Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2020
Successful engagement in buprenorphine treatment among hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder and trauma.
The opioid epidemic continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Although there are effective medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), a minority of patients receive these treatments. OUD is common among patients hospitalized for traumatic injury and hospitalization could be an opportunity to initiate medications and link to ongoing buprenorphine care. ⋯ Among hospitalized patients with OUD who initiate buprenorphine, those who were hospitalized for trauma were at least as likely to link to out-patient treatment. Trauma admissions represent an important opportunity for diagnosing and linking patients with OUD to buprenorphine treatment.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2020
Evaluation of the rewarding effects of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in an intracranial self-stimulation procedure in male and female rats.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) has been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years to increase energy, for relaxation, and to diminish opioid withdrawal. Kratom use has recently spread to Western countries. Kratom could potentially be used for the treatment of opioid withdrawal and pain, but more insight is needed into its abuse potential. Therefore, we investigated the rewarding properties of the primary kratom alkaloid mitragynine and its active metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine, and morphine as a reference drug in male and female rats. These compounds have agonist activity at mu-opioid receptors. ⋯ These initial findings indicate that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are not rewarding in the ICSS procedure. The present results suggest that these kratom alkaloids do not have abuse potential.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2020
Pain-related anxiety, sex, and co-use of alcohol and prescription opioids among adults with chronic low back pain.
Both alcohol and prescription opioid use/misuse are highly prevalent among individuals with chronic pain. Co-use of alcohol and prescription opioids is also common, despite contraindications due to increased risk of negative health effects and mortality. There is evidence that pain-related anxiety (i.e., the tendency to respond to pain with anxiety or fear) may be associated with heavier drinking and prescription opioid use/co-use, and that these associations may be especially salient among men. ⋯ These findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that pain-related anxiety is an important transdiagnostic factor in pain and alcohol and prescription opioid use/co-use, perhaps especially among males.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2020
Heated tobacco product use and associated factors among U.S. youth, 2019.
In April 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of IQOS Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) in the United States. This study sought to assess self-reported awareness and use of HTPs among U.S. students in 2019. ⋯ HTP use is emerging among U.S. adolescents. This study identified an elevated risk of HTP use among middle school students, Hispanics, current tobacco users, and those who live with a household member using HTPs. Continuous surveillance and educational campaigns on the harmfulness of HTPs are warranted.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2020
Medications for opioid use disorder in pregnancy in a state women's prison facility.
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) improves both maternal and neonatal outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Although correctional policies often state that incarcerated pregnant women with OUD should receive MOUD, implementation data is scant. Our aims were to 1) quantify the extent to which pregnant women in a Southeastern prison received MOUD during their incarceration; 2) to describe the medications and doses used during incarceration and frequency of MOUD referral after incarceration; and 3) identify associations between maternal characteristics and receipt of MOUD in order to identify points of intervention for clinical policy change. ⋯ There was significant unmet need for MOUD and MOUD referral among pregnant women imprisoned in North Carolina from 2016-2018. Our findings suggest that the initial assessment for MOUD and referral to a community MOUD provider may represent opportunities to improve MOUD access for this population.