Prescription opioid dispensing patterns among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia (SZ) or bipolar disorder (BD) may have increased risk of complications from prescribed opioids, including opioid-induced respiratory depression. We compared prescription opioid pain medication dispensing for patients with SZ or BD versus controls over 5 years to assess dispensing trends. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study analysed US claims data from the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Multi-State Medicaid databases for individuals aged 18-64 years with prevalent SZ or BD for years 2015-2019 compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and medication use were assessed. Proportions of individuals dispensed prescription opioids chronically (ie, ≥70 days over a 90-day period or ≥ 6 prescriptions annually) or nonchronically (≥1 prescription, chronic definition not met) were assessed. RESULTS: In 2019, the Commercial and Medicaid databases contained records for 4773 and 30,179 patients with SZ and 52,780 and 63,455 patients with BD, respectively. Patients with SZ or BD had a higher prevalence of comorbidities, including pain, versus controls in each analysis year. From 2015 to 2019, among commercially insured patients with SZ, chronic opioid-dispensing proportions decreased from 6.1% (controls: 2.7%) to 2.3% (controls: 1.2%) and, for patients with BD, from 11.4% (controls: 2.7%) to 6.4% (controls: 1.6%). Chronic opioid dispensing declined in Medicaid-covered patients with SZ from 15.0% (controls: 14.7%) to 6.7% (controls: 6.0%) and, for patients with BD, from 27.4% (controls: 12.0%) to 12.4% (controls: 4.7%). Among commercially insured patients with SZ, nonchronic opioid dispensing decreased from 15.5% (controls: 16.4%) to 10.7% (controls: 11.0%) and, for patients with BD, from 26.1% (controls: 17.5%) to 20.0% (controls: 12.2%). In Medicaid-covered patients with SZ, nonchronic opioid dispensing declined from 22.5% (controls: 24.4%) to 15.1% (controls: 12.7%) and, for patients with BD, from 32.3% (controls: 25.9%) to 24.6% (controls: 13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportions of individuals dispensed chronic or nonchronic opioid medications each year were similar between commercially and Medicaid-insured patients with SZ versus controls and were higher for patients with BD versus controls. From 2015 to 2019, the proportions of individuals who were dispensed prescription opioids chronically or nonchronically decreased for patients with SZ or BD and controls.

Characteristics and treatment preferences of individuals with opioid use disorder seeking to transition from buprenorphine to extended-release naltrexone in a residential setting.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment for individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) should follow an informed patient-centered approach. To better support patient autonomy in the decision-making process, clinicians should be aware of patient preferences and be prepared to educate and assist patients in transitioning from one MOUD to another, when clinically indicated. This posthoc analysis describes the characteristics of clinical trial participants (NCT02696434) with a history of opioid use disorder (OUD) seeking to transition from buprenorphine (BUP) to extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX). METHODS: The posthoc analysis included adults with OUD currently receiving BUP (≤8 mg/day) and seeking transition to XR-NTX (N = 101) in a residential setting. Baseline participant characteristics and OUD treatment history were reviewed. All patients completed a screening questionnaire that asked about their reasons for seeking transition to XR-NTX and for choosing BUP. RESULTS: The most common reasons for initiating a transition to XR-NTX were "Seeking to be opioid-free" (63.4%) and "Tired of daily pill taking" (25.7%). Positive predictors of transition included a more extensive BUP treatment history and a history of prescription opioid abuse. Most participants stated they were not aware of XR-NTX as a treatment option when initiating BUP (78.2%). DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patients' reasons for seeking XR-NTX transition, more extensive BUP treatment history, and a history of prescription opioid abuse, may positively predict outcomes. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: These findings may assist clinicians in optimizing outcomes of the BUP to XR-NTX transition and supporting patients to make better informed MOUD decisions.

Patient characteristics associated with initiation of XR-naltrexone for opioid use disorder in clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) is effective for treatment of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), but initiation remains a barrier due to the challenge of tolerating opioid withdrawal prior to administration. Understanding factors associated with successful initiation of XR-naltrexone could facilitate its implementation through patient-treatment matching. METHODS: We combined data from five consecutive studies that sought to initiate patients with active opioid use onto XR-naltrexone using a rapid procedure consisting of minimal buprenorphine, non-opioid medications for treating opioid withdrawal, and ascending low doses of oral naltrexone. Associations between patient characteristics and initiating naltrexone were estimated with logistic regression models. To evaluate whether associations differed between inpatient and outpatient settings, patient characteristic-by-setting interactions were also estimated. RESULTS: 409 patients were included in the analyses and 228 (56%) received the first injection. A significantly greater percent of inpatients (62%) vs outpatients (48%) initiated XR-naltrexone. Initiation success was significantly more likely on an inpatient basis for heroin (60.9% inpatient vs 36.2% outpatient), intravenous (56.3% inpatient vs 22.5% outpatient), and speedball users (68.1% inpatient vs 32.3% outpatient). Prescription opioid users showed similar, higher initiation rates across settings (68.9% inpatient; 73.7% outpatient). CONCLUSIONS: An inpatient setting may be the preferred strategy for rapid initiation of XR-naltrexone for opioid users with greater severity, including heroin or speedball injection users or those who use opioids intravenously. Initiation on an outpatient basis may be more likely to succeed for prescription opioid users.

Patterns of withdrawal in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) transitioning from untreated OUD or buprenorphine treatment to extended-release naltrexone.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacologic treatment is recommended for many individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). For patients who select opioid antagonist treatment, effective management of opioid withdrawal symptoms during transition to antagonist treatment requires consideration of the patient experience. OBJECTIVES: To compare patterns of opioid withdrawal between those withdrawing from untreated opioid use and those withdrawing from buprenorphine. METHODS: We performed a post hoc, cross-study comparison of the temporal pattern of opioid withdrawal during 1-week induction onto extended-release naltrexone by similar protocols enrolling two participant populations: participants with OUD entering a study with untreated opioid use (N = 378, NCT02537574) or on stable buprenorphine (BUP) treatment (N = 101, NCT02696434). RESULTS: The temporal pattern of withdrawal from induction day 1 through day 7 differed between the two participant populations for Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Score (COWS) and Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Score (SOWS): participants with untreated OUD prior to study entry were more likely to experience an earlier relative peak in opioid withdrawal followed by a gradual decline, whereas participants on stable BUP treatment prior to study entry were more likely to experience a relatively later, though still mild, peak opioid withdrawal. The peak COWS was reached at a mean (standard deviation) of 1.9 (1.5) days for participants with untreated OUD and 5.0 (1.5) days for participants on stable BUP. Daily peak cravings were generally higher for participants with untreated OUD than participants on stable BUP. CONCLUSION: Awareness of population-specific variations in the patient experience of opioid withdrawal may help clinicians anticipate the expected course of withdrawal.

Evaluation of Opioid Overdose Reports in Patients Treated with Extended-Release Naltrexone: Postmarketing Data from 2006 to 2018.

INTRODUCTION: After treatment with naltrexone extended-release injectable suspension (XR-NTX), a µ-opioid receptor antagonist, opioid tolerance is reduced from pretreatment baseline. Patients may be vulnerable to opioid overdose if they attempt to override the blockade during treatment, at the end of a dosing interval, after missing a dose, or after discontinuing treatment. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed postmarketing data to characterize reporting rates of opioid overdose during treatment with and after discontinuation of XR-NTX. METHODS: Postmarketing adverse event reports within the XR-NTX safety database, received 2006-2018, for patients treated with XR-NTX for any indication were reviewed for opioid overdose cases. Assessable cases were categorized by timing of the event from the last dose of XR-NTX (latency): ≤28 days (on treatment), 29-56 days, and >56 days from last dose of XR-NTX. Within each latency group, cases were further classified as serious and, of those, cases that had a fatal outcome. RESULTS: During the 12-year period, an estimated 495,602 patients received XR-NTX. Opioid overdose was reported in 161 cases; of these, 66 contained sufficient information to determine latency. Reporting rates of opioid overdose per 10,000 patients treated were similar among latency groups: 0.54 for ≤28 days (0.24 fatal), 0.34 for 29-56 days (0.16 fatal), and 0.44 for >56 days (0.40 fatal) from the last dose of XR-NTX. CONCLUSIONS: Over the 12-year period, the reporting rates of opioid overdose were similar during treatment with or after discontinuation of XR-NTX and <10/10,000 patients exposed. Our findings are limited by the nature of spontaneously reported safety data.

Cognitive performance of patients with opioid use disorder transitioned to extended-release injectable naltrexone from buprenorphine: Post hoc analysis of exploratory results of a phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Understanding how pharmacotherapy may affect cognition is an important treatment consideration. METHODS: This was a hybrid residential-outpatient, randomized trial assessing transition regimens (naltrexone/buprenorphine [NTX/BUP] vs placebo-NTX/buprenorphine [PBO-N]/BUP) to extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) in patients with OUD seeking BUP discontinuation. Cognition was assessed at baseline, Day 22 (XR-NTX Day 14), and Day 36 (XR-NTX Day 28) using a range of measures (Brief Assessment of Cognition Symbol Coding test, Controlled Oral Word Association Task, Wechsler Memory Scale-III Spatial Span test, Continuous Performance Test, and Test of Attentional Performance). Pre-specified exploratory analyses compared treatment groups. Post hoc analyses were treatment-arm-independent analyses overall and by baseline BUP dose (<8 mg/day [low-dose] or 8 mg/day [higher-dose]). RESULTS: Baseline cognitive measures were similar between NTX/BUP and PBO-N/BUP groups and between BUP low-dose and higher-dose groups. There were improvements in several cognitive outcomes at Day 22 and Day 36 relative to baseline for the overall population, but no differences between NTX/BUP and PBO-N/BUP treatment groups were observed. Participants entering the study on low-dose BUP showed improvements at Day 36 relative to baseline in 5 of 7 cognitive outcomes; participants entering the study on higher-dose BUP generally did not show improvements in cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in most cognitive domains were associated with the transition from BUP to XR-NTX, particularly in participants entering the study on low-dose (<8 mg/day) BUP. These improvements may be due to the discontinuation of BUP, the treatment with XR-NTX, or both.

Transition of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder from Buprenorphine to Extended-Release Naltrexone: A Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing Two Transition Regimens.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: When patients seek to discontinue buprenorphine (BUP) treatment, monthly injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) may help them avoid relapse. The efficacy of low ascending doses of oral NTX vs placebo for patients transitioning from BUP to XR-NTX is evaluated in this study. METHODS: In a phase 3, hybrid residential/outpatient study, clinically stable participants with opioid use disorder (N = 101), receiving BUP for more than or equal to 3 months and seeking antagonist treatment, were randomized (1:1) to 7 residential days of descending doses of BUP and low ascending doses of oral NTX (NTX/BUP, n = 50) or placebo (PBO-N/BUP, n = 51). Both groups received standing ancillary medications and psychoeducational counseling. Following negative naloxone challenge, participants received XR-NTX (day 8). The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who received and tolerated XR-NTX. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between groups for participants receiving a first dose of XR-NTX: 68.6% (NTX/BUP) vs 76.0% (PBO-N/BUP; P = .407). The mean number of days with peak Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score less than or equal to 12 during the treatment period (days 1-7) was similar for NTX/BUP and PBO-N/BUP groups (5.8 vs 6.3; P = .511). Opioid withdrawal symptoms during XR-NTX induction and post-XR-NTX observation period (days 8-11) were mild and similar between groups (mean peak COWS score: NTX/BUP, 5.1 vs PBO-N/BUP, 5.4; P = .464). Adverse events were mostly mild/moderate. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Low ascending doses of oral NTX did not increase induction rates onto XR-NTX compared with placebo. The overall rate of successful induction across treatment groups supports a brief BUP taper with standing ancillary medications as a well-tolerated approach for patients seeking transition from BUP to XR-NTX. (Am J Addict 2020;00:00-00).

Opioid use and dropout from extended-release naltrexone in a controlled trial: implications for mechanism.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Extended-release formulations of naltrexone have emerged as effective treatment options for opioid use disorder. This post-hoc analysis examined the temporal relationship between episodes of opioid use and subsequent dropout in a placebo-controlled trial of extended-release injection naltrexone (XR-NTX) to draw inferences about the mechanism by which extended blockade of opioid receptors translates into clinical effectiveness. DESIGN: This was a 24-week multiple-site, double-blind, randomized trial of monthly XR-NTX versus placebo injections. We analyzed time to dropout from treatment using survival analysis with an extended Cox model as a function of treatment (XR-NTX versus placebo) and with weekly urine drug test (UDT) results for opioids at each week as a time-dependent covariate. SETTING: Thirteen addiction treatment programs in Russia, 2008-09. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 250 adults with opioid use disorder who had completed in-patient detoxification. INTERVENTION: XR-NTX injection or placebo injection every 4 weeks with weekly clinic visits and biweekly counseling. MEASUREMENTS: Urine toxicology for opioids measured weekly and week of dropout from treatment. FINDINGS: The Cox model yielded a significant interaction of time-dependent urine toxicology by treatment (P = 0.024). Among patients receiving placebo, a positive UDT in a given week increased the risk for dropout from treatment in the subsequent week [hazard ratio (HR) = 6.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.6-10.0], whereas among patients receiving XR-NTX, a positive UDT result showed no significant effect on risk for dropout (HR = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.6-4.5). The proportion of patients who completed all 24 weeks without any positive UDT result was 31% on XR-NTX compared with 20% on placebo (P = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: Extended-release injection naltrexone was effective at reducing the risk of dropout from opioid use disorder treatment after an episode of opioid use. Just under a third of patients (31%) on XR-NTX had no opioid-positive urine tests across the trial, but the hypothesis that this would differ from placebo (20%) was not confirmed.

A Randomized Trial Comparing Extended-Release Injectable Suspension and Oral Naltrexone, Both Combined With Behavioral Therapy, for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The oral formulation of the opioid antagonist naltrexone has shown limited effectiveness for treatment of opioid use disorder due to poor adherence. Long-acting injection naltrexone (XR-naltrexone), administered monthly, circumvents the need for daily pill taking, potentially improving adherence, and has been shown to be superior to placebo in reducing opioid use over 6 months of treatment. This open-label trial compared the outcomes of patients with opioid use disorder treated with XR-naltrexone or oral naltrexone in combination with behavioral therapy. METHOD: Sixty opioid-dependent adults completed inpatient opioid withdrawal and were transitioned to oral naltrexone. They were stratified by severity of opioid use (six or fewer bags versus more than six bags of heroin per day) and randomly assigned (1:1) to continue treatment with oral naltrexone (N=32) or XR-naltrexone (N=28) for 24 weeks. The first dose of XR-naltrexone (380 mg) was administered prior to discharge, with monthly doses thereafter, and oral naltrexone was given in a 50-mg daily dose. All participants received weekly behavioral therapy to support treatment and adherence to naltrexone. RESULTS: A Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for race, gender, route of use, and baseline opioid use severity indicated that significantly more patients were retained in treatment for 6 months in the XR-naltrexone group (16 of 28 patients, 57.1%) than in the oral naltrexone group (nine of 32 patients, 28.1%) (hazard ratio=2.18, 95% CI=1.07, 4.43). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving XR-naltrexone had twice the rate of treatment retention at 6 months compared with those taking oral naltrexone. These results support the use of XR-naltrexone combined with behavioral therapy as an effective treatment for patients seeking opioid withdrawal and nonagonist treatment for preventing relapse to opioid use disorder.

Psychoeducational Strategies During Outpatient Transition to Extended-Release Naltrexone for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.

BACKGROUND: The United States is experiencing an opioid epidemic. Better approaches to encourage outpatient utilization of Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, including extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), are needed. Withdrawal management before initiation of XR-NTX is challenging for clinicians and patients and represents a major barrier to treatment. AIMS: To review psychoeducational strategies that support patients during outpatient withdrawal management and transition to XR-NTX. METHOD: We reviewed the literature on psychoeducational strategies used during opioid withdrawal management and described the role that nurses can play in facilitating transition to XR-NTX in a Phase 3, placebo-controlled, outpatient trial comparing induction regimens. RESULTS: Supportive interventions include general psychoeducation on addiction, overcoming ambivalence, treatment adherence, anticipating XR-NTX induction, managing psychological and physiological aspects of opioid withdrawal, risks of opioid use, and sources of support during recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Psychoeducational strategies led by nurses can promote treatment adherence during withdrawal management and induction onto XR-NTX.

Outpatient transition to extended-release injectable naltrexone for patients with opioid use disorder: A phase 3 randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), approved to prevent relapse to opioid dependence, requires initial abstinence. This multisite outpatient clinical trial examined the efficacy and safety of low-dose oral naltrexone (NTX), combined with a brief buprenorphine (BUP) taper and standing ancillary medications, for detoxification and induction onto XR-NTX. METHODS: Patients (N = 378) were randomized, stratified by primary short-acting opioid-of-use, to one of three regimens: NTX + BUP; NTX + placebo BUP (PBO-B); placebo NTX (PBO-N) + PBO-B. Patients received 7 days of ascending NTX or placebo, concurrent with a 3-day BUP or placebo taper, and ancillary medications in an outpatient setting. Daily psychoeducational counseling was provided. On Day 8, patients passing a naloxone challenge received XR-NTX. RESULTS: Rates of transition to XR-NTX were comparable across groups: NTX/BUP (46.0%) vs. NTX/PBO-B (40.5%) vs. PBO-N/PBO-B (46.0%). Thus, the study did not meet its primary endpoint. Adverse events, reported by 32.5% of all patients, were mild to moderate in severity and consistent with opioid withdrawal. A first, second, and third XR-NTX injection was received by 44.4%, 29.9%, and 22.5% of patients, respectively. Compared with the PBO-N/PBO-B group, the NTX/BUP group demonstrated higher opioid abstinence during the transition and lower post-XR-NTX subjective opioid withdrawal scores. CONCLUSIONS: A 7-day detoxification protocol with NTX alone or NTX + BUP provided similar rates of induction to XR-NTX as placebo. For those inducted onto XR-NTX, management of opioid withdrawal symptoms prior to induction was achieved in a structured outpatient setting using a well-tolerated, fixed-dose ancillary medication regimen common to all three groups.

Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) for opioid use disorder in clinical practice: Vivitrol's Cost and Treatment Outcomes Registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), a µ-opioid receptor antagonist for prevention of relapse to opioid dependence, has demonstrated efficacy compared with placebo and comparative effectiveness with buprenorphine-naloxone. We report outcomes for XR-NTX in Vivitrol's Cost and Treatment Outcomes Registry. DESIGN: Observational, open-label, single-arm, multi-center registry assessing baseline characteristics and clinical and health-related quality-of-life outcomes associated with XR-NTX treatment in clinical practice. SETTING: 32 US treatment centers from 2011 to 2013. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with opioid dependence who were prescribed XR-NTX treatment and then enrolled into the registry. MEASUREMENTS: Monthly visits were evaluated for the full population and for patient ubgroups retrospectively, defined by injection number, focusing on the period between baseline and month 6 (1-, 2/3- or 6-XR-NTX). FINDINGS: Of 403 enrolled patients, 395 were analyzed. Most patients (n = 349) received out-patient care. On average, patients received five injections (median = 3; range = 1-25). The median number of injections administered within 6 months was higher in patients who at baseline were employed (three versus two unemployed, P = 0.02) or had private insurance (five versus two self-payment, P = 0.005; versus two state-funded, P < 0.001). The 1-, 2/3- and 6-XR-NTX groups had 132, 152 and 111 patients, respectively. At baseline, the 6-XR-NTX patients were more likely to meet normal/minimal mental illness criteria and attend school and less likely to report recent drug use. Within 6 months, the 6-XR-NTX group demonstrated improvements in employment, mental health and psychosocial functioning, and decreases in opioid craving, drug use and drug-related behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Among opioid-dependent people receiving XR-NTX treatment, better mental health, higher education and lower recent drug use at baseline are associated with greater treatment duration; in turn, longer treatment duration is associated with lower relapse rates and improved outcomes generally.

Antagonists in the medical management of opioid use disorders: Historical and existing treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic condition with potentially severe health and social consequences. Many who develop moderate to severe OUD will repeatedly seek treatment or interact with medical care via emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop feasible and effective approaches to help persons with OUD achieve and maintain abstinence from opioids. Treatment that includes one of the three FDA-approved medications is an evidence-based strategy to manage OUD. The purpose of this review is to address practices for managing persons with moderate to severe OUD with a focus on opioid withdrawal and naltrexone-based relapse-prevention treatment. METHODS: Literature available on PubMed was used to review the evolution of treatment strategies from the 1960s onward to manage opioid withdrawal and initiate treatment with naltrexone. RESULTS: Emerging practices for extended-release naltrexone induction include the use of agonist tapers and adjuvant medications. Clinical challenges frequently encountered when initiating this therapy include managing withdrawal and ongoing opioid use during treatment. Clinical factors may inform decisions regarding patient selection and length of naltrexone treatment, such as recent opioid use and patient preferences. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment strategies to manage opioid withdrawal have evolved, but many patients with OUD do not receive medication for the prevention of relapse. Clinical strategies for induction onto extended-release naltrexone are now available and can be safely and effectively implemented in specialty and select primary care settings. (© 2018 The Authors. The American Journal on Addictions Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP);27:177-187).

Effects of Ibudilast on the Subjective, Reinforcing, and Analgesic Effects of Oxycodone in Recently Detoxified Adults with Opioid Dependence.

Ibudilast, a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is used clinically in Asia for the treatment of asthma and poststroke dizziness. Recent preclinical studies have suggested that it also inhibits glial cell activation in rodents, and may alter opioid-mediated effects, including analgesia and withdrawal symptoms. The effects of ibudilast on the abuse potential of opioids in humans are largely unknown. The present study was designed to examine the influence of ibudilast on subjective (including drug craving), reinforcing, and analgesic effects of oxycodone in human volunteers diagnosed with opioid dependence (equivalent to moderate-severe opioid use disorder). Non-treatment-seeking opioid-dependent male volunteers (n=11) underwent an in-patient detoxification with morphine, followed by maintenance on placebo (0 mg b.i.d.) and active ibudilast (50 mg b.i.d.). Under each maintenance dose, six experimental sample and choice sessions were completed involving oral oxycodone administration (0, 15, and 30 mg/70 kg, p.o.). Subjective effects of oxycodone and drug craving were measured with visual analog scales (VAS) and a Drug Effects Questionnaire. The cold pressor test was used to produce pain, and a modified progressive-ratio choice procedure was used to measure the reinforcing effects of oxycodone. Under the active ibudilast condition compared with the placebo condition, ratings of drug liking following 15 mg of oxycodone were decreased significantly. The mean drug breakpoint value was also significantly lower in the active vs the placebo ibudilast condition under the 15 mg oxycodone condition, but not significantly lower under the 30 mg oxycodone condition. Heroin craving was significantly reduced under active ibudilast vs placebo, and similar effects were observed for tobacco and cocaine craving. Furthermore, mean subjective ratings of pain were lower in the active ibudilast condition. Our data suggest that ibudilast may be useful for treating opioid use disorders and it may enhance the analgesic effects of oxycodone.

Racial Differences in HIV and HCV Risk Behaviors, Transmission, and Prevention Knowledge among Non-Treatment-Seeking Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.

In light of New York's recently reinforced strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by expanding testing, treatment, and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), we assessed drug use and sexual risk behaviors, along with HIV/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission and prevention knowledge among non-treatment-seeking adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) in New York City. Over the course of 18 months, volunteers screening for research studies in the Opioid Laboratory at the New York State Psychiatric Institute completed a locally developed self-assessment questionnaire. A total of 138 adults with OUD (24 female, 114 male) with a mean age of 46.5 years (SD = 9.5 yrs) were assessed. Significant differences among the four racial/ethnic subgroups (n = 65 African-Americans, n = 34 Hispanics, n = 31 Caucasians or Whites, n = 8 Multiracial) were found. Whites were the youngest (p = 0.001), most frequently injecting drugs (p < 0.001), and engaged more often in risky drug use and sexual behaviors, although their virus transmission knowledge was comparable to that of the other subgroups. Few participants had heard about PrEP. White opioid users showed the most risk behaviors among races/ethnicities, despite comparable prevention knowledge. Better HIV/HCV prevention interventions targeting individuals with opioid use disorders who are not currently in treatment would be desirable, given their large health burden.

A review of a national training initiative to increase provider use of MAT to address the opioid epidemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Providers' Clinical Support System for Medication Assisted Treatment (PCSS-MAT) initiative focuses on training and mentoring health professionals in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD) using pharmacological strategies. Led by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), PCSS-MAT is a consortium representing four of the five national professional organizations authorized by DATA 2,000-AAAP, American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine, American Psychiatric Association, and American Society of Addiction Medicine. DATA organizations are authorized to train physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD treatment. The primary aim of PCSS-MAT is to substantially increase evidence-based practices with medications for OUD. METHODS: This review describes the development of PCSS-MAT, an ongoing national initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to address the training needs posed by this critical public health problem. Core initiatives include: (1) Training and mentoring activities for primary care physicians; (2) Outreach to multidisciplinary professional organizations, (3) Creating a resource portal for families, patients, and communities for OUD treatment. RESULTS: Educational outreach to providers addresses the needs of patients with OUD and common co-occurring psychiatric and medical disorders. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall scope of PCSS-MAT is to increase access to evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders as a public health priority. Recently enacted legislation requires office-based opioid treatment programs to offer all Food and Drug Administration-approved (FDA) forms of MAT. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Working with health care providers to effectively deliver MAT is key to integrating behavioral and physical medicine. (Am J Addict 2016;25:603-609).

Interviewing and Urine Drug Toxicology Screening in a Pediatric Pain Management Center: An Analysis of Analgesic Nonadherence and Aberrant Behaviors in Adolescents and Young Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Many adolescents and young adults report having chronic pain. Urine drug toxicology (UDT) is not routinely used in the pediatric pain management population, despite more routine use in adults with pain, particularly those prescribed opioids. As a first step toward establishing monitoring practices in pediatric and adolescent pain management, the present study evaluated the role of UDT in conjunction with a standard clinical interview in identifying the rate of adherence to an established analgesic regimen. The study also aimed to assess the use of UDT in identifying possible aberrant behaviors in this population. METHODS: Data were acquired from a convenience sample of 50 pediatric and adolescent pain management initial consultations, during which a clinical interview and UDT were conducted. Data were analyzed to determine adherence to an established analgesic prescription regimen, and for identification of aberrant behaviors including concurrent use of illicit substances and prescription medication misuse. Other pertinent demographic and clinical factors were examined as factors in adherence. RESULTS: Opioid medications were prescribed for 42% of the sample receiving pain medications, and 22% of the sample was nonadherent to their prescription analgesic regimen. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of nonadherence were an older age and having an opioid prescription. The majority (90%) of those nonadherent to their analgesic regimen displayed some form of aberrant behavior. Among the nonadherent patients, 50% were identified by UDT alone, and 50% were identified by self-report during the clinical encounter. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the challenges of identifying nonadherence to a prescription regimen among adolescents with chronic pain. In addition, this preliminary work suggests that UDT could be used in conjunction with careful clinical interviewing to substantiate patient report and increase the likelihood of detecting analgesic nonadherence and aberrant behaviors.

Dronabinol and lofexidine for cannabis use disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use disorder is associated with substantial morbidity and, after alcohol, is the most common drug bringing adolescents and adults into treatment. At present, there are no FDA-approved medications for cannabis use disorder. Combined pharmacologic interventions might be particularly useful in mitigating withdrawal symptoms and promoting abstinence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dronabinol, a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a naturally occurring pharmacologically active component of marijuana, and lofexidine, an alpha-2 agonist, in treating cannabis dependence. METHODS: One hundred fifty six cannabis-dependent adults were enrolled and following a 1-week placebo lead-in phase 122 were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 11-week trial. Participants were randomized to receive dronabinol 20mg three times a day and lofexidine 0.6 mg three times a day or placebo. Medications were maintained until the end of week eight, were then tapered over two weeks and patients were monitored off medications during the last study week. All participants received weekly motivational enhancement and relapse prevention therapy. Marijuana use was assessed using the timeline follow-back method. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatment groups in the proportion of participants who achieved 3 weeks of abstinence during the maintenance phase of the trial (27.9% for the medication group and 29.5% for the placebo group), although both groups showed a reduction over time. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this treatment study, the combined intervention did not show promise as a treatment for cannabis use disorder.

The effects of pioglitazone, a PPARγ receptor agonist, on the abuse liability of oxycodone among nondependent opioid users.

AIMS: Activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone (PIO) has shown some efficacy in attenuating addictive-like responses in laboratory animals. The ability of PIO to alter the effects of opioids in humans has not been characterized in a controlled laboratory setting. The proposed investigation sought to examine the effects of PIO on the subjective, analgesic, physiological and cognitive effects of oxycodone (OXY). METHODS: During this investigation, nondependent prescription opioid abusers (N=17 completers) were maintained for 2-3weeks on ascending daily doses of PIO (0mg, 15mg, 45mg) prior to completing a laboratory session assessing the aforementioned effects of OXY [using a within-session cumulative dosing procedure (0, 10, and 20mg, cumulative dose=30mg)]. RESULTS: OXY produced typical mu opioid agonist effects: miosis, decreased pain perception, and decreased respiratory rate. OXY also produced dose-dependent increases in positive subjective responses. Yet, ratings such as: drug "liking," "high," and "good drug effect," were not significantly altered as a function of PIO maintenance dose. DISCUSSION: These data suggest that PIO may not be useful for reducing the abuse liability of OXY. These data were obtained with a sample of nondependent opioid users and therefore may not be applicable to dependent populations or to other opioids. Although PIO failed to alter the abuse liability of OXY, the interaction between glia and opioid receptors is not well understood so the possibility remains that medications that interact with glia in other ways may show more promise.