Drug and Alcohol Dependence

BACKGROUND: Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are a crucial intervention for pregnant and postpartum individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, there is paucity of data on the factors associated with MOUD treatment success in this population. This scoping review aimed to evaluate factors associated with MOUD success during the pregnancy and postpartum period. METHODS: We completed a structured search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases...

BACKGROUND: Substance use during pregnancy is underreported globally and there is limited data on its prevalence and the availability of supportive services. This study determined population perinatal substance use in British Columbia (BC) by region and examined the availability of clinical and community-based programs. METHODS: Using linked provincial health administrative data, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study including all BC residents accessing care for substance use (alcohol, opioids, stimulants, sedatives, and cannabis) within 12 months of first perinatal care record to delivery during 2016-2021...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of buprenorphine within non-hospital residential programs. We hypothesize that programs offering long-term treatment will be less likely to accept or prescribe buprenorphine, but those that accept public insurance will demonstrate relative increased likelihood of buprenorphine availability. METHOD: This study analyzed data from the 2021 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey. The analytic sample (n=3654) included a subset of facilities that reported providing only substance use treatment, including three non-mutually exclusive service types: detox, short-term, and long-term...

BACKGROUND: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is an effective treatment but is associated with poor adherence during smoking cessation attempts. This study aimed to determine if In Vivo Sampling, an experiential intervention that includes sampling of NRT in-session, increases NRT adherence and smoking abstinence compared to standard smoking cessation behavioral counseling. METHODS: Eligible participants were under community corrections supervision and smoked five or more cigarettes per day for the past year...

BACKGROUND: Injectable extended-release buprenorphine (BUP-ER) (Sublocade®) is a newer form of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) administered monthly. It was listed on formularies across Canada in February 2020, expanding the options for OAT across the country. This study describes rates of injectable BUP-ER uptake in five provinces to compare access to this novel medication across Canada. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective time-series analysis among individuals who received injectable BUP-ER in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario from February 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022...

BACKGROUND: Understanding the motivational processes that influence e-cigarette use in a laboratory setting may help elucidate mechanisms that support long-term ecigarette use, which could have significant clinical and public health consequences. METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted on data from exclusive smokers (N=47) and dual users (N=88) who underwent a laboratory ad lib use session. Participants were given 10minutes to smoke (exclusive smokers) or vape (dual users) as much as they wanted...

BACKGROUND: In February 2021, Measure 110 (M110) in Oregon decriminalized noncommercial possession of drugs. We examined criminal legal system (CLS) involvement of people who use drugs (PWUD) 2 years after decriminalization. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative survey of PWUD (N=468) in eight Oregon counties between March and November 2023. We ran multivariable models to examine predictors of CLS involvement and law enforcement stops. RESULTS: The majority of PWUD (74 %) reported any past year CLS involvement; 67 % had at least one law enforcement stop (mean of 11...

PURPOSE: The combination of fentanyl and xylazine (i.e., "tranq-dope") was recently declared an emerging national health threat in the United States. Given the recency of this development, very little is known regarding the behavioral pharmacology of fentanyl-xylazine combinations. The purpose of this study was to characterize the somatic and affective withdrawal symptoms of this drug combination. METHODS: Male and female Long Evans rats were given twice daily (08:00 and 20:00) subcutaneous injections of fentanyl, xylazine, or combined fentanyl-xylazine for five days...

INTRODUCTION: Heroin dependence is a public health concern in Australia. High mortality rates, increased risk of physical/mental health comorbidities and increased risk of social issues contribute to a high personal and societal cost. The aim of this paper is to understand the societal cost of heroin dependence in an Australian population. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study of 600 people with heroin dependence were interviewed at five timepoints. Resource use was determined from interviews and was multiplied by unit costs to estimate the annual healthcare, productivity, crime and other costs (homelessness, heroin drug and prison costs)...

BACKGROUND: Illicitly manufactured fentanyl accounts for a majority of overdose fatalities in the US. Research has demonstrated that fentanyl test strips (FTS) help people who use drugs (PWUD) avoid unintended exposure to fentanyl and overdose. This study assesses characteristics associated with FTS use among PWUD in Rhode Island. Such findings may shed light on whether there are subgroups of PWUD who are less likely to be using FTS and therefore may benefit from their use. METHODS: From September 2020 - February 2023, participants were recruited to participate in RAPIDS, a clinical trial assessing whether FTS provision can reduce overdose rates...

OBJECTIVES: The psychology of moral decision-making classically contrasts utilitarianism (based on consequences) and deontology (based on moral norms). Previous studies capitalizing on this dichotomy have suggested the presence of a utilitarian bias among patients with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD). We aimed to further disentangle the processes involved in such bias through a more validated approach, the CNI model of moral decision-making. This model allows to go further than the classical approach by distinguishing sensitivity to consequences (C), to moral norms (N), and general preference for inaction over action (I) in response to moral dilemmas...

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have a potential use in addiction treatment. Few studies have assessed the impact of GLP-1RA on substance use disorder (SUD), particularly in humans. The study aimed to do systematic review of clinical trials to assess GLP-1RA's effect on reducing SUD in patients. METHODS: The scientific literature was reviewed using the MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases, following PRISMA guidelines...

INTRODUCTION: Opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. have risen dramatically in the past decade, largely due to the surge in illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Injection drug use is a known risk factor for HIV, further complicating the long-term consequences of opioid use. The baseline prevalence of HIV among adults in the US is 0.46 %. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HIV among patients presenting to the emergency departments (ED) with an acute opioid overdose...

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies and theoretical models suggest that the decreasing effect of smoking-related cues on inhibitory control in individuals who smoke is one of the underlying mechanisms of smoking behavior. However, many studies have overlooked the effects of other types of smoking-related cues, such as social cues. Moreover, previous studies have lacked investigation into whether this decreasing effect is influenced by internal factors. The present study aims to integrate behavioral and electrophysiological indicators to investigate the effect of smoking social cues on inhibitory control in individuals who smoke, as well as the moderating role of social motivations...

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have proposed the use of dual orexin receptor antagonists, such as suvorexant, for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid-related sleep disturbances because of orexin's role in sleep-wake regulation and addiction. Accumulating evidence suggests that orexin is also an important modulator of respiratory function, raising the possibility of adverse respiratory events when combining orexin antagonists and opioids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of suvorexant, alone or in combination with the opioid oxycodone, on pulmonary ventilation in male rats...

BACKGROUND: For individuals who wish to reduce their cannabis use without formal help, there are a variety of self-help tools available. Although some are proven to be effective in reducing cannabis use, effect sizes are typically small. More insight into predictors of successful reduction of use among individuals who frequently use cannabis and desire to reduce/quit could help identify factors that contribute to successful cannabis use moderation. METHODS: We analyzed data taken from a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of the digital cannabis intervention ICan to four online modules of educational information on cannabis...

BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a predisposing and maintaining factor of alcohol use behavior. Several studies have linked loneliness to daily drinking and elevated alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk; however, operationalizations of both loneliness and drinking have varied greatly. METHODS: The current study adopted a multidimensional framework of loneliness (i.e., emotional and social subtypes) to examine daily prospective relations between loneliness and drinking among non-treatment seeking individuals with AUD...

UNLABELLED: Overdose fatality review teams (OFRTs) are becoming more common across U.S. communities as a means of addressing the overdose epidemic and improving local overdose prevention strategies; however, empirical examinations of the work of OFRTs are lacking. The current study seeks to characterize recommendations for local overdose prevention strategies made by county-level OFRTs across Indiana in order to understand their practices. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive content analysis was conducted on recommendations made by 19 county-level OFRTs across Indiana in 2022...

SIGNIFICANCE: Tobacco product design features, including flavors and cigarette filter ventilation, are subject to regulation. This study examined the effects of cigarette and e-cigarette flavors on demand and substitution by preferred cigarette flavor and ventilation in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM). METHODS: In a mixed between-group (usual cigarette flavor and ventilation)/within-subject design (policy conditions), individuals who use tobacco (n=176 cigarette (60...

Marijuana use among adolescents and young adults has increased, however, there is a paucity of research concerning marijuana use among adolescents in rural areas. Current literature holds the assumption that adolescents in rural areas tend to use less marijuana and marijuana associated products compared with youth from urban and suburban areas. However, geographical features may contribute to unique stressors experienced by rural youth, resulting in distinct differences in usage that have been previously unexplored...