Among adult patients, those whose primary substance is cannabis do not access recommended treatments at the same rate as those with other substance use problems. The results highlight a gap in research dedicated to the process of referring adolescents and young adults for treatment.
Inspired by this review, several strategies to boost each aspect of SBRIT are proposed, potentially improving screen implementation, brief intervention effectiveness, and patient engagement in follow-up treatment.
The review compels us to outline multiple avenues for refinement within each aspect of SBRIT, potentially increasing the deployment of screens, the impact of brief interventions, and the participation in subsequent treatment.
The ongoing journey of recovery from addiction is often cultivated outside of the conventional framework of formal treatment. read more Higher education institutions in the United States have incorporated collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) as part of crucial recovery-ready ecosystems, supporting students' educational ambitions since the 1980s (Ashford et al., 2020). With CRPs, Europeans are now launching their own unique journeys, a consequence of aspiration ignited by inspiration. This narrative, rooted in my own experiences of addiction, recovery, and academia, explores how mechanisms of change have unfolded throughout the entirety of my life. read more The trajectory of this life course closely mirrors existing research on recovery capital, revealing some of the stigma-based barriers obstructing advancement in this area. This narrative piece aspires to stimulate aspirations in individuals and organizations who are considering establishing CRPs in Europe, and further afield, while also motivating individuals in recovery to recognize education as a vital part of their continuing rehabilitation and healing.
More potent opioids have characterized the escalation of the nation's overdose crisis, subsequently causing a rise in the frequency of visits to emergency departments. Interventions for opioid use, grounded in established research, are experiencing a rise in popularity; however, these approaches frequently overlook the crucial individual differences among those utilizing opioids. This study investigated the range of experiences of opioid users presenting to the ED. Through qualitative analysis of subgroups in a baseline opioid use intervention trial, and the examination of associations between subgroup affiliation and multiple correlated factors, heterogeneity was assessed.
Participants involved in a large, pragmatic clinical trial of the Planned Outreach, Intervention, Naloxone, and Treatment (POINT) intervention numbered 212, with 59.2% identifying as male, 85.3% identifying as Non-Hispanic White, and an average age of 36.6 years. The study applied latent class analysis (LCA) to five indicators of opioid use behavior: preference for opioids, preference for stimulants, usual solo drug use, intravenous drug use, and opioid-related problems during emergency department (ED) encounters. Interest correlates were ascertained via participant demographics, prescription histories, health care contact histories, and recovery capital (such as social support and naloxone awareness).
The study's findings revealed three distinct groups: (1) individuals who primarily chose non-injectable opioids, (2) those who preferred both injecting opioids and stimulants, and (3) those who favored social activities and non-opioid substances. In assessing correlates across distinct classes, we determined that significant differences were limited. Variations were observed in some demographics, prescription histories, and recovery resources, but healthcare contact histories demonstrated no noteworthy discrepancies. A higher likelihood of being of a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White, along with the highest average age, and the highest probability of a benzodiazepine prescription was seen among Class 1 members. Class 2 members experienced the most significant average treatment barriers, while Class 3 members displayed the lowest odds of a major mental health diagnosis and the lowest average barriers to treatment.
The POINT trial participants, according to LCA, were categorized into distinct subgroups. Knowledge of these subgroups is key to developing interventions that effectively target their needs and allows staff to determine the optimal treatment and recovery pathways for each patient.
The POINT trial participants were categorized into distinct subgroups using LCA. Understanding these specific groups is crucial for creating more effective interventions, and helps staff pinpoint the best treatment and recovery options for patients.
A significant public health emergency, the overdose crisis, persists in the United States. Medicines for opioid use disorder (MOUD), like buprenorphine, boasting ample scientific validation of their efficacy, remain underutilized in the United States, particularly in contexts connected to the criminal justice system. A significant argument against expanding medication-assisted treatment (MOUD) in correctional facilities, as articulated by leaders in jails, prisons, and the DEA, is the possibility of these medications being diverted. read more However, at the present moment, the supporting data is scarce. Examples of successful expansion in earlier states offer a means to adjust attitudes and alleviate anxieties surrounding the issue of diversion.
This analysis centers on a county jail's successful buprenorphine treatment expansion, showcasing a lack of significant diversion. Instead, the jail determined that their comprehensive and empathetic buprenorphine treatment method had positive effects on the circumstances of both inmates and jail staff.
In light of the evolving landscape of correctional policies and the federal government's commitment to improved access to effective treatments within the confines of the criminal justice system, lessons are available from facilities that either have already or are in the process of expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment programs. For greater encouragement of more facilities to incorporate buprenorphine into their opioid use disorder treatment approaches, these anecdotes, when combined with data, are vital.
In the context of a transforming policy environment and the federal government's focus on increasing access to effective treatments in the criminal justice sector, valuable insights are available from jails and prisons currently expanding or already established in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). Ideally, the combination of data and these anecdotal examples will inspire more facilities to incorporate buprenorphine into their strategies for opioid use disorder treatment.
The difficulty of accessing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services continues to be a considerable problem in the United States. While telehealth can potentially broaden access to services, its application in substance use disorder treatment is significantly lower than its use in mental health care. Employing a discrete choice experiment (DCE), this study explores stated preferences for telehealth modalities (video conferencing, combined text and video, text-only) in comparison to in-person substance use disorder (SUD) treatment (community-based, in-home). The research examines the attributes that are most influential in treatment choice – location, cost, therapist selection, wait time, and evidence-based approaches. Preference variations across different substance types and severity levels of substance use are highlighted in subgroup analyses.
By completing a survey that included an eighteen-choice-set DCE, in addition to the Alcohol Use Disorders Inventory, the Drug Abuse Screening Test, and a brief demographic questionnaire, four hundred people demonstrated their commitment. Data pertaining to the study was collected within the timeframe from April 15, 2020, up to and including April 22, 2020. Participant preferences for technology-assisted treatment, versus in-person care, were assessed using conditional logit regression, which yielded a measure of strength. Each attribute's influence on participants' decision-making is quantified in the study using real-world willingness-to-pay estimations.
In terms of patient preference, telehealth with video conferencing held equal appeal to in-person medical care options. Significantly less preferred than all other treatment approaches was text-only treatment. The preference for therapy was strongly driven by the opportunity to choose one's therapist, irrespective of the specific therapeutic method, whereas the wait time did not appear to be a substantial factor in the decision-making process. Subjects with the most severe substance use situations displayed divergent characteristics, marked by their openness to text-based care without videoconferencing, their rejection of a preference for evidence-based care, and a significantly greater value placed on therapist selection than those experiencing only moderate substance use.
Community-based or home-based in-person SUD treatment is no more preferred than telehealth, suggesting that patient preference doesn't hinder the adoption of telehealth. Videoconference options can amplify the impact of text-based modalities for the majority of users. Persons with the most severe substance use disorders might find text-based support more suitable than synchronous meetings with a medical professional. Reaching individuals who are reluctant to access treatment could be achieved by a less intensive method of intervention.
Patients seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment find telehealth equally appealing as in-person care, either in the community or at home, thereby indicating that treatment preference does not impede telehealth utilization. Videoconferencing alternatives can strengthen the impact of text-only communication for the great majority of individuals. Individuals exhibiting the most severe substance use problems might opt for text-based support, eschewing the need for real-time meetings with a healthcare professional. This approach aims to engage individuals in treatment with a less demanding protocol, perhaps attracting those who would not normally seek assistance.
The landscape of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has been transformed by the introduction of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents, which are now more widely available to people who inject drugs (PWID).