2023
Improving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches
Brooks R, Wegener M, Freeman B, Fowles C, Madden L, Tetrault J, Nichols L, Altice F, Villanueva M. Improving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 1018-1028. PMID: 37439759, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV/HCV coinfectionSubstance use disorder programsHCV testingOpiate use disorderHCV coinfectionUse disordersNominal group techniqueSubstance use disorder treatment centersCascade of careRates of HIVDisorder treatment centersQuality improvement effortsRate of testingHCV acquisitionHCV cureImproving HIVSUD clinicsHepatitis CHIV testingPrior diagnosisSubsequent referralReferral ratesHIV epidemicHIVTreatment centers
2019
Using nominal group technique to identify barriers, facilitators, and preferences among patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder: A needs assessment for decision making support
Muthulingam D, Bia J, Madden LM, Farnum SO, Barry DT, Altice FL. Using nominal group technique to identify barriers, facilitators, and preferences among patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder: A needs assessment for decision making support. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2019, 100: 18-28. PMID: 30898324, PMCID: PMC6432946, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.01.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderNominal group techniquePharmacologic therapyUse disordersSyringe exchange programsIndividual-level barriersEvidence-based interventionsAddiction treatment centersEvidence-based strategiesOUD treatmentPharmacologic treatmentSpecific medicationsTreatment optionsPharmacologic propertiesMedicationsDecision aidPatient considerationsSide effectsTreatment centersOpioid crisisSpecific knowledge gapsGroup techniqueDecision aid developmentTreatmentTherapy
2017
Assessment of an Innovative Voluntary Substance Abuse Treatment Program Designed to Replace Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Malaysia
Khan F, Krishnan A, Ghani MA, Wickersham JA, Fu JJ, Lim SH, Dhaliwal SK, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Assessment of an Innovative Voluntary Substance Abuse Treatment Program Designed to Replace Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Malaysia. Substance Use & Misuse 2017, 53: 249-259. PMID: 28635521, PMCID: PMC5664175, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1267217.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCompulsory drug detention centersDrug useTreatment servicesVoluntary drug treatment centresTreatment programMethadone maintenance therapyEarly treatment outcomesCross-sectional convenience surveyDrug treatment centersSubstance abuse treatment programsDrug treatment programsAddiction treatment servicesSevere mental health issuesPast drug useMental health issuesNational Anti-Drug AgencyMaintenance therapyCare centerClient satisfactionTreatment outcomesTreatment centersDrug use levelsHealth servicesInvoluntary detentionSelf-reported satisfactionRelapse to Opioid Use in Opioid-Dependent Individuals Released from Compulsory Drug Detention Centres Compared with Those from Voluntary Methadone Treatment Centres in Malaysia: A Two-Arm, Prospective Observational Study
Wegman M, Altice F, Kaur S, Rajandaran V, Osornprasop S, Wilson D, Wilson D, Kamarulzaman A. Relapse to Opioid Use in Opioid-Dependent Individuals Released from Compulsory Drug Detention Centres Compared with Those from Voluntary Methadone Treatment Centres in Malaysia: A Two-Arm, Prospective Observational Study. 2017 DOI: 10.1596/29360.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2016
Relapse to opioid use in opioid-dependent individuals released from compulsory drug detention centres compared with those from voluntary methadone treatment centres in Malaysia: a two-arm, prospective observational study
Wegman MP, Altice FL, Kaur S, Rajandaran V, Osornprasop S, Wilson D, Wilson DP, Kamarulzaman A. Relapse to opioid use in opioid-dependent individuals released from compulsory drug detention centres compared with those from voluntary methadone treatment centres in Malaysia: a two-arm, prospective observational study. The Lancet Global Health 2016, 5: e198-e207. PMID: 27964869, PMCID: PMC5657487, DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(16)30303-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVoluntary drug treatment centresCompulsory drug detention centersOpioid-dependent individualsProspective observational studyOpioid relapseTwo-armObservational studyTreatment centersEvidence-based pharmacological therapyHazard ratio reductionUrinary drug testingDrug testsOpioid agonist treatmentDoris Duke Charitable FoundationOpioid use disorderUrine drug testsMethadone treatment centersAssessed individualsDrug treatment centersNational InstituteEvidence-based treatmentsSubstance use disordersMedical Research CouncilAustralian National HealthVTC participantsPretreatment Drug use Characteristics and Experiences among Patients in a Voluntary Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Malaysia: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Krishnan A, Brown SE, Ghani MA, Khan F, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Pretreatment Drug use Characteristics and Experiences among Patients in a Voluntary Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Malaysia: A Mixed-Methods Approach. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2016, 37: 542-549. PMID: 26914230, PMCID: PMC5551393, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2016.1146648.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCompulsory drug detention centersDrug use characteristicsDrug useAmphetamine useTreatment centersDrug usersVoluntary drug treatment centresIllicit amphetamine useInjection drug useDrug treatment centersSubstance abuse treatment centersDrug use patternsDrug use profilesHigh-risk behaviorsSignificant public healthDrug initiationCare centerHigh prevalencePolysubstance useNortheast MalaysiaAddiction severityPatientsBehavioral interventionsAddiction treatmentConvenience sampleConfronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia
Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Bick J, Al-Darraji HA, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Bazazi AR, Ferro E, Copenhaver M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia. Journal Of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 2016, 11: 446-455. PMID: 27216260, PMCID: PMC5118227, DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9676-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyMalaysia's largest prisonIsoniazid preventive therapyLatent tuberculosis infectionStandardized treatment protocolMandatory HIV testingDrug treatment centersEvidence-based addiction treatmentEvidence-based interventionsLargest prisonReservoir of infectionActive diseaseActive tuberculosisPreventive therapyHIV testingTuberculosis infectionOpioid dependenceHIV treatmentRapid relapseMethadone maintenanceTreatment protocolClinical careHIVTreatment centersCompulsory drug treatment centers
2015
Patients’ economic considerations of treatment for methamphetamine and opiate use at an innovative drug treatment center in Malaysia
Brown S, Krishnan A, Ghani M, Khan F, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Patients’ economic considerations of treatment for methamphetamine and opiate use at an innovative drug treatment center in Malaysia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2015, 146: e232. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.099.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDrug treatment centersTreatment centers
2014
An exploratory qualitative assessment of self-reported treatment outcomes and satisfaction among patients accessing an innovative voluntary drug treatment centre in Malaysia
Ghani MA, Brown SE, Khan F, Wickersham JA, Lim SH, Dhaliwal SK, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. An exploratory qualitative assessment of self-reported treatment outcomes and satisfaction among patients accessing an innovative voluntary drug treatment centre in Malaysia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2014, 26: 175-182. PMID: 25577322, PMCID: PMC4291539, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.10.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCompulsory drug detention centersVoluntary drug treatment centresDrug treatment centersTreatment centersTreatment-based approachExploratory qualitative assessmentDrug treatment programsPositive patient experienceSelf-reported treatment outcomesAcute detoxificationAddiction needsMethadone treatmentCare centerTreatment successTreatment outcomesPatient's perspectivePatient experienceDrug usersHealthcare accessExplorative qualitative studyTreatment programPatientsAddiction rehabilitationConvenience samplePsychosocial programsDynamics and control of Ebola virus transmission in Montserrado, Liberia: a mathematical modelling analysis
Lewnard JA, Mbah M, Alfaro-Murillo JA, Altice FL, Bawo L, Nyenswah TG, Galvani AP. Dynamics and control of Ebola virus transmission in Montserrado, Liberia: a mathematical modelling analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2014, 14: 1189-1195. PMID: 25455986, PMCID: PMC4316822, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(14)70995-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEVD casesCase ascertainmentTreatment centersCases of EVDEbola virus disease epidemicPrimary outcome measureEbola virus transmissionPublic health responseIntervention initiationUS National InstitutesOutcome measuresHealth responseNumber of bedsContact tracingMontserrado CountyEbola virusAdditional bedsBasic reproductive numberVirus transmissionAscertainmentNational InstituteInterventionEVDDeathMathematical modelling analysis
2013
Tuberculosis screening in a novel substance abuse treatment center in Malaysia: Implications for a comprehensive approach for integrated care
Al-Darraji HA, Wong KC, Yeow DG, Fu JJ, Loeliger K, Paiji C, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Tuberculosis screening in a novel substance abuse treatment center in Malaysia: Implications for a comprehensive approach for integrated care. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2013, 46: 144-149. PMID: 24074846, PMCID: PMC5189907, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.08.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLatent TB infectionTuberculin skin testingDrug treatment centersSubstance abuse treatment centersTreatment centersKey high‐risk groupsVoluntary drug treatment centresCross-sectional convenience surveyHigh-risk groupComplex treatment needsArrest/incarcerationActive diseaseTB infectionTB screeningTST positivitySkin testingRisk groupsTreatment needsHeroin useStandardized questionnaireTreatment entryIntegrated careTreatment programTuberculosisPrevalence