Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tara Gomes, Tonya J. Campbell, Sophie A. Kitchen, Ria Garg, Nikki Bozinoff, Siyu Men, Mina Tadrous, Charlotte Munro, Tony Antoniou, Dan Werb, Jennifer Wyman
Summary: A retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic found that providing increased take-home doses of opioid agonist therapy was associated with lower risks of treatment interruption and discontinuation. The study did not show a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses over 6 months of follow-up.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michael Soyka
Summary: Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used medications in opioid maintenance treatment, with no established algorithm for transitioning between them. Transfer is recommended for patients on low doses of methadone, but there are reports suggesting transition from higher doses may be possible. Various dosing strategies have been proposed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and facilitate transfer.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Ryu Komatsu, Michael Nash, Katherin A. Peperzak, Taylor M. Ziga, Emily M. Dinges, Carlos Delgado, Jiang Wu, Gregory W. Terman, Rebecca C. Dale
Summary: This study found that preoperative use of buprenorphine was associated with lower postoperative opioid dose requirements and a reduction in acute pain burden compared to methadone. However, there were limitations in this study, including exclusion of some patients and sample size issues.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Zeynab Hemmati, Aldo Alberto Conti, Alex Baldacchino
Summary: Opioid use disorder is a global issue, and its effects on women of childbearing age and pregnant women are of increasing concern. This systematic review and meta-analysis found no causal relationship between in utero opioid exposure and future eye abnormalities, but highlighted the need for further research in this area.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Chrianna Bharat, Sarah Larney, Sebastiano Barbieri, Timothy Dobbins, Nicola R. Jones, Matthew Hickman, Natasa Gisev, Robert Ali, Louisa Degenhardt
Summary: The study found that retention in buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence in New South Wales, Australia has improved over time since its introduction in 2001. Treatment retention is not only influenced by characteristics of the person and their treatment, but also by prescriber characteristics, with longer prescribing tenure associated with increased retention of people in opioid agonist treatment.
Article
Substance Abuse
Milja Heikkinen, Heidi Taipale, Antti Tanskanen, Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz, Markku Lahteenvuo, Jari Tiihonen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of buprenorphine and methadone in treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in real-world settings. The results showed that both buprenorphine and methadone were associated with a significantly lower risk of OUD-related hospitalization and death due to various causes, compared to non-use of these medications.
Review
Substance Abuse
Nicholas Lintzeris, Baher Mankabady, Carlos Rojas-Fernandez, Halle Amick
Summary: This article reviewed the transfer strategies from methadone to sublingual buprenorphine used in clinical trials and observational studies. The results showed that there is a wide variety of transfer protocols, but most studies reported successful rates of transfer and infrequent occurrence of precipitated withdrawal.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Shannon Menard, Archana Jhawar
Summary: This case series reviews the use of transdermal buprenorphine to transition patients from methadone and illicit opioids to sublingual buprenorphine in an outpatient setting. 71.4% of the patients successfully completed the transition with no or mild withdrawal symptoms.
Article
Psychiatry
Laura Brandt, Mei-Chen Hu, Ying Liu, Felipe Castillo, Gabriel J. Odom, Raymond R. Balise, Daniel J. Feaster, Edward V. Nunes, Sean X. Luo
Summary: The risk of overdose during treatment with medication for opioid use disorder is higher among patients who fail to initiate or discontinue medication and those who report benzodiazepine use at baseline.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Parisa Mortaji, Dale Terasaki, Jaime Moo-Young
Summary: Opioid use disorder has impacted many lives in the US, with medications like buprenorphine shown to decrease mortality in patients. This case study of a 32-year-old woman undergoing multiple surgeries highlights the use of buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, and a novel microdosing approach. The report aims to provide hospital-based providers with insights on managing peri-operative patients on medications for opioid use disorder.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
D. Aldabergenov, L. Reynolds, J. Scott, M. J. Kelleher, J. Strang, C. S. Copeland, N. J. Kalk
Summary: During the COVID-19 lockdown in England, there was a significant increase in methadone-related deaths among non-prescribed individuals, while there was no change in deaths among prescribed individuals. Further research is needed to understand this difference.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Anne Berit Bech, Thomas Clausen, Helge Waal, Gerd Jorunn Moller Delaveris, Ivar Skeie
Summary: The study aimed to document organ pathologies in post-mortem patients receiving opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and estimate the association between individual characteristics and pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal pathologies. Among autopsied Norwegians who died during opioid agonist treatment, two-thirds had more than two organ system diseases, with chronic liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary emphysema being the most common pathologies. Older age was independently associated with cardiovascular and renal pathology after adjusting for sex and body mass index.
Article
Substance Abuse
M. Eugenia Socias, Evan Wood, Bernard Le Foll, Ron Lim, Jin Cheol Choi, Wing Yin Mok, Julie Bruneau, Juergen Rehm, T. Cameron Wild, Nikki Bozinoff, Ahmed Hassan, Didier Jutras-Aswad
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of baseline fentanyl exposure on medication treatment engagement and discontinuation among individuals with prescription-type opioid use disorder. The results showed that both buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone may be appropriate treatment options regardless of fentanyl exposure. Other characteristics of fentanyl-exposed individuals appear to be driving the association with poorer treatment outcomes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Thomas D. Brothers, Dan Lewer, Nicola Jones, Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Michael Farrell, Matthew Hickman, Duncan Webster, Andrew Hayward, Louisa Degenhardt
Summary: The use of opioid agonist treatment may be associated with reduced risks of death and rehospitalization among individuals with injecting-related infections.
Article
Substance Abuse
Ole Rogeberg, Daniel Bergsvik, Thomas Clausen
Summary: The introduction and rapid scale-up of a national opioid agonist treatment program in Norway was associated with significant and likely causal reductions in drug fatalities, particularly in opioid-related overdoses.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jack Stone, Aaron G. Lim, Gregory J. Dore, Annick Borquez, Louise Geddes, Richard Gray, Jason Grebely, Bezhad Hajarizadeh, Jenny Iversen, Lisa Maher, Heather Valerio, Natasha K. Martin, Matthew Hickman, Andrew R. Lloyd, Peter Vickerman
Summary: This study assessed the importance of prison-based interventions for achieving hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets among people who inject drugs (PWID) in New South Wales, Australia. The results showed that incarceration significantly contributes to HCV transmission, and prison-based interventions are critical for reducing HCV incidence among PWID.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victoria Rice Carlisle, Olivia M. Maynard, Darren Bagnall, Matthew Hickman, Jon Shorrock, Kyla Thomas, Joanna Kesten
Summary: The UK government's emphasis on recovery may be leading to high attrition rates in opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Through interviews with OAT users and service providers, the study identified three key themes affecting treatment journeys: a broken system, power struggles, and filling the void. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing treatment retention, addressing stigma, and developing targeted interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Nicola Jones, Louisa Degenhardt, Matthew Hickman, Prianka Padmanathan, Thomas Santo Jr, Michael Farrell, Natasa Gisev
Summary: This study examined the incidence of self-harm and suicide among people receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT), and the impact of different periods of OAT exposure. The study found that the rates of self-harm and suicide were elevated during the initiation and cessation of OAT.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
James White, Laurence Moore, Rebecca Cannings-John, Jemma Hawkins, Chris Bonell, Matthew Hickman, Stanley Zammit, Linda Adara
Summary: Adolescence is a crucial period for exploring gender identity, and gender minority individuals are vulnerable to mental health problems due to stigmatization. A study found that gender minority students had significantly higher odds of experiencing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and auditory hallucinations compared to cisgender students. Therefore, appropriate support and services should be provided to address the mental health needs of gender minority high-school students.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrew McAuley, Rosalyn Fraser, Megan Glancy, Alan Yeung, Hayley E. Jones, Peter Vickerman, Hannah Fraser, Lara Allen, Scott A. McDonald, Jack Stone, Dave Liddell, Lee Barnsdale, Saket Priyadarshi, Andreas Markoulidakis, Matthew Hickman, Sharon J. Hutchinson
Summary: This study examines the association between opioid-agonist therapy (OAT) and drug-related mortality in Scotland, as well as how this association has changed over time. The results show that OAT is protective against drug-related death, but it is not sufficient to slow down the increasing risk of death among opioid-dependent individuals in Scotland.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Mallory Stephenson, Jon Heron, Kaitlin Bountress, Matthew Hickman, Kenneth S. S. Kendler, Alexis C. C. Edwards
Summary: This study examines the effects of parental alcohol consumption on adolescent and young adult children, finding that parental drinking indirectly contributes to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in young adulthood, primarily through adolescent alcohol consumption. These findings underscore the importance of parental drinking in the development of alcohol use and problems during adolescence and young adulthood.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Matthew J. Akiyama, Lindsey R. Riback, Mercy Nyakowa, Helgar Musyoki, John A. Lizcano, Abbe Muller, Chenshu Zhang, Josephine G. Walker, Jack Stone, Peter Vickerman, Peter Cherutich, Ann E. Kurth
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) among people who inject drugs (PWID) attending medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and needle and syringe programs (NSP) sites in Kenya. The results showed that complete adherence, number of doses taken, and treatment completion were associated with achieving SVR.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Anneli Uuskula, Jurgen Rannap, Lisa Weijler, Adrian Abagiu, Vic Arendt, Gregorio Barrio, Henrique Barros, Henrikki Brummer-Korvenkontio, Jordi Casabona, Esther Croes, Don Des Jarlais, Carole Seguin-Devaux, Maria Dudas, Ksenia Eritsyan, Cinta Folch, Angelos Hatzakis, Robert Heimer, Ellen Heinsbroek, Vivian Hope, Raluca Jipa, Anda Kivite-Urtane, Olga Levina, Alexandra Lyubimova, Artur Malczewski, Amy Matser, Andrew McAuley, Paula Meireles, Viktor Mravcik, Eline E. Op de Coul, Sven E. Ojavee, Oleguer Pares-Badell, Maria Prins, Jose Pulido, Elena Romanyak, Magdalena Rosinska, Thomas Seyler, Jack Stone, Vana Sypsa, Ave Talu, Anna Tarjan, Avril Taylor, Peter Vickerman, Sigrid Vorobjov, Kate Dolan, Lucas Wiessing, EMCDDA Study Grp
Summary: This study examined the association between a history of incarceration and HIV infection among people who inject drugs in Europe. The results showed that there is a higher risk of HIV infection among individuals with a history of incarceration, especially among those less likely to be incarcerated. Other factors associated with an increased risk of HIV infection include injecting cocaine and/or opioids, longer duration of drug use, sharing needles/syringes, and income inequality.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Adam Trickey, Sandra Bivegete, Erika Duffell, Anna L. McNaughton, Lina Nerlander, Josephine G. Walker, Hannah Fraser, Matthew Hickman, Peter Vickerman, Ellen Brooks-Pollock, Hannah Christensen
Summary: This study estimated the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among different population groups in Europe. The results showed regional and population differences, highlighting the importance of understanding the current status of HBV in Europe.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sandra Bivegete, Anna L. McNaughton, Adam Trickey, Zak Thornton, Becky Scanlan, Aaron G. Lim, Lina Nerlander, Hannah Fraser, Josephine G. Walker, Matthew Hickman, Peter Vickerman, Helen Johnson, Erika Duffell, Ellen Brooks-Pollock, Hannah Christensen
Summary: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus is low in the general population in most European countries, with higher rates among risk populations such as migrants and people in prison. Screening and treatment should be targeted towards these high-risk groups.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lucy Yardley, Sarah Denford, Atiya Kamal, Tom May, Jo M. M. Kesten, Clare E. French, Dale Weston, G. James Rubin, Jeremy Horwood, Matthew Hickman, Richard Amlot, Isabel Oliver
Summary: A lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic is that we need to extend existing best practice for intervention development by integrating state-of-the-art methods of coproducing public health interventions and evaluating their effectiveness. The Agile Co-production and Evaluation (ACE) framework is proposed as a way to rapidly develop and test interventions through a combination of co-production methods and large-scale evaluation. There is a need for further research to refine and validate methods in different public health contexts.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ben Alvey, Jack Stone, Tetyana Salyuk, Ezra J. Barzilay, Ivan Doan, Peter Vickerman, Adam Trickey
Summary: Stigma towards same-sex behaviors is associated with HIV epidemics and risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in Ukraine. A considerable proportion of Ukrainian men who have sex with men have experienced stigma. Those who have experienced stigma are at higher odds of engaging in HIV risk behaviors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lindsey A. Hines, Hannah J. Jones, Matthew Hickman, Michael Lynskey, Laura Howe, Stan Zammit, Jon Heron
Summary: This study aimed to explore the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the timing and frequency of cannabis use in adolescence. The findings showed that individuals with 4 or more ACEs, particularly those with parental substance use or abuse, were at a higher risk of problematic adolescent cannabis use. Therefore, reducing ACEs may help reduce cannabis use among adolescents.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Louisa Degenhardt, Brodie Clark, Georgina Macpherson, Oscar Leppan, Suzanne Nielsen, Emma Zahra, Briony Larance, Jo Kimber, Daniel Martino-Burke, Matthew Hickman, Michael Farrell
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the effects of buprenorphine and methadone in the treatment of opioid dependence. The study found that methadone had better treatment retention rates compared to buprenorphine, but there were few significant differences in other primary and secondary outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of interventions to improve treatment retention, consideration of client-centered factors (such as client preference) when selecting between buprenorphine and methadone, and harmonization of data collection and reporting to strengthen future synthesis.
Article
Psychiatry
Prianka Padmanathan, Rachel Cohen, David Gunnell, Lucy Biddle, Emma Griffith, Katie Breheny, Matt Hickman, Nik Munien, Anish Patel, Elaine Crocker, Paul Moran
Summary: This study aimed to develop a brief psychosocial intervention for individuals presenting to the emergency department with self-harm and co-occurring substance use problems. Through a modified Delphi method, expert consensus was achieved for 22 items, resulting in an intervention that includes weekly follow-up phone calls and support for accessing community services.
CRISIS-THE JOURNAL OF CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
(2023)