Gaps in Alcohol Screening and Intervention Practices in Surgical Healthcare: A Qualitative Study
Conclusions:
This study highlights potential gaps in alcohol-related knowledge and care, and found providers place a low priority on alcohol interventions in the perioperative context. Given the high complication rate associated with preoperative alcohol use, these topics are worthy of future research. To be successful strategies to overcome specific barriers to alcohol screening and intervention must address the needs of patients and providers. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - March 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Identification of Risk Factors for Testing of Hepatitis C in Non-Birth Cohort Patients: Is Universal Screening Necessary?
Conclusions:
HCV testing solely based on presence of risk factors in non-Birth Cohort patients has the potential to miss a significant number of HCV antibody positive patients. Given patient- and provider-level barriers in elucidating risk factors, universal HCV antibody screening may be warranted. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - March 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Initial Patterns of Prescription Opioid Supply and Risk of Mortality Among Insured Adults in the United States
Conclusions:
Among insured adult patients with noncancer pain, incident chronic POS was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality over at most 1 year of follow-up. Because these results may be susceptible to bias, more research is needed to establish causality. (Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - March 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Towards Equitable AI Interventions for People Who Use Drugs: Key Areas That Require Ethical Investment
There has been growing investment in artificial intelligence (AI) interventions to combat the opioid-driven overdose epidemic plaguing North America. Although the evidence for the use of technology and AI in medicine is mounting, there are a number of ethical, social, and political implications that need to be considered when designing AI interventions. In this commentary, we describe 2 key areas that will require ethical deliberation in order to ensure that AI is being applied ethically with socially vulnerable populations such as people who use drugs: (1) perpetuation of biases in data and (2) consent. We offer ways forw...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - March 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
Changing Outdated Methadone Regulations That Harm Pregnant Patients
Methadone regulations have changed minimally since 1974, despite advances in the understanding of the nature of opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of medications in its treatment. At that time, most patients with OUD were considered to have anti-social personality disorders and the regulations aimed to exert maximal control over medication access. Six- or seven-day clinic attendance is required for months, regardless of distance, or childcare and other social responsibilities. Take home medications are not allowed unless rigid and formulaic conditions are met. Although addiction medicine has rejected the “criminal”...
Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine - March 1, 2021 Category: Addiction Tags: Commentaries Source Type: research
