Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2021
Alexithymia and pain experience among patients using methadone-maintenance therapy.
Alexithymia, difficulty identifying and describing one's emotions coupled with a tendency to externalize, is a potentially important yet understudied treatment target for patients with opioid use disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the role of alexithymia in pain experience among individuals with opioid use disorder. ⋯ These findings suggest that alexithymia, as well as both pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance, contribute to interference associated with pain and are potentially important intervention targets among methadone-treated patients with pain.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized trial of methadone treatment of arrestees: 24-month post-release outcomes.
We report on the 24-month post-release outcomes of arrestees with opioid use disorder (OUD) enrolled in a randomized trial comparing three treatment approaches initiated in jail. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02334215.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2020
Vaping while high: Factors associated with vaping marijuana among youth in the United States.
The use of e-cigarette and other vaping devices have become popular among youth in US. In addition to nicotine, vaping devices can be used to vaporize marijuana. However, factors associated with vaping marijuana among youth remain unexplored. This study examined the rates of vaping marijuana and its correlates among youth in the US. ⋯ Large numbers of youth in the US have ever vaped marijuana. Our findings indicate that sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco product use, frequency of e-cigarette use are important factors associated with vaping marijuana. Tobacco control campaigns targeted at curbing the use of e-cigarette and other vaping devices among youth in the US should be extended to address vaping substances other than nicotine such as marijuana.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2020
Multicenter StudyOpioid initiation and injection transition in rural northern New England: A mixed-methods approach.
In rural northern New England, located in the northeastern United States, the overdose epidemic has accelerated with the introduction of fentanyl. Opioid initiation and transition to opioid injection have been studied in urban settings. Little is known about opioid initiation and transition to injection drug use in rural northern New England. ⋯ Trauma, normalization of drug use, over-prescribing of opioids, and abrupt discontinuation challenge people who use drugs in rural northern New England communities. Inadequate opioid tapering may increase transition to non-prescribed drug use. The extent and severity of traumatic experiences described highlights the importance of enhancing trauma-informed care in rural areas.