Featured Publications
Adaptations to Opioid Use Disorder Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of Prescribers
Sung ML, Black AC, Blevins D, Henry BF, Cates-Wessel K, Dawes MA, Drexler K, Hagle H, Molfenter T, Levin FR, Becker WC, Edelman EJ. Adaptations to Opioid Use Disorder Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of Prescribers. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2022, 16: 505-513. PMID: 35020698, PMCID: PMC9271533, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000948.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnalgesics, OpioidBuprenorphineCOVID-19FemaleHumansMaleNaltrexoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPandemicsConceptsVirtual visitsOpioid use disorder careOpioid use disorderAcademic medical centerNational electronic surveyMOUD accessMOUD prescriptionsClinical outcomesBuprenorphine prescribersLongitudinal careMost prescribersMultivariable modelMedical CenterDisorder careUse disordersMOUDPrescribersPatient accessibilityFree-text responsesOverall positive experienceVisitsElectronic surveyCOVID-19COVID-19 pandemicBehavioral healthcareAssociation Between Exposure to Complementary and Integrative Therapies and Opioid Analgesic Daily Dose Among Patients on Long-term Opioid Therapy
Black AC, Zeliadt SB, Kerns RD, Skanderson M, Wang R, Gelman H, Douglas JH, Becker WC. Association Between Exposure to Complementary and Integrative Therapies and Opioid Analgesic Daily Dose Among Patients on Long-term Opioid Therapy. The Clinical Journal Of Pain 2022, 38: 405-409. PMID: 35440528, DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000001039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidChronic PainCohort StudiesComplementary TherapiesFemaleHumansMaleMorphine DerivativesVeteransConceptsLong-term opioid therapyMorphine equivalent daily doseVeterans Health AdministrationDaily doseCIH exposureOpioid doseOpioid therapyWhole health systemCIH useVHA electronic health recordsIntegrative health modalitiesOpioid analgesic doseMean starting doseMental health diagnosesElectronic health recordsAnalgesic doseCIH therapiesNonopioid treatmentCohort entryOpioid taperingStarting doseAdverse eventsPain intensityChiropractic careVHA facilitiesConcordance between controlled substance receipt and post-mortem toxicology in opioid-detected overdose deaths: A statewide analysis
Howell B, Black A, Grau L, Lin H, Greene C, Lee H, Heimer R, Hawk K, D'Onofrio G, Fiellin D, Becker W. Concordance between controlled substance receipt and post-mortem toxicology in opioid-detected overdose deaths: A statewide analysis. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2023, 244: 109788. PMID: 36738634, PMCID: PMC9975083, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109788.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesControlled SubstancesDrug OverdoseHumansOpiate OverdoseUnited StatesConceptsPost-mortem toxicologyOverdose deathsChief Medical ExaminerBenzodiazepine prescribingBenzodiazepine prescriptionsPrimary outcomePreventable deathsOpioid overdosesOpioidsAddiction servicesBenzodiazepinesMental healthStudy periodDeathMedical examinersConcordanceStatewide analysisSubstantial numberReceiptDaysDepartmentMedicationsToxicologyFentanylPrescribingTrauma treatment for veterans in buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder
Meshberg-Cohen S, Black AC, DeViva JC, Petrakis IL, Rosen MI. Trauma treatment for veterans in buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder. Addictive Behaviors 2018, 89: 29-34. PMID: 30243036, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBuprenorphine maintenanceChart reviewBuprenorphine treatmentTrauma treatmentPTSD diagnosisReference groupRetrospective chart reviewBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentOpioid use disorderFuture clinical trialsLogistic regression analysisEvidence-based psychotherapiesTimes greater oddsTrauma-focused treatmentBuprenorphine retentionOpioid typeOUD treatmentMaintenance treatmentWorse outcomesClinical trialsConsecutive referralsGreater oddsUse disordersComorbid PTSDDisorder ratesInitial development of patient-reported instrument assessing harm, efficacy, and misuse of long-term opioid therapy
Becker WC, Fiellin DA, Black AC, Kostovich CT, Kerns RD, Fraenkel L. Initial development of patient-reported instrument assessing harm, efficacy, and misuse of long-term opioid therapy. The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 127-136. PMID: 27006339, PMCID: PMC4806533, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.11.0285.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioid therapyPatient-reported instrumentOpioid therapyFurther item reductionIneffective medicationsClinical outcomesPrimary careFrequent reassessmentPatient comprehensionItem reductionGold standardEfficacyTherapyInterdisciplinary teamLevel checksCognitive interviewsMisuseHarmMedicationsPatients
2023
Receipt of opioid use disorder treatments prior to fatal overdoses and comparison to no treatment in Connecticut, 2016–17
Heimer R, Black A, Lin H, Grau L, Fiellin D, Howell B, Hawk K, D'Onofrio G, Becker W. Receipt of opioid use disorder treatments prior to fatal overdoses and comparison to no treatment in Connecticut, 2016–17. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2023, 254: 111040. PMID: 38043226, PMCID: PMC10872282, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-medication treatmentsRelative riskOpioid overdose deathsIncidence rateMOUD treatmentOverdose deathsOpioid use disorder treatmentResults Incidence ratesRetrospective cohort studyDifferent treatment modalitiesPopulation-level effortsUse disorder treatmentFatal opioid poisoningsCohort studyOpioid poisoningTreatment modalitiesConclusion ExposurePoisoning deathsFatal overdosesTreatment exposureDisorder treatmentDeathTreatmentMethadoneRisk
2022
Self-reported Use of Prescribed Buprenorphine Among US Adults With Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids Motivated by Pain
Buonora M, Sung M, Falker C, Black A, Becker W. Self-reported Use of Prescribed Buprenorphine Among US Adults With Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids Motivated by Pain. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2241670. PMID: 36367731, PMCID: PMC9652749, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.41670.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDelphi study to explore a new diagnosis for “ineffective” long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain
Edmond S, Snow J, Pomeranz J, Van Cleve R, Black A, Compton P, Becker W. Delphi study to explore a new diagnosis for “ineffective” long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. Pain 2022, 164: 870-876. PMID: 36448976, DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002783.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidChronic PainDelphi TechniqueHumansOpioid-Related DisordersSurveys and QuestionnairesConceptsLong-term opioid therapyNew diagnostic entityDiagnostic criteriaPotential diagnostic criteriaDiagnostic entityOpioid therapyChronic painOpioid use disorderCertain patientsNew diagnosisUse disordersDelphi studyPainDisorder criteriaSubgroup of expertsRound 2PatientsTherapyThree-quartersRefining criteriaDelphi panelistsExpert panelistsSubgroupsLikert-type scaleRapid qualitative analysis