Alcohol Consumption in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States
This study assesses differences in alcohol drinking patterns before and after the enactment of stay-at-home orders.
Methods:
In May 2020, a cross-sectional online survey of 993 individuals using a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the US population aged 21 and older was used to assess alcohol drinking patterns before (February, 2020) and after (April, 2020) the enactment of stay-at-home orders among those who consumed alcohol in February, 2020 (n = 555). Reported differences in alcohol consumption were computed, and associations between differences in consumption patterns and individual ch...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Brief Reports Source Type: research
Disparities in Documented Drug Use Disorders Between Transgender and Cisgender U.S. Veterans Health Administration Patients
Conclusions:
Transgender VA patients may have higher likelihood of certain drug use disorders than cisgender VA patients, particularly amphetamine use disorder. Future research should explore mechanisms underlying disparities and potential barriers to accessing treatment and harm reduction services faced by transgender people. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Provider Continuity in the Prescribing of Buprenorphine/Naloxone Within Medicare Part D
Objectives:
Efforts to improve buprenorphine access for opioid use disorder have focused on increasing the number of waivered providers. However, it is unknown how efforts to increase initial prescribing result in a sustained pool of prescribers. We examine the prevalence of year-to-year provider-level buprenorphine prescribing, and provider- and state-level factors associated with provider continuity.
Methods:
Providers prescribing buprenorphine/naloxone within the Medicare Part D claims database were evaluated from 2013 to 2017 with prescriber continuity measured as prescriptions made in consecutive years from...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Dissemination of a Universally Delivered Brief Alcohol Intervention in United States Air Force Technical Training
Conclusions:
A universally administered brief alcohol intervention, coupled with RB targeting underage drinkers, was associated with a reduction in the rate of ARIs. Results of this large-scale prevention study indicate that a brief alcohol intervention can be widely disseminated during US Air Force training and can perhaps reduce costs and make a public health contribution by decreasing alcohol related incidents. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
A Retrospective Cohort Study Examining the Utility of Perinatal Urine Toxicology Testing to Guide Breastfeeding Initiation
Objective:
National guidelines advise against breastfeeding for women who use nonprescribed substances in the third trimester. This reduces the number of women who are supported in breastfeeding initiation despite limited evidence on the prognostic value of third trimester substance use. We sought to examine the degree to which prenatal nonprescribed substance use is associated with non-prescribed use postpartum.
Methods:
Retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with opioid use disorder on methadone or buprenorphine between 2006 and 2015. Nonprescribed use was defined by a positive urine drug testing (UDT). ...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Can Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder Sustain Non-abstinent Recovery? Non-abstinent Outcomes 10 Years After Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
Conclusions:
Nonabstinent AUD recovery is possible and is sustainable for up to 10 years after treatment. The current findings align with recent proposals to move beyond relying on alcohol consumption as a central defining feature of AUD recovery. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Buprenorphine/Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder Among Alaska Native and American Indian People
Conclusions:
Younger patients and those with co-occurring substance use remain at higher risk of discontinuing buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for OUD in this population of ANAI people. Treatment programs serving ANAI people may consider paying special attention to patients with these characteristics to prevent treatment discontinuation. Our study highlights the need to address poly-substance use among ANAI people in treatment. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
The Use of Once-monthly Injectable Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Postpartum Women: A Case Series
Conclusions:
To our knowledge, this is the first study that reviews the feasibility of using XRI-BUP in postpartum women. Our results suggest that XRI-BUP is a viable treatment option, which should be further investigated in future studies of postpartum women with OUD. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Civil Commitment for Substance Use Disorders: A National Survey of Addiction Medicine Physicians
Background:
Civil commitment (CC) for substance use disorders (SUDs) is a legal mechanism, initiated by family members, healthcare professionals, or others, that compels individuals with substance use problems into involuntary treatment. With the recent rise of US overdose deaths, more states are considering these laws. Yet little is known about physicians’ perspectives regarding CC in treating patients with SUDs.
Methods:
We conducted a web-based survey of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) physician members regarding their awareness of, attitudes towards, and experiences with CC for adults with SU...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Commentary on “Civil Commitment for SUDs: A National Survey of Addiction Medicine Physicians”
In this issue, authors Abhishek Jain and colleagues report the outcome of a survey of the physician membership of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, bearing on attitudes toward the use of civil commitment in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). This comment considers the sources of the pejorative view in which civil commitment for SUD is often held, identifying several historical analogies with other illnesses. Resolution of the common confusion between toxidrome and addiction, with a renewed emphasis on the treatability of SUDs, may contribute to more productive treatment matching and outcomes. (Sourc...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use: Addiction Care Professionals Must Reject Enabling Coercion and Patient Harm
This study distributed a web-based survey to physician-members of the American Society of Addiction Medicine with questions gauging awareness of, attitudes toward, and experiences with civil commitment for individuals with substance use disorder. Surprisingly, the study found that the overwhelming majority of addiction medicine providers supported the application of civil commitment for substance use disorder—60.7% reported being in favor of its use whereas only 21.5% reported being opposed. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Puerto Rico During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Providers’ Leadership Efforts in Unprecedented Times
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an unprecedented medical and public health issue both in Puerto Rico (PR) and the greater US with an increase incidence of opioid use every year. Unprecedented and compounded emergencies in PR such as those caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with limited national and local governmental support, has forced most clinics in PR to take action to be able to continue providing care. This commentary summarizes the leadership and clinical initiatives of 3 community organizations in PR to maintain services for people with OUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local legislat...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
DEA Disconnect Leads to Buprenorphine Bottlenecks
Conclusions:
We recommend Drug Enforcement Administration policy clarifications or changes to facilitate distributor interpretation; pharmacist workflow; and patient access to medication. We also advise continuing education with pharmacists and buprenorphine prescribers. These steps would facilitate greater access to lifesaving treatment for opioid use disorder. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
A Bridge Too Far: Individuals With Regular and Increasing Very Heavy Alcohol Consumption Cannot be Considered as Maintaining “Recovery” Due to Toxicity and Intoxication-related Risks
The concept of “recovery” from alcohol use disorders (AUD) has garnered increasing scientific interest in recent years including attempts to explicate and measure its presumed component parts. In general, there is consensus that “recovery” should not be solely about abstinence or quantity-frequency measures of alcohol consumption and should include measures of functioning. Some researchers have taken an even more radical step, however, to suggest that psychosocial functioning should be the sine qua non defining feature of “recovery,” seemingly irrespective of how much one drinks; as such, people can be classifi...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
Postpartum Treatment of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: Maternal Risk and Need for Evidence Do Not End When Pregnancy Ends
No abstract available (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - July 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
