McLaughlin, Jennifer Jain, Eric Vittinghoff, Steven L. Batki
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of conducting a pharmacologic trial for MSM with CUD who are actively using cocaine. Results showed a high completion rate, but adherence to medication was moderate.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Christopher L. Rowe, Jennifer Ahern, Alan Hubbard, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: NP/PA waivers were associated with increased buprenorphine prescribing in nonmetropolitan counties, while MD/DO-275 waivers were associated with increased buprenorphine prescribing in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties.
JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Janelle Silvis, Christopher L. Rowe, Sarah Dobbins, Nimah Haq, Eric Vittinghoff, Vanessa M. McMahan, Ayesha Appa, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: A study found that discontinuation of prescribed opioids may lead to disengagement from HIV care among patients, but is not associated with virologic failure. Providers and policy makers should consider the impact on HIV care when making changes in opioid prescribing.
Article
Substance Abuse
Matthew F. McLaughlin, Jennifer P. Jain, Janet Ikeda, John E. Walker, Phillip Coffin, Glenn-Milo Santos
Summary: Heavy alcohol use, including binge drinking, is prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM), and self-reported measures may not accurately reflect the actual consumption. Objective alcohol biomarkers like phosphatidylethanol (PEth) can help to confirm and identify subpopulations that may benefit from targeted alcohol reduction interventions among MSM.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Phillip O. Coffin, Vanessa M. McMahan, Ciaran Murphy
Summary: The rapid increase in fentanyl overdose deaths has raised concerns about unintentional fentanyl exposure. Analysis of data suggests that a significant proportion of fentanyl overdose decedents in San Francisco may not have intended to consume an opioid at the time of their death.
JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Vanessa M. McMahan, Justine Arenander, Tim Matheson, Audrey M. Lambert, Sarah Brennan, Traci C. Green, Alexander Y. Walley, Phillip O. Coffin
Summary: This paper describes an approach to adapt a behavioral intervention, REBOOT, for opioid overdose prevention in the context of fentanyl. Through theater testing and focus groups, the intervention was refined based on participant feedback and expert review. The adapted intervention showed improvements in addressing fentanyl overdose risk.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2022)