Objectives: Although safety and effectiveness of medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) are well established for adults, literature on these medications in pregnancy is limited. Given known adverse effects of untreated AUD during pregnancy, clinicians and researchers have recently begun to call for reconsidering use of medications for AUD in pregnancy. Thus, we sought to estimate the proportion of birthing people with an alcohol-related diagnosis who received a prescription for medication related to AUD treatment.
Methods: Data were from Meritive MarketScan, a national private insurance claims database. The study cohort included birthing people aged 25-50 who gave birth to a singleton in the United States between 2006 and 2019 and were matched with an infant. Variables included an alcohol-related diagnosis within a year of birth and receiving a prescription for a medication related to AUD treatment. We calculated proportions with alcohol-related diagnoses who received any AUD medication and each medication type.
Results: Of 1,432,979 birthing person-infant dyads, 2517 (0.18%) had an alcohol-related diagnosis. Of those with an alcohol-related diagnosis, 8.70% (n = 219) received any medication. The most common was gabapentin (4.69%, n = 118), with benzodiazepines for withdrawal as the second most common (2.19%, n = 55). Approximately 2% received naltrexone (1.91%, n = 48) and/or disulfiram (1.39%, n = 35); 0.56% (n = 14) received acamprosate. No one with an alcohol-related diagnosis received phenobarbital. Almost all medications were received postpartum.
Conclusions: Very few pregnant/postpartum people with alcohol-related diagnoses are prescribed medications related to AUD treatment. Research is needed to examine whether benefits of these medications during pregnancy outweigh harms.
Objectives: Widespread naloxone distribution is key to mitigating opioid-related morbidity, but stigma remains a barrier. Naloxone stigma among providers, emergency responders, and the public is well-documented and associated with treatment and policy preferences, but little is known about naloxone stigma among people who use drugs (PWUD), who may be overdose first responders. This study examines naloxone stigma, its correlates, and its association with stigma toward medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among PWUD.
Methods: We recruited 293 individuals with a history of substance misuse from facilities that provide substance use and/or health care services (retained n = 195, 54% women, 75% White). Participants completed self-report measures, including the 5-item Naloxone-Related Risk Compensation Beliefs scale.
Results: One in 5 respondents agreed with beliefs that access to naloxone leads to more opioid use and less treatment seeking and is "enabling." Those with nonopioid drug misuse, without prior overdose, and with fewer recovery attempts endorsed more naloxone stigma. Opioid misuse, prior overdose, and MOUD utilization were also inversely associated with MOUD stigma. There were no demographic differences in either stigma type. Naloxone stigma was positively associated with MOUD stigma in adjusted models.
Conclusions: This is the first study to quantitatively examine naloxone stigma among PWUD. Findings emphasize the potential role of overdose education and naloxone distribution among those earlier in the substance use disorder course and who use nonopioid drugs. They support integrating MOUD stigma interventions into current overdose education and naloxone distribution targeted at PWUD to increase the acceptance and uptake of both medications.
Background: The dosing regimen in the package insert for sublingual buprenorphine is similar for pregnant and nonpregnant people despite the physiologic changes seen during pregnancy.
Aims: To compare plasma buprenorphine pharmacokinetics during and after pregnancy and relate buprenorphine concentration to the pharmacodynamic endpoints of pupil diameter, Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS), and craving scores.
Study design: Prospective cohort of 22 pregnant people undergoing 33 pharmacologic studies (6-8 hours each) during pregnancy or postpartum. Participants were on a stable daily dose of 2-8 mg sublingual buprenorphine every 6 or 8 hours. The dosing frequency was selected by the participant. On study day, baseline measurements of plasma buprenorphine, pupil diameter, COWS, and craving scores were obtained, then the usual morning dose was taken, and measurements were repeated several times over 1 dosing interval.
Findings: The dose-normalized area under the plasma buprenorphine concentration time curve was significantly (P = 0.036) lower during pregnancy (155 ± 52 ng × min/mL) than postpartum (218 ± 113 ng × min/mL). Buprenorphine trough concentrations were similar at the start (1.1 ± 0.7 ng/mL) and end of a dosing cycle (1.2 ± 0.8 ng/mL) regardless of dosing frequency. Pupillary diameter, COWS, and craving scores returned to baseline as buprenorphine concentrations approached ~1 ng/mL.
Conclusions: Pregnant people require a higher dose of buprenorphine to achieve concentrations comparable to nonpregnant people. There is a temporal relationship between the plasma buprenorphine concentration and the pharmacodynamic markers of pupillary diameter, COWS, and craving scores. An average plasma concentration of ~1 ng/mL was associated with the lowest level of COWS and craving scores.
Objectives: The United States faces an ongoing drug overdose crisis, but accurate information on the prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) remains limited. A recent analysis by Keyes et al used a multiplier approach with drug poisoning mortality data to estimate OUD prevalence. Although insightful, this approach made stringent and partly inconsistent assumptions in interpreting mortality data, particularly synthetic opioid (SO)-involved and non-opioid-involved mortality. We revise that approach and resulting estimates to resolve inconsistencies and examine several alternative assumptions.
Methods: We examine 4 adjustments to Keyes and colleagues' estimation approach: (A) revising how the equations account for SO effects on mortality, (B) incorporating fentanyl prevalence data to inform estimates of SO lethality, (C) using opioid-involved drug poisoning data to estimate a plausible range for OUD prevalence, and (D) adjusting mortality data to account for underreporting of opioid involvement.
Results: Revising the estimation equation and SO lethality effect (adj. A and B) while using Keyes and colleagues' original assumption that people with OUD account for all fatal drug poisonings yields slightly higher estimates, with OUD population reaching 9.3 million in 2016 before declining to 7.6 million by 2019. Using only opioid-involved drug poisoning data (adj. C and D) provides a lower range, peaking at 6.4 million in 2014-2015 and declining to 3.8 million in 2019.
Conclusions: The revised estimation equation presented is feasible and addresses limitations of the earlier method and hence should be used in future estimations. Alternative assumptions around drug poisoning data can also provide a plausible range of estimates for OUD population.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify distinct trajectories of prescription opioid exposure in pregnancy-encompassing both medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and opioid analgesics-and explore their associations with birth outcomes.
Methods: Trajectories were identified using latent class analysis among Wisconsin Medicaid-insured live births 2011-2019. Logistic regression estimated associations between these trajectories and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), small for gestational age, preterm birth, birth weight, and gestational age.
Results: Of 138,123 births, 27,293 (19.8%) had prenatal opioid exposure. Five trajectory classes were identified: (1) stable MOUD treatment (5.8%), (2) inconsistent MOUD treatment (3.9%), (3) chronic analgesic use (4.2%), (4) intermittent analgesic use (7.8%), and (5) low-level use of MOUD and analgesics (78.3%). NOWS incidence per 1000 infants was 667 for class 1 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 21.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.89, 26.41), 570 for class 2 (aOR: 15.35, 95% CI: 12.49, 18.87), 235 for class 3 (aOR: 19.42, 95% CI: 15.93, 23.68), 67 for class 4 (aOR: 6.23, 95% CI: 4.99, 7.76), and 12 for class 5 (aOR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.02). Classes 1-4 had elevated risk of small for gestational age, preterm birth, lower birth weight, and shorter gestational age, with no significant differences among these classes. Among individuals with opioid use disorder, stable MOUD treatment was associated with higher birth weights and longer gestational ages compared to inconsistent treatment, despite higher odds of NOWS.
Conclusions: Early initiation and consistent MOUD treatment may improve birth weight and gestational age. For pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder using chronic analgesics, transition to MOUD may promote birth outcomes.
Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of severe nausea and vomiting, often associated with prolonged and excessive cannabis use. With the recent legalization and rising consumption of cannabidiol (CBD) in Europe and the United States, concerns have emerged about its potential role in triggering similar symptoms.
Case report: A 32-year-old male with a history of cannabis, tobacco and alcohol use disorder experienced multiple cyclic vomiting episodes after switching from cannabis to CBD. Initially, the patient presented with abdominal pain and vomiting after ceasing cannabis use, with symptoms alleviated by hot showers. Three months later, similar symptoms reappeared despite abstinence from cannabis but regular CBD consumption. Over the next 6 months, recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and vomiting persisted with daily CBD use but no cannabis consumption. Clinical data, laboratory results, and treatment responses were analyzed to investigate the connection between CBD consumption and symptom onset.
Discussion: The pathophysiology of cannabis-induced cyclic vomiting is poorly understood. Hypotheses include tetrahydrocannabinol accumulation in adipose tissue, pyrolytic conversion of CBD into tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD's intrinsic effects, particularly its interaction with transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors. Our analysis suggests that high doses of CBD may activate transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors, inducing proemetic effects.
Conclusions: Although the connection between CBD and cyclic vomiting remains uncertain, it warrants further investigation. The increasing use of CBD, perceived as a safe dietary supplement, underscores the need to understand its potential health impacts better.
Objective: Little is known about naloxone care practices for peripartum persons from the patient or provider perspectives. The objective of this study was to survey peripartum persons and providers about naloxone-related practices.
Methods: Individuals who had an OUD diagnosis during a pregnancy and Ohio healthcare professionals who provide care for peripartum patients with OUD and/or infants with prenatal exposure to opioids were eligible for this study. Patient experiences were assessed through a survey codeveloped with members with lived experience of opioid use disorder. Provider perspectives were examined through a survey codeveloped by the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine the proportion of participants who received or provided naloxone care practices and the effect on having a naloxone kit during the perinatal period.
Results: Of the 100 peripartum participants with opioid use disorder, 24% reported receiving naloxone from their prenatal care provider and 48% reported ever having a naloxone kit during the perinatal period. Of the 63 maternal care provider participants, 32 (49%) reported discussing or prescribing naloxone to pregnant patients. Of the 62 pediatric provider participants, 10 (16%) reported that they provide naloxone information to parenting individuals of their patients.
Conclusion: Study results demonstrate critical gaps in naloxone care practices for peripartum persons, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions at the patient, clinician, practice, and system levels.