Journal of substance abuse treatment
-
J Subst Abuse Treat · Jan 2015
Injection and sexual HIV/HCV risk behaviors associated with nonmedical use of prescription opioids among young adults in New York City.
Prevalence of nonmedical prescription opioid (PO) use has increased markedly in the U. S. This qualitative study explores the drug-use and sexual experiences of nonmedical PO users as they relate to risk for HIV and HCV transmission. ⋯ Participants reported little knowledge of HCV injection-related risks and safer injection practices. They also reported engaging in unprotected sex with casual partners, exchange sex and group sex, and that PO misuse increases the risk of sexual violence. Prevention efforts addressing HIV/HCV risk should be targeted to young nonmedical PO users.
-
J Subst Abuse Treat · Jan 2015
Influences of motivational contexts on prescription drug misuse and related drug problems.
Prescription drug misuse has emerged as a significant problem among young adults. While the effects of motivational contexts have been demonstrated for illicit drugs, the role of motivational contexts in prescription drug misuse remains understudied. ⋯ Only negative motivations are associated directly with drug problems and drug dependence, as well as indirectly via prescription pain killer misuse. Addressing positive and negative motivational contexts of prescription drug misuse may not only provide a means to reduce misuse and implement harm reduction measures, but may also inform the content of treatment plans for young adults with prescription drug misuse problems.
-
J Subst Abuse Treat · Jan 2015
Prescription medication misuse among HIV-infected individuals taking antiretroviral therapy.
HIV has become a highly treatable disease due to advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART). Additionally, HIV-infected individuals often take opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines to treat co-occurring conditions, including pain and symptoms of HIV. We sought to examine prescription medication misuse by surveying 295 HIV-infected patients receiving ART. ⋯ Special care should be taken by medical providers before prescribing medications that may be abused or diverted. Patients should also be screened for aberrant use, even if not prescribed. ART side effects, cognitive deficits, and alcohol abuse may serve as risk factors or indicators of prescription medication misuse, and should be monitored.
-
J Subst Abuse Treat · Jan 2015
Recent trends in treatment admissions for prescription opioid abuse during pregnancy.
Prescription opioid abuse is a significant and costly public health problem among pregnant women in the United States. We investigated recent trends in substance abuse treatment admissions for prescription opioids during pregnancy using the Treatment Episodes Data Set. ⋯ About a third received medication assisted therapy despite this being the standard of care for opioid abuse in pregnancy. While substance abuse treatment centers have increased treatment volume to address the increase in prescription opioid dependence among pregnant women, targeting certain risk groups and increasing utilization of medication assisted therapy should be emphasized.
-
J Subst Abuse Treat · Jan 2015
Buprenorphine/Naloxone dose and pain intensity among individuals initiating treatment for opioid use disorder.
Opioid use disorder and pain often co-occur, complicating the treatment of each condition. Owing to its partial agonist properties, buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NX) may confer advantages over full agonist opioids for treatment of both conditions. The optimal dose of BUP/NX for comorbid pain is not known. We examined dose and other factors associated with pain intensity among patients initiating BUP/NX for opioid use disorder. ⋯ BUP/NX maintenance treatment was generally consistent with improvements in pain intensity; however, factors other than BUP/NX dose contribute to improved pain intensity among those initiating the medication.