Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-03-06DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001297
Matthew V Ronan, Kirsha S Gordon, Melissa Skanderson, Michael Krug, Patrick Godwin, Daniel Heppe, Matthew Hoegh, Joel C Boggan, Jeydith Gutierrez, Peter Kaboli, Micah Pescetto, Michelle Guidry, Peter Caldwell, Christine Mitchell, Erik Ehlers, Nazima Allaudeen, Jessica Cyr, Andrea Smeraglio, Peter Yarbrough, Richard Rose, Anand Jagannath, Jaclyn Vargas, Paul B Cornia, Meghna Shah, Matthew Tuck, Cherinne Arundel, James Laudate, Joel Elzweig, Benjamin Rodwin, Joyce Akwe, Meredith Trubitt, Craig G Gunderson
Objectives: Few studies describe contemporary alcohol withdrawal management in hospitalized settings or review current practices considering the guidelines by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with alcohol withdrawal on medical or surgical wards in 19 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) hospitals between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Demographic and comorbidity data were obtained from the Veteran Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. Inpatient management and hospital outcomes were obtained by chart review. Factors associated with treatment duration and complicated withdrawal were examined.
Results: Of the 594 patients included in this study, 51% were managed with symptom-triggered therapy alone, 26% with fixed dose plus symptom-triggered therapy, 10% with front loading regimens plus symptom-triggered therapy, and 3% with fixed dose alone. The most common medication given was lorazepam (87%) followed by chlordiazepoxide (33%), diazepam (14%), and phenobarbital (6%). Symptom-triggered therapy alone (relative risk [RR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.80) and front loading with symptom-triggered therapy (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.92) were associated with reduced treatment duration. Lorazepam (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41) and phenobarbital (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54) were associated with increased treatment duration. Lorazepam (adjusted odds ratio, 4.30; 95% CI, 1.05-17.63) and phenobarbital (adjusted odds ratio, 6.51; 95% CI, 2.08-20.40) were also associated with complicated withdrawal.
Conclusions: Overall, our results support guidelines by the ASAM to manage patients with long-acting benzodiazepines using symptom-triggered therapy. Health care systems that are using shorter acting benzodiazepines and fixed-dose regimens should consider updating alcohol withdrawal management pathways to follow ASAM recommendations.
{"title":"Contemporary Management and Outcomes of Veterans Hospitalized With Alcohol Withdrawal: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Matthew V Ronan, Kirsha S Gordon, Melissa Skanderson, Michael Krug, Patrick Godwin, Daniel Heppe, Matthew Hoegh, Joel C Boggan, Jeydith Gutierrez, Peter Kaboli, Micah Pescetto, Michelle Guidry, Peter Caldwell, Christine Mitchell, Erik Ehlers, Nazima Allaudeen, Jessica Cyr, Andrea Smeraglio, Peter Yarbrough, Richard Rose, Anand Jagannath, Jaclyn Vargas, Paul B Cornia, Meghna Shah, Matthew Tuck, Cherinne Arundel, James Laudate, Joel Elzweig, Benjamin Rodwin, Joyce Akwe, Meredith Trubitt, Craig G Gunderson","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001297","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Few studies describe contemporary alcohol withdrawal management in hospitalized settings or review current practices considering the guidelines by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with alcohol withdrawal on medical or surgical wards in 19 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) hospitals between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Demographic and comorbidity data were obtained from the Veteran Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. Inpatient management and hospital outcomes were obtained by chart review. Factors associated with treatment duration and complicated withdrawal were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 594 patients included in this study, 51% were managed with symptom-triggered therapy alone, 26% with fixed dose plus symptom-triggered therapy, 10% with front loading regimens plus symptom-triggered therapy, and 3% with fixed dose alone. The most common medication given was lorazepam (87%) followed by chlordiazepoxide (33%), diazepam (14%), and phenobarbital (6%). Symptom-triggered therapy alone (relative risk [RR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.80) and front loading with symptom-triggered therapy (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.92) were associated with reduced treatment duration. Lorazepam (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41) and phenobarbital (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54) were associated with increased treatment duration. Lorazepam (adjusted odds ratio, 4.30; 95% CI, 1.05-17.63) and phenobarbital (adjusted odds ratio, 6.51; 95% CI, 2.08-20.40) were also associated with complicated withdrawal.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, our results support guidelines by the ASAM to manage patients with long-acting benzodiazepines using symptom-triggered therapy. Health care systems that are using shorter acting benzodiazepines and fixed-dose regimens should consider updating alcohol withdrawal management pathways to follow ASAM recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"389-396"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140059443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-03-29DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001309
Vitor S Tardelli, Thiago M Fidalgo, Silvia S Martins
Background: Z-drugs (hypnotics such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon) and benzodiazepines (BZDs) are sedative medications with misuse liability. The goals of this study are to report the (1) prevalence of past-year any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity category and psychological distress; (2) associations among these 3 categories between sexual identity and past-year psychological distress; (3) associations among these 3 categories with sexual identity by past-year psychological distress status.
Methods: Data were collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (years 2015-2019 [n = 210,392]), a yearly representative national household survey of the American population. We report prevalences of any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity and past-year psychological distress status. We ran logistic regressions with complex survey design with the 3 dichotomous variables described above as the dependent variables, stratified and not-stratified by psychological distress.
Results: Prevalence of any Z-drug an BZD use and any BZD misuse were higher among LGB (lesbian/gay/bisexual) populations, especially gay men and bisexual women. Psychological distress was positively associated with any Z-drug and BZD use and any BZD misuse. Women were at higher risk of Z-drug (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.37) and BZD use (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.55-1.73), but lower risk of BZD misuse (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.88). When stratifying by psychological distress, differences between LGB and heterosexuals were more pronounced among those without past-year psychological distress, especially gay men and bisexual women.
Conclusions: The presence of psychological distress attenuates the disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals in Z-drug use and BZD use and misuse.
{"title":"Z-Drug Use and Benzodiazepine Use and Misuse Among LGB Populations: The Role of Psychological Distress.","authors":"Vitor S Tardelli, Thiago M Fidalgo, Silvia S Martins","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001309","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Z-drugs (hypnotics such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon) and benzodiazepines (BZDs) are sedative medications with misuse liability. The goals of this study are to report the (1) prevalence of past-year any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity category and psychological distress; (2) associations among these 3 categories between sexual identity and past-year psychological distress; (3) associations among these 3 categories with sexual identity by past-year psychological distress status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (years 2015-2019 [n = 210,392]), a yearly representative national household survey of the American population. We report prevalences of any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity and past-year psychological distress status. We ran logistic regressions with complex survey design with the 3 dichotomous variables described above as the dependent variables, stratified and not-stratified by psychological distress.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prevalence of any Z-drug an BZD use and any BZD misuse were higher among LGB (lesbian/gay/bisexual) populations, especially gay men and bisexual women. Psychological distress was positively associated with any Z-drug and BZD use and any BZD misuse. Women were at higher risk of Z-drug (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.37) and BZD use (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.55-1.73), but lower risk of BZD misuse (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.88). When stratifying by psychological distress, differences between LGB and heterosexuals were more pronounced among those without past-year psychological distress, especially gay men and bisexual women.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The presence of psychological distress attenuates the disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals in Z-drug use and BZD use and misuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"437-442"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140335712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-05-16DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001296
Stanley Wong, Nicholas Fabiano, Declan Webber, Robert A Kleinman
Objective: The aim of the study is to review and synthesize the literature on high-dose buprenorphine initiation (>12-mg total dose on day of initiation).
Methods: A scoping review of literature about high-dose buprenorphine initiation was conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central were searched. Randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case studies/reports published in English before February 13, 2023, were included.
Results: Fifteen studies reporting outcomes from 580 high-dose buprenorphine initiations were included. Eight studies were in inpatient settings, 3 in emergency departments, 3 in outpatient settings, and 1 in a first-responder setting. Four studies reported high-dose initiations among individuals exposed to fentanyl. There were no reported events of fatal or nonfatal overdose or respiratory depression, although adverse event reporting was inconsistent in published reports. The most reported side effects with high-dose buprenorphine initiation were nausea or vomiting (n = 17) and precipitated withdrawal (n = 7). The most serious reported adverse event was hypotension requiring oral hydration (n = 2). Most studies reported improvements in subjective or objective withdrawal symptoms. The duration of follow-up ranged from none to 8 months.
Conclusions: High-dose buprenorphine initiation has not been associated with reported cases of overdose or respiratory depression. However, the current literature about high-dose buprenorphine is limited by inconsistent side effect reporting, limited power to detect rare safety events such as respiratory depression, limited follow-up data, and few comparison studies between high-dose and regular initiation protocols. Further prospective data are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this initiation strategy.
{"title":"High-Dose Buprenorphine Initiation: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Stanley Wong, Nicholas Fabiano, Declan Webber, Robert A Kleinman","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001296","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study is to review and synthesize the literature on high-dose buprenorphine initiation (>12-mg total dose on day of initiation).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review of literature about high-dose buprenorphine initiation was conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central were searched. Randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case studies/reports published in English before February 13, 2023, were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen studies reporting outcomes from 580 high-dose buprenorphine initiations were included. Eight studies were in inpatient settings, 3 in emergency departments, 3 in outpatient settings, and 1 in a first-responder setting. Four studies reported high-dose initiations among individuals exposed to fentanyl. There were no reported events of fatal or nonfatal overdose or respiratory depression, although adverse event reporting was inconsistent in published reports. The most reported side effects with high-dose buprenorphine initiation were nausea or vomiting (n = 17) and precipitated withdrawal (n = 7). The most serious reported adverse event was hypotension requiring oral hydration (n = 2). Most studies reported improvements in subjective or objective withdrawal symptoms. The duration of follow-up ranged from none to 8 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High-dose buprenorphine initiation has not been associated with reported cases of overdose or respiratory depression. However, the current literature about high-dose buprenorphine is limited by inconsistent side effect reporting, limited power to detect rare safety events such as respiratory depression, limited follow-up data, and few comparison studies between high-dose and regular initiation protocols. Further prospective data are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this initiation strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"349-359"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140957388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-03-26DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001307
Erica Heiman, Meghan Alexander, Rebecca Zhang, Ziduo Zheng, Lesley S Miller
Objectives: We set out to examine several aspects of the relationship between alcohol use and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among a cohort of patients treated at an HCV clinic within a safety net hospital. We examined (1) the prevalence of alcohol use among patients treated for HCV, (2) the likelihood of being started on treatment among patients who reported drinking alcohol compared with those who did not, and (3) the associations between alcohol use and HCV cure.
Methods: We performed a retrospective chart abstraction study using data from the Grady Liver Clinic, a specialty HCV clinic colocated in Grady Memorial Hospital's primary care clinic and run by general internists.
Results: Nine hundred fifty-four patients were included. The sustained virologic response rate among those with 12-week posttreatment measurement was 99.2%, with only 5 patients experiencing virologic failure. None of the alcohol use indicators significantly impacted sustained virologic response or loss to follow-up. Estimates of alcohol use ranged from 28.9% (by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision , code) to 48.9% (clinician documentation). Treatment initiation rates were the same among those who did and did not report alcohol use.
Conclusions: Alcohol use was not associated with decreased HCV cure rates. Our findings validate the inclusion of patients with alcohol use in HCV treatment programs.
{"title":"High Hepatitis C Cure Rates Among Patients With Alcohol Use at a Safety-Net Hepatitis C Clinic.","authors":"Erica Heiman, Meghan Alexander, Rebecca Zhang, Ziduo Zheng, Lesley S Miller","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001307","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We set out to examine several aspects of the relationship between alcohol use and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among a cohort of patients treated at an HCV clinic within a safety net hospital. We examined (1) the prevalence of alcohol use among patients treated for HCV, (2) the likelihood of being started on treatment among patients who reported drinking alcohol compared with those who did not, and (3) the associations between alcohol use and HCV cure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a retrospective chart abstraction study using data from the Grady Liver Clinic, a specialty HCV clinic colocated in Grady Memorial Hospital's primary care clinic and run by general internists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine hundred fifty-four patients were included. The sustained virologic response rate among those with 12-week posttreatment measurement was 99.2%, with only 5 patients experiencing virologic failure. None of the alcohol use indicators significantly impacted sustained virologic response or loss to follow-up. Estimates of alcohol use ranged from 28.9% (by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision , code) to 48.9% (clinician documentation). Treatment initiation rates were the same among those who did and did not report alcohol use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Alcohol use was not associated with decreased HCV cure rates. Our findings validate the inclusion of patients with alcohol use in HCV treatment programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"463-465"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140293496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-03DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001324
Patricia Liu, Brian Chan, Eleasa Sokolski, Alisa Patten, Honora Englander
Objectives: Treating acute opioid withdrawal and offering medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) is critical. Hospitalization offers a unique opportunity to rapidly initiate methadone for OUD; however, little clinical guidance exists. This report describes our experience during the first 9 months following introduction of a hospital-based rapid methadone initiation protocol.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients with OUD seen by our interprofessional addiction medicine consult service at an urban academic center between December 2022 and August 2023. We identified patients who initiated methadone using the rapid methadone initiation protocol, which includes dose recommendations (maximum 60 mg day 1, 70 mg day 2, 80 mg day 3, 100 mg days 4-7) and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (end organ failure, arrhythmia, concurrent benzodiazepine or alcohol use, age >65).
Results: There were 171 patients that received methadone for OUD during the study period. Of those, 25 patients (15%) received rapid methadone initiation. The average total daily dose of methadone on days 1-7 was 53.0 mg, 69.2 mg, 75.4 mg, 79.5 mg, 87.1 mg, 92.2 mg, and 96.6 mg, respectively. There were no adverse events requiring holding a dose of scheduled methadone, naloxone administration, or transfer to higher level of care.
Conclusions: A rapid methadone initiation protocol for OUD can be implemented in the inpatient setting. Patients up-titrated their methadone doses quicker than with traditional induction methods, and there were no serious adverse events. Appropriate patient selection may be important to avoid harms.
{"title":"Piloting a Hospital-Based Rapid Methadone Initiation Protocol for Fentanyl.","authors":"Patricia Liu, Brian Chan, Eleasa Sokolski, Alisa Patten, Honora Englander","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001324","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001324","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Treating acute opioid withdrawal and offering medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) is critical. Hospitalization offers a unique opportunity to rapidly initiate methadone for OUD; however, little clinical guidance exists. This report describes our experience during the first 9 months following introduction of a hospital-based rapid methadone initiation protocol.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients with OUD seen by our interprofessional addiction medicine consult service at an urban academic center between December 2022 and August 2023. We identified patients who initiated methadone using the rapid methadone initiation protocol, which includes dose recommendations (maximum 60 mg day 1, 70 mg day 2, 80 mg day 3, 100 mg days 4-7) and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (end organ failure, arrhythmia, concurrent benzodiazepine or alcohol use, age >65).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 171 patients that received methadone for OUD during the study period. Of those, 25 patients (15%) received rapid methadone initiation. The average total daily dose of methadone on days 1-7 was 53.0 mg, 69.2 mg, 75.4 mg, 79.5 mg, 87.1 mg, 92.2 mg, and 96.6 mg, respectively. There were no adverse events requiring holding a dose of scheduled methadone, naloxone administration, or transfer to higher level of care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A rapid methadone initiation protocol for OUD can be implemented in the inpatient setting. Patients up-titrated their methadone doses quicker than with traditional induction methods, and there were no serious adverse events. Appropriate patient selection may be important to avoid harms.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"458-462"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11290994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141236663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-05-22DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001310
Christine Ramdin, George Mina, Lewis Nelson, Maryann Mazer-Amirshahi
Objectives: Benzodiazepines are commonly misused medications frequently implicated in overdose deaths. Data show that benzodiazepine prescribing is associated with increased misuse. We sought to determine national trends in benzodiazepine prescribing from the emergency department (ED).
Methods: This is a retrospective review of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2019. Our primary outcome was to evaluate trends in ED visits where a benzodiazepine was prescribed at discharge. Secondarily, we identified commonly prescribed benzodiazepines and assessed trends over time. We examined demographic data and used descriptive statistics and Spearman rho or Pearson correlation coefficient as applicable.
Results: Between 2012 and 2019, there were 13,848,578 visits where benzodiazepines were prescribed at ED discharge. In 2012 and 2019, there were 1,407,478 visits (1.1% of all ED visits) and 1,361,372 visits (0.9%), respectively, where benzodiazepines were prescribed (mean [SD], 1,731,072 [287,623] [1.26%]), with no trend ( P = 0.31). Common benzodiazepines prescribed were diazepam (5,980,279 visits, 43.2% of all prescriptions), alprazolam (3,306,549, 23.9%), and clonazepam (2,105,963, 15.2%), with no changes over time. Fifteen percent of prescriptions were for patients 65 years or older.
Conclusion: Despite reports of increased misuse, there was no change in ED discharge benzodiazepine prescribing. Concerningly, alprazolam, a benzodiazepine with high misuse potential, was frequently prescribed despite limited ED indications, and there was a large percentage of visits where benzodiazepines were prescribed to older adults despite warnings for adverse effects in this population. Future studies should assess rational prescribing and the role of targeted interventions to curb inappropriate use.
{"title":"Benzodiazepine Discharge Prescriptions From Emergency Departments Across the United States Between 2012 and 2019: A National Analysis.","authors":"Christine Ramdin, George Mina, Lewis Nelson, Maryann Mazer-Amirshahi","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001310","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Benzodiazepines are commonly misused medications frequently implicated in overdose deaths. Data show that benzodiazepine prescribing is associated with increased misuse. We sought to determine national trends in benzodiazepine prescribing from the emergency department (ED).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective review of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2019. Our primary outcome was to evaluate trends in ED visits where a benzodiazepine was prescribed at discharge. Secondarily, we identified commonly prescribed benzodiazepines and assessed trends over time. We examined demographic data and used descriptive statistics and Spearman rho or Pearson correlation coefficient as applicable.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2012 and 2019, there were 13,848,578 visits where benzodiazepines were prescribed at ED discharge. In 2012 and 2019, there were 1,407,478 visits (1.1% of all ED visits) and 1,361,372 visits (0.9%), respectively, where benzodiazepines were prescribed (mean [SD], 1,731,072 [287,623] [1.26%]), with no trend ( P = 0.31). Common benzodiazepines prescribed were diazepam (5,980,279 visits, 43.2% of all prescriptions), alprazolam (3,306,549, 23.9%), and clonazepam (2,105,963, 15.2%), with no changes over time. Fifteen percent of prescriptions were for patients 65 years or older.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite reports of increased misuse, there was no change in ED discharge benzodiazepine prescribing. Concerningly, alprazolam, a benzodiazepine with high misuse potential, was frequently prescribed despite limited ED indications, and there was a large percentage of visits where benzodiazepines were prescribed to older adults despite warnings for adverse effects in this population. Future studies should assess rational prescribing and the role of targeted interventions to curb inappropriate use.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"451-457"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141081364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-05-31DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001321
Eric Kutscher, Marco Barber Grossi, Fred LaPolla, Joshua D Lee
Background: High potency synthetic opioids like fentanyl have continued to replace or contaminate the supply of illicit drugs in North America, with fentanyl test strips (FTSs) often used as a harm reduction tool for overdose prevention. The available evidence to support FTS for harm reduction has yet to be summarized.
Methods: A search of PubMed, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science was conducted in March 2023. A 2-stage review was conducted to screen by title and abstract and then by full text by 2 reviewers. Data were extracted from each study using a standardized template.
Results: A total of 91 articles were included, mostly from North America, predominantly reporting on FTS along with other harm reduction tools, and all conducted after 2016. No randomized controlled trials are reported. Robust evidence exists supporting the sensitivity and specificity of FTS, along with their acceptability and feasibility of use for people who use drugs and as a public health intervention. However, limited research is available on the efficacy of FTS as a harm reduction tool for behavior change, engagement in care, or overdose prevention.
Conclusions: Though FTSs are highly sensitive and specific for point of care testing, further research is needed to assess the association of FTS use with overdose prevention. Differences in FTS efficacy likely exist between people who use opioids and nonopioid drugs, with additional investigation strongly needed. As drug testing with point-of-care immunoassays is embraced for nonfentanyl contaminants such as xylazine and benzodiazepines, increased investment in examining overdose prevention is necessary.
背景:芬太尼等高效力合成阿片类药物不断取代或污染北美的非法药物供应,芬太尼试纸(FTS)经常被用作预防用药过量的减毒工具。支持芬太尼试纸用于减少伤害的现有证据尚有待总结:方法:2023 年 3 月对 PubMed、Ovid Embase 和 Web of Science 进行了检索。由两名审稿人对研究进行了两阶段审查,首先通过标题和摘要进行筛选,然后通过全文进行筛选。使用标准化模板从每项研究中提取数据:共收录了 91 篇文章,大部分来自北美,主要报告了 FTS 以及其他减低伤害的工具,并且都是在 2016 年之后进行的。未报告随机对照试验。有大量证据支持FTS的灵敏度和特异性,以及其对吸毒者和作为公共卫生干预措施的可接受性和可行性。然而,关于 FTS 作为减少危害的工具在改变行为、参与护理或预防用药过量方面的有效性的研究还很有限:结论:尽管FTS在护理点检测中具有高度灵敏性和特异性,但仍需进一步研究以评估FTS的使用与用药过量预防之间的关联。在使用阿片类药物和非阿片类药物的人群中,FTS 的有效性可能存在差异,因此亟需开展更多调查。随着对非芬太尼污染物(如甲苯噻嗪和苯并二氮杂卓)采用床旁免疫测定进行药物检测,有必要增加对预防用药过量的投资。
{"title":"Fentanyl Test Strips for Harm Reduction: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Eric Kutscher, Marco Barber Grossi, Fred LaPolla, Joshua D Lee","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001321","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>High potency synthetic opioids like fentanyl have continued to replace or contaminate the supply of illicit drugs in North America, with fentanyl test strips (FTSs) often used as a harm reduction tool for overdose prevention. The available evidence to support FTS for harm reduction has yet to be summarized.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A search of PubMed, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science was conducted in March 2023. A 2-stage review was conducted to screen by title and abstract and then by full text by 2 reviewers. Data were extracted from each study using a standardized template.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 91 articles were included, mostly from North America, predominantly reporting on FTS along with other harm reduction tools, and all conducted after 2016. No randomized controlled trials are reported. Robust evidence exists supporting the sensitivity and specificity of FTS, along with their acceptability and feasibility of use for people who use drugs and as a public health intervention. However, limited research is available on the efficacy of FTS as a harm reduction tool for behavior change, engagement in care, or overdose prevention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Though FTSs are highly sensitive and specific for point of care testing, further research is needed to assess the association of FTS use with overdose prevention. Differences in FTS efficacy likely exist between people who use opioids and nonopioid drugs, with additional investigation strongly needed. As drug testing with point-of-care immunoassays is embraced for nonfentanyl contaminants such as xylazine and benzodiazepines, increased investment in examining overdose prevention is necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"373-380"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11290989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141199890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-03DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001326
Jennifer S Jewell, Elizabeth A Bemis, Joshua C Black
Introduction: Counterfeit medications, sometimes referred to as "fake" or falsified drugs or pills, are drugs that are illicitly manufactured but designed to look like legitimate pharmaceuticals. Counterfeit medications are a growing public health concern. This study estimated the prevalence of self-reported use of suspected counterfeit medications by adults in the US and to assess what ingredients these individuals suspected were in the counterfeit medications.
Methods: This general population survey, drawn from an online panel, was administered across 2 waves in 2022 (15 April 3 June and 9 September 21 October) to 59,041 adults aged 18 and older. Statistical calibration weighting was used to calculate estimates representative of the national adult population.
Results: An estimated 1.8% (95% CI 1.7%-1.9%) of respondents, corresponding to approximately 4.6 million adults, suspected past 12-month use of counterfeit medications. Fentanyl was the most commonly suspected ingredient in the counterfeit product (16.1%, 95% CI 12.8%-19.3%). The next most prevalent response was "I don't know" (15.0%, 95% CI 11.0%-18.9%) followed by methamphetamine (14.9%, 95% CI 11.4%-18.4%).
Conclusions: These data show the scale of the issue in relation to other well established drug use data points in the US. System-level methods, such as drug scanning software, should be implemented to reduce the likelihood that counterfeit drugs end up in the hands of individuals.
简介:假药,有时也被称为 "伪造 "或篡改的药品或药片,是指非法生产的药品,但在设计上却与合法药品相似。假药是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。本研究估计了美国成年人自我报告使用疑似假药的普遍程度,并评估这些人怀疑假药中含有哪些成分:这项普通人群调查来自一个在线小组,于 2022 年分两次(4 月 15 日至 6 月 3 日和 9 月 9 日至 10 月 21 日)对 59,041 名 18 岁及以上的成年人进行了调查。采用统计校准加权法计算出代表全国成人人口的估计值:估计有 1.8%(95% CI 1.7%-1.9%)的受访者(相当于约 460 万成年人)怀疑在过去 12 个月中使用过假药。芬太尼是最常被怀疑的假药成分(16.1%,95% CI 12.8%-19.3%)。其次是 "我不知道"(15.0%,95% CI 11.0%-18.9%),然后是甲基苯丙胺(14.9%,95% CI 11.4%-18.4%):这些数据表明,与美国其他成熟的毒品使用数据点相比,这一问题的严重性不言而喻。应采用药物扫描软件等系统级方法来降低假药落入个人手中的可能性。
{"title":"Estimating the Prevalence of Using Suspected Counterfeit Medications in the General Population.","authors":"Jennifer S Jewell, Elizabeth A Bemis, Joshua C Black","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001326","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Counterfeit medications, sometimes referred to as \"fake\" or falsified drugs or pills, are drugs that are illicitly manufactured but designed to look like legitimate pharmaceuticals. Counterfeit medications are a growing public health concern. This study estimated the prevalence of self-reported use of suspected counterfeit medications by adults in the US and to assess what ingredients these individuals suspected were in the counterfeit medications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This general population survey, drawn from an online panel, was administered across 2 waves in 2022 (15 April 3 June and 9 September 21 October) to 59,041 adults aged 18 and older. Statistical calibration weighting was used to calculate estimates representative of the national adult population.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An estimated 1.8% (95% CI 1.7%-1.9%) of respondents, corresponding to approximately 4.6 million adults, suspected past 12-month use of counterfeit medications. Fentanyl was the most commonly suspected ingredient in the counterfeit product (16.1%, 95% CI 12.8%-19.3%). The next most prevalent response was \"I don't know\" (15.0%, 95% CI 11.0%-18.9%) followed by methamphetamine (14.9%, 95% CI 11.4%-18.4%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These data show the scale of the issue in relation to other well established drug use data points in the US. System-level methods, such as drug scanning software, should be implemented to reduce the likelihood that counterfeit drugs end up in the hands of individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"466-469"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141236349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-02-24DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001288
Hui-Wen Song, Jin-Hua Ge, Bi-Xia Xie, Mei-Ting Jiang, Jin-Shui Pan
Objectives: To provide valuable insights for targeted cancer screening among high-risk patients, we analyzed the global and regional burden of neoplasms resulting from alcohol consumption between 1990 and 2019.
Methods: The information used in this study was collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 dataset. Initially, the database was used to extract details of mortality rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the number of individuals affected by alcohol-related neoplasms (ARNs). Subsequently, the data were compared by cancer type, sex, age, region, and sociodemographic index. Furthermore, the study involved the calculation and comparison of estimated annual percentage changes in age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDRs) and mortality rates.
Results: The impact of alcohol on the burden of cancer varied by type of cancer, sex, age, and geographical location. Notably, males exhibited significantly higher ASDRs compared with females. Specifically, in 2019, alcohol emerged as the primary contributor to the number of DALYs associated with esophageal cancer, followed by liver cancer and colorectal cancer in men. Patients aged 50+ years exhibited a heightened rate of DALYs associated with ARNs. From 1990 to 2019, ASDRs among individuals with ARNs did not exhibit a decline in low-middle and low sociodemographic index regions.
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption represents a significant risk factor for the burden of cancer, particularly within the realm of digestive system malignancies. Consequently, targeted cancer screening efforts should be directed toward the population that engages in alcohol drinking, with a particular focus on men aged 50 years and older, residing in economically disadvantaged areas.
{"title":"Global and Regional Burden and Trend of Neoplasms Attributable to Alcohol Consumption in the Past 3 Decades.","authors":"Hui-Wen Song, Jin-Hua Ge, Bi-Xia Xie, Mei-Ting Jiang, Jin-Shui Pan","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001288","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To provide valuable insights for targeted cancer screening among high-risk patients, we analyzed the global and regional burden of neoplasms resulting from alcohol consumption between 1990 and 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The information used in this study was collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 dataset. Initially, the database was used to extract details of mortality rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the number of individuals affected by alcohol-related neoplasms (ARNs). Subsequently, the data were compared by cancer type, sex, age, region, and sociodemographic index. Furthermore, the study involved the calculation and comparison of estimated annual percentage changes in age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDRs) and mortality rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The impact of alcohol on the burden of cancer varied by type of cancer, sex, age, and geographical location. Notably, males exhibited significantly higher ASDRs compared with females. Specifically, in 2019, alcohol emerged as the primary contributor to the number of DALYs associated with esophageal cancer, followed by liver cancer and colorectal cancer in men. Patients aged 50+ years exhibited a heightened rate of DALYs associated with ARNs. From 1990 to 2019, ASDRs among individuals with ARNs did not exhibit a decline in low-middle and low sociodemographic index regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Alcohol consumption represents a significant risk factor for the burden of cancer, particularly within the realm of digestive system malignancies. Consequently, targeted cancer screening efforts should be directed toward the population that engages in alcohol drinking, with a particular focus on men aged 50 years and older, residing in economically disadvantaged areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"381-388"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139971949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-01Epub Date: 2024-03-05DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001290
Katherine Hill, Oliver Grundmann, Kirsten E Smith, Corneliu N Stanciu
Objectives: Kratom leaf products are increasingly consumed in the United States, with many consumers reporting they experience beneficial effects from kratom use. However, there is a growing concern for kratom's potential to result in dependence when used regularly. As such, we sought to assess, using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , (DSM-5) , diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, the prevalence of "kratom use disorder" (KUD) among kratom consumers.
Methods: Our cross-sectional study used an online, anonymous survey between February and May 2023. Through nonprobability sampling, we recruited people older than 18 years who currently consume kratom. Participants were asked about their kratom consumption patterns, adverse effects perceived to stem from kratom consumption, comorbid diagnoses, and components for a DSM-5 , substance use disorder, adapted for kratom.
Results: Among the total sample ( N = 2061), KUD criteria were met by 25.5% of participants ( n = 525); the most commonly reported symptoms were tolerance ( n = 427, 81.3%) and withdrawal ( n = 357, 68.0%). After adjusting for age, gender, daily frequency of kratom consumption, and history of either a substance use disorder or a mental health condition, those with a concurrent diagnosis of another substance use disorder had 2.83 times higher odds of meeting KUD criteria (95% CI, 2.19-3.67) compared with those without one.
Conclusions: In this large cross-sectional study, most participants who met the criteria for a KUD diagnosis were categorized as having a mild or moderate KUD. Individual characteristics associated with KUD were related to being male, young, consuming kratom frequently, and having psychiatric and substance use disorder comorbidities.
{"title":"Prevalence of Kratom Use Disorder Among Kratom Consumers.","authors":"Katherine Hill, Oliver Grundmann, Kirsten E Smith, Corneliu N Stanciu","doi":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001290","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ADM.0000000000001290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Kratom leaf products are increasingly consumed in the United States, with many consumers reporting they experience beneficial effects from kratom use. However, there is a growing concern for kratom's potential to result in dependence when used regularly. As such, we sought to assess, using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , (DSM-5) , diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, the prevalence of \"kratom use disorder\" (KUD) among kratom consumers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our cross-sectional study used an online, anonymous survey between February and May 2023. Through nonprobability sampling, we recruited people older than 18 years who currently consume kratom. Participants were asked about their kratom consumption patterns, adverse effects perceived to stem from kratom consumption, comorbid diagnoses, and components for a DSM-5 , substance use disorder, adapted for kratom.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the total sample ( N = 2061), KUD criteria were met by 25.5% of participants ( n = 525); the most commonly reported symptoms were tolerance ( n = 427, 81.3%) and withdrawal ( n = 357, 68.0%). After adjusting for age, gender, daily frequency of kratom consumption, and history of either a substance use disorder or a mental health condition, those with a concurrent diagnosis of another substance use disorder had 2.83 times higher odds of meeting KUD criteria (95% CI, 2.19-3.67) compared with those without one.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this large cross-sectional study, most participants who met the criteria for a KUD diagnosis were categorized as having a mild or moderate KUD. Individual characteristics associated with KUD were related to being male, young, consuming kratom frequently, and having psychiatric and substance use disorder comorbidities.</p>","PeriodicalId":14744,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Addiction Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"306-312"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140028041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}