Article
Virology
Anna Conway, Phillip Read, Rosie Gilliver, Tony McNaughton, Heather Valerio, Evan B. Cunningham, Charles Henderson, Brett Hadlow, Katrina Molloy, Anna Doab, Shane Tillakeratne, Lucy Pepolim, Mary Harrod, Gregory J. Dore, Jason Grebely
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single-visit test and treat intervention among people who recently used injecting drugs at a peer-led needle and syringe program. The results showed that approximately half of the infected individuals were aware of their infection status, and there was a high acceptability of simplified testing and treatment methods in the program.
Article
Substance Abuse
Jason Grebely, Rosie Gilliver, Tony McNaughton, Anna Conway, Evan Cunningham, Charles Henderson, Brett Hadlow, Katrina Molloy, Anna Doab, Shane Tillakeratne, Lucy Pepolim, Mary Ellen Harrod, Gregory J. Dore, Phillip Read
Summary: This study evaluated a single-visit test and treat intervention for people with recent injecting drug use, which integrated point-of-care HCV RNA testing, linkage to nursing care, and peer-supported engagement/delivery of treatment. The results showed high treatment uptake, but a lower proportion of people achieved sustained virological response, indicating the need for further interventions to support treatment completion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Louisa Degenhardt, Paige Webb, Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Jeremy Ireland, Alice Wheeler, Sophie Ottaviano, Alex Willing, Abe Kairouz, Evan B. Cunningham, Behzad Hajarizadeh, Janni Leung, Lucy Tran, Olivia Price, Amy Peacock, Peter Vickerman, Michael Farrell, Gregory J. Dore, Matthew Hickman, Jason Grebely
Summary: This global systematic review examines the prevalence of injecting drug use (IDU), related harms such as HIV, HCV, and HBV infections and overdose, and sociodemographic characteristics and risk exposures of people who inject drugs. The findings show that IDU is documented in most countries and territories, and an estimated 14.8 million people globally inject drugs. These individuals are vulnerable to various health and social risks, including unstable housing, incarceration, and sex work.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Joanna Glengarry, Matthew Lynch, Chris O'Donnell
Summary: This article discusses the possible findings and hazards of performing autopsies on individuals with a history of injecting drug use, using a specific case as an example of extensive retained broken needles. The findings are presented through radiological imaging and conventional autopsy.
FORENSIC SCIENCE MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Roy Robertson, Barbara Broers, Magdalena Harris
Summary: Injecting drug use can lead to skin, soft tissue, and vascular damage, with a range of clinical issues including local and systemic infections. Limited availability of sterile injecting equipment, poor technique, compromised drug purity, toxicity, and difficult personal and environmental conditions contribute to injection-related health risks.
Article
Immunology
Jon M. Johannesson, Ragnheidur H. Fridriksdottir, Thorvardur J. Love, Valgerdur Runarsdottir, Ingunn Hansdottir, Arthur Love, Marianna Thordardottir, Ubaldo B. Hernandez, Sigurdur Olafsson, Magnus Gottfredsson
Summary: This study investigated the reinfection rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among patients in the Treatment as Prevention for Hepatitis C program in Iceland. The results showed a high reinfection rate in a setting of widespread stimulant use, particularly in young people. Regular follow-up is crucial for high-risk populations to diagnose reinfections early and reduce transmission.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jon M. Johannesson, Ragnheidur H. Fridriksdottir, Thorvardur J. Love, Valgerdur Runarsdottir, Ingunn Hansdottir, Arthur Love, Marianna Thordardottir, Ubaldo B. Hernandez, Sigurdur Olafsson, Magnus Gottfredsson
Summary: This study found a high reinfection rate in the Treatment as Prevention for Hepatitis C program in Iceland, particularly among young people who abuse stimulants. Regular follow-up for early diagnosis of reinfections and to reduce transmission is crucial for high-risk populations.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah, Damilola Dada, Ruppage Rupasinghe, Harrison Whately
Summary: Efforts to prevent illicit substance use in prisons have been challenging, and implementing harm reduction interventions such as needle exchange programs can effectively reduce the risk of infectious diseases among prisoners engaging in such practices. Despite opposition and legality issues, evidence from successful programs worldwide supports the reconsideration of needle exchange programs in the United States prison system.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Damien C. Tully, Judith A. Hahn, David J. Bean, Jennifer L. Evans, Meghan D. Morris, Kimberly Page, Todd M. Allen
Summary: Deep sequencing of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among self-described injecting partnerships showed that the majority of transmission events originate from outside of the injecting partnership, and the direction of transmission is often difficult to accurately infer, especially in high-risk networks with rapid transmission events.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Joseph S. Doyle, Daniela K. van Santen, David Iser, Joe Sasadeusz, Mark O'Reilly, Brendan Harney, Michael W. Traeger, Janine Roney, Julia C. Cutts, Anna L. Bowring, Rebecca Winter, Nick Medland, Christopher K. Fairley, Richard Moore, B. K. Tee, Jason Asselin, Carol El-Hayek, Jennifer F. Hoy, Gail Matthews, Maria Prins, Mark A. Stoove, Margaret E. Hellard
Summary: This study aims to measure the effectiveness of HCV treatment and determine the prevalence and incidence of HCV in the GBM population. Among 200 participants, 186 initiated treatment during the study period, with high treatment effectiveness and a decline in HCV viremic prevalence and incidence.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Judith I. Tsui, Paula J. Lum, Lynn E. Taylor, Shruti H. Mehta, Judith Feinberg, Arthur Y. Kim, Brianna L. Norton, Jiajing Niu, Moonseong Heo, Julia Arnsten, Irene Pericot-Valverde, Aurielle Thomas, Kendra L. Blalock, Andrea Radick, Cristina Murray-Krezan, Kimberly Page, Alain H. Litwin
Summary: This study aimed to describe the injection practices of persons who inject drugs (PWID) during hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and assess whether these practices were associated with treatment failure. The study found that receptive sharing of injecting equipment and reuse of one's own equipment were associated with not achieving a sustained virologic response.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Daisy Gibbs, Cate King, Caitlin Hughes, Amy Peacock, Jodie Grigg, Wing See Yuen, Rachel Sutherland
Summary: This study compares drug dog encounters in non-festival settings among two samples of people who regularly use drugs and finds that people who inject drugs are more likely to have more intensive encounters and criminal justice consequences. This research raises questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of drug dog operations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ming-Ying Lu, Chun-Ting Chen, Yu-Lueng Shih, Pei-Chien Tsai, Meng-Hsuan Hsieh, Chung-Feng Huang, Ming-Lun Yeh, Ching-I Huang, Shu-Chi Wang, Yi-Shan Tsai, Yu-Min Ko, Ching-Chih Lin, Kuan-Yu Chen, Yu-Ju Wei, Po-Yao Hsu, Cheng-Ting Hsu, Tyng-Yuan Jang, Ta-Wei Liu, Po-Cheng Liang, Ming-Yen Hsieh, Zu-Yau Lin, Shinn-Cherng Chen, Jee-Fu Huang, Chia-Yen Dai, Wan-Long Chuang, Ming-Lung Yu, Wen-Yu Chang
Summary: The study investigated the prevalence and risks of hepatitis B, C, and D viruses among IDU-dominant prisoners in Taiwan. The findings suggest that IDUs serve as reservoirs for multiple hepatitis viruses and that HCV infection increases the risk of HDV infection while suppressing HBV replication. An effective strategy is needed to control the epidemic in this high-risk group.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eun Sun Jang, Gwang Hyeon Choi, Young Seok Kim, In Hee Kim, Youn Jae Lee, Sung Beom Cho, Yun-Tae Kim, Sook-Hyang Jeong
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and incidence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in HCV patients, as well as their risk factors and clinical outcomes compared to HCVmonoinfected patients. The results showed that approximately one-third of adult Korean chronic HCV patients were positive for anti-HEV IgG antibodies. The incidence rate of HEV was 1 in 100 persons per year, with no adverse hepatic outcomes or mortality observed.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Judith Tsui, Mary A. Akosile, Gwen T. Lapham, Denise M. Boudreau, Eric A. Johnson, Jennifer F. Bobb, Ingrid A. Binswanger, Bobbi Jo H. Yarborough, Joseph E. Glass, Rebecca C. Rossom, Mark T. Murphy, Chinazo O. Cunningham, Julia H. Arnsten, Manu Thakral, Andrew J. Saxon, Joseph O. Merrill, Jeffrey H. Samet, Gavin B. Bart, Cynthia Campbell, Amy M. Loree, Angela Silva, Angela L. Stotts, Brian Ahmedani, Jordan M. Braciszewski, Rulin C. Hechter, Thomas F. Northrup, Viviana E. Horigian, Katharine A. Bradley
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of diagnosed OUD and treatment among primary care patients with HCV or HIV, finding that patients with HCV and HIV were more likely to have OUD compared to those without, and HIV patients were less likely to receive medication treatment for OUD.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Substance Abuse
Fiona R. Beyer, Ryan P. W. Kenny, Eugenie Johnson, Deborah M. Caldwell, Claire Garnett, Stephen Rice, Julija Simpson, Colin Angus, Dawn Craig, Matt Hickman, Susan Michie, Eileen F. S. Kaner
Summary: This study compares the effectiveness of practitioner versus digitally delivered interventions for reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. The findings suggest that practitioner delivered interventions are more effective in reducing consumption up to 6 months, but there is no evidence of a difference at 12 months.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Adam Holland, Alex Stevens, Magdalena Harris, Dan Lewer, Harry Sumnall, Daniel Stewart, Eilish Gilvarry, Alice Wiseman, Joshua Howkins, Jim McManus, Gillian W. Shorter, James Nicholls, Jenny Scott, Kyla Thomas, Leila Reid, Edward Day, Jason Horsley, Fiona Measham, Maggie Rae, Kevin Fenton, Matthew Hickman
Summary: This article assesses the evidence-based and consistency of the UK Government's ten-year drugs strategy. While the strategy promises significant funding for drug treatment services and supports public health approaches, it also promotes unevidenced and harmful measures of punishment. The article argues for evidence-based measures to mitigate drug-related harm and calls for a more substantial re-orientation of UK drug policy.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Daniela K. van Santen, Sara Lodi, Paul Dietze, Wijnand van den Boom, Kanna Hayashi, Huiru Dong, Zishan Cui, Lisa Maher, Matthew Hickman, Anders Boyd, Maria Prins
Summary: Comprehensive needle and syringe program and opioid agonist therapy participation can significantly reduce the risk of HIV and HCV infection compared with no or partial participation, according to this study. These findings emphasize the crucial role of comprehensive access to harm reduction in preventing infection among people who inject drugs.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emma Robinson, Christopher J. Byrne, James Carberry, Andrew Radley, Lewis J. Beer, Sarah K. Inglis, Jan Tait, Iain Macpherson, David Goldberg, Sharon J. Hutchinson, Matthew Hickman, John F. Dillon
Summary: Scotland's Tayside region developed low-threshold community pathways to increase the diagnosis of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and work towards elimination. Shifting diagnosis to community settings led to a higher proportion of individuals tested for HCV being actively infected. Decentralized care pathways, especially in harm reduction and drug service settings, were crucial for increasing HCV diagnosis.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Harshvardhan Gazula, Kelly Rootes-Murdy, Bharath Holla, Sunitha Basodi, Zuo Zhang, Eric Verner, Ross Kelly, Pratima Murthy, Amit Chakrabarti, Debasish Basu, Subodh Bhagyalakshmi Nanjayya, Rajkumar Lenin Singh, Roshan Lourembam Singh, Kartik Kalyanram, Kamakshi Kartik, Kumaran Kalyanaraman, Krishnaveni Ghattu, Rebecca Kuriyan, Sunita Simon Kurpad, Gareth J. Barker, Rose Dawn Bharath, Sylvane Desrivieres, Meera Purushottam, Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos, Eesha Sharma, Matthew Hickman, Mireille Toledano, Nilakshi Vaidya, Tobias Banaschewski, Arun L. W. Bokde, Herta Flor, Antoine Grigis, Hugh Garavan, Penny Gowland, Andreas Heinz, Rudiger Bruhl, Jean-Luc Martinot, Marie-Laure Paillere Martinot, Eric Artiges, Frauke Nees, Tomas Paus, Luise Poustka, Juliane H. Frohner, Lauren Robinson, Michael N. Smolka, Henrik Walter, Jeanne Winterer, Robert Whelan, Jessica A. Turner, Anand D. Sarwate, Sergey M. Plis, Vivek Benegal, Gunter Schumann, Vince D. Calhoun
Summary: With the growth of decentralized/federated analysis approaches in neuroimaging, the opportunities to study brain disorders using data from multiple sites has grown multi-fold. One such initiative is the Neuromark, a fully automated spatially constrained independent component analysis (ICA) that is used to link brain network abnormalities among different datasets, studies, and disorders while leveraging subject-specific networks.
Article
Substance Abuse
Jason Grebely, Geert Robaeys, Philip Bruggmann, Alessio Aghemo, Markus Backmund, Julie Bruneau, Jude Byrne, Olav Dalgard, Jordan J. Feld, Margaret Hellard, Matthew Hickman, Achim Kautz, Alain Litwin, Andrew R. Lloyd, Stefan Mauss, Maria Prins, Tracy Swan, Martin Schaefer, Lynn E. Taylor, Gregory J. Dore
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Review
Substance Abuse
Evan B. Cunningham, Alice Wheeler, Behzad Hajarizadeh, Clare E. French, Rachel Roche, Alison D. Marshall, Guillaume Fontaine, Anna Conway, Sahar Bajis, Braulio M. Valencia, Justin Presseau, John W. Ward, Louisa Degenhardt, Gregory J. Dore, Matthew Hickman, Peter Vickerman, Jason Grebely
Summary: With the advent of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies, the World Health Organization aims to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat by 2030. Interventions are needed to address the unique barriers to HCV care faced by people who inject drugs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Jason Grebely, Geert Robaeys, Philip Bruggmann, Alessio Aghemo, Markus Backmund, Julie Bruneau, Jude Byrne, Olav Dalgard, Jordan J. Feld, Margaret Hellard, Matthew Hickman, Achim Kautz, Alain Litwin, Andrew R. Lloyd, Stefan Mauss, Maria Prins, Tracy Swan, Martin Schaefer, Lynn E. Taylor, Gregory J. Dore
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Anjalee Syangbo, Matthew Hickman, Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Janni Leung, Jason Grebely, Sarah Larney, Louisa Degenhardt, Adam Trickey
Summary: Globally, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver disease, and people who inject drugs (PWID) are at higher risk of HBV infection. This study investigated the associations between country-level chronic HBV prevalence in PWID and national indicators of development, and prevalence of HIV and HCV. The results showed that there was no significant association between development indicators and HBV prevalence, but there were positive associations between HBV prevalence and HIV/HCV prevalence among PWID. The findings emphasize the importance of harm reduction and HBV vaccination in PWID, especially in endemic areas.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ak Narayan Poudel, Shihua Zhu, Nicola Cooper, Paul Little, Carolyn Tarrant, Matthew Hickman, Guiqing Yao
Summary: This systematic review synthesized recent evidence estimating the economic burden of antibiotic resistance (ABR) from different perspectives, healthcare settings, study designs, and income levels. The findings showed significant variations in the cost of resistant infections, as well as increased length of hospital stay, mortality risk, and readmission risk associated with ABR. However, there is still a lack of research on the economic burden of ABR in low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, from a societal perspective, and in relation to primary care. These findings are important for researchers, policymakers, clinicians, and those working in the field of ABR and health promotion.
Article
Substance Abuse
Scott A. Mcdonald, Matthew Hickman, John F. Dillon, Alan Yeung, Andrew McAuley, Andrew Fraser, Peter C. Hayes, Sharon J. Hutchinson
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment on drug-related hospitalization and mortality (DRM) among people who inject drugs (PWID). The study found that DAA treatment reduced the risk of drug overdose hospital admission, but had no significant effect on drug-related mortality.
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)
Article
Psychiatry
James Hotham, Rebecca Cannings-John, Laurence Moore, Jemma Hawkins, Chris Bonell, Matthew Hickman, Stanley Zammit, Lindsey A. Hines, Linda Adara, Julia Townson, James White
Summary: This study provides the first evidence that synthetic cannabinoids and cannabidiol are associated with probable mental health disorders in adolescence. Further replication studies with stronger designs are needed to validate these associations.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lucy Findlater, Livia Pierotti, Charlie Turner, Adrian Wensley, Cong Chen, Shaun Seaman, Pantelis Samartsidis, Andre Charlett, Charlotte Anderson, Gareth Hughes, Matthew Hickman, Obaghe Edeghere, Isabel Oliver
Summary: This study examines the impact of a delay in contact tracing on the transmission, hospitalizations, and mortality of COVID-19 cases. The results suggest that the delay in contact tracing led to an increased secondary attack rate among non-household contacts, but did not significantly affect hospitalizations and deaths.
Article
Substance Abuse
Thomas D. Brothers, Dan Lewer, Nicola Jones, Samantha Colledge-Frisby, Matthew Bonn, Alice Wheeler, Jason Grebely, Michael Farrell, Matthew Hickman, Andrew Hayward, Louisa Degenhardt
Summary: Transitional times in opioid use, such as release from prison and discontinuation of opioid agonist treatment, increase the risk of injection drug use-associated bacterial infections. Social contextual factors likely contribute to excess risk at transitions in incarceration and OAT exposure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)