Featured Publications
Alcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: An Overlooked Epidemic
De Aquino J, Sloan M, Nunes J, Costa G, Katz J, de Oliveira D, Ra J, Tang V, Petrakis I. Alcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: An Overlooked Epidemic. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 181: 391-402. PMID: 38706339, PMCID: PMC11521207, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230886.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderChronic painAUD studiesChronic pain disordersChronic pain outcomesRisk of relapseAlcohol withdrawal syndromeAssessment of painHigher levels of alcohol consumptionLevels of alcohol consumptionWithdrawal syndromePain disordersPain outcomesAcute toleranceNeurobiological changesClinical significanceUse disorderPainClinical relevanceSelf-reportAlcohol intoxicationAlcohol consumptionGeneral populationMedical conditionsNarrative reviewAssessing pain in persons with opioid use disorder: Approaches, techniques and special considerations
Nunes J, Costa G, Weleff J, Rogan M, Compton P, De Aquino J. Assessing pain in persons with opioid use disorder: Approaches, techniques and special considerations. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 PMID: 38556851, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid use disorderAssess painPain assessmentPain experienceConcomitant chronic painChronic opioid therapyQuantitative sensory testingVisual analogue scalePain assessment methodsPain assessment toolsComplex psychosocial backgroundImprove pain assessmentOpioid therapyOpioid usePain responseChronic painAnalogue scaleTraditional self-report methodsPainRisk factorsUse disorderOpioidNarrative reviewSelf-report methodsMultidisciplinary teamThe impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use among individuals receiving pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Costa G, Nunes J, Heringer D, Anand A, De Aquino J. The impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use among individuals receiving pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2024, 50: 12-26. PMID: 38225727, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2287406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-medical opioid useOpioid use disorderOpioid useCannabis useOpioid use disorder pharmacotherapyUse disorderImpact of cannabis useAverage follow-up timeFollow-up timeMeta-analysisEvidence of moderate heterogeneityImpact of cannabisPooled odds ratioOpioids non-medicallyRandom-effects modelMeta-analysis of longitudinal studiesCannabis abstinenceTreatment modalitiesOdds ratioModerate heterogeneityPharmacotherapyCannabisOpioidComprehensive searchPublication bias
2024
Navigating new norms: Addiction specialists' perspectives on opioid use disorder treatments and policy challenges in the fentanyl era
Weleff J, Christian N, Wang J, Singh M, De Aquino J, Saxon A, Vassallo G. Navigating new norms: Addiction specialists' perspectives on opioid use disorder treatments and policy challenges in the fentanyl era. American Journal On Addictions 2024 PMID: 39364597, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSlow-release oral morphineOpioid use disorderBarriers to OUD treatmentAddiction specialistsOpioid use disorder managementUse disorderOUD treatmentThird-line monotherapyFisher's exact testOpioid use disorder treatmentOff-label prescribingOral morphineAgonist opioidsOpioid agonistsOpioid-related overdoseTherapeutic optionsWithdrawal symptomsNovel therapiesExact testOpioidMOUD prescribingSynthetic opioidsClinical practiceClinical approachCompare respondent characteristicsEditorial for the themed issue: Addressing the dual challenges of opioid use disorder and chronic pain in the context of the opioid crisis
Sofuoglu M, MacLean R, De Aquino J. Editorial for the themed issue: Addressing the dual challenges of opioid use disorder and chronic pain in the context of the opioid crisis. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 PMID: 39340184, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16273.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Impact of High-Potency Synthetic Opioids on Pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review
Jegede O, De Aquino J, Hsaio C, Caldwell E, Funaro M, Petrakis I, Muvvala S. The Impact of High-Potency Synthetic Opioids on Pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2024, 18: 499-510. PMID: 39356620, PMCID: PMC11449257, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001356.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNonmedical opioid useOpioid use disorderOpioid useWithdrawal symptomsTreatment outcomesSymptoms prior to treatmentUse disorderRisk of precipitated withdrawalLow-dose buprenorphineSynthetic opioidsPotency synthetic opioidsConclusions Current evidencePrecipitated withdrawalRisk of overdoseDosing strategiesPharmacological interactionsClinical significanceDecreased riskWeb of ScienceOpioidInclusion criteriaCurrent evidenceClinical implicationsMOUDPainDisentangling the effects of racism-related stress on opioid use disorder and chronic pain outcomes
Nunes J, Jegede O, De Aquino J. Disentangling the effects of racism-related stress on opioid use disorder and chronic pain outcomes. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2024, 50: 455-461. PMID: 39018662, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2369866.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid use disorderUse disorderRacism-related stressChronic pain outcomesOpioid overdose mortality ratesOverdose mortality ratesHealthcare disparitiesBiopsychosocial burdenPain outcomesPrescribed opioidsUndertreated painChronic painPain managementOpioid mortalityPerpetuate stigmaTreat painPain experienceOpioidPainRisk factorsMinoritized populationsMinoritized peopleMortality rateDisparitiesAddiction treatmentW82 Variation in Psychosocial Symptom Change: A Preliminary Examination of Veterans in Early Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Wolkowicz N, Sofuoglu M, De Aquino J, MacLean R. W82 Variation in Psychosocial Symptom Change: A Preliminary Examination of Veterans in Early Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110700. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110700.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder
Wolkowicz N, Sofuoglu M, Pittman B, Meyerovich J, MacLean R, De Aquino J. A preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 177: 90-95. PMID: 38991269, PMCID: PMC11371499, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.06.047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAttentional biasOpioid use disorderDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolTHC administrationDose of methadoneOpioid cuesUse disorderEffects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolLower doses of methadoneVisual probe taskHigher doses of methadoneEffects of cannabinoidsFive-hour sessionTHC doseOral THCProbe taskPsychoactive constituentAddictive propertiesMethadone patientsMethadone doseWithin-subjectTHCPreliminary evidenceMethadoneAcute effectsSex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study
Mohammad Aghaei A, Urban Spillane L, Pittman B, Flynn L, De Aquino J, Bassir Nia A, Ranganathan M. Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study. Psychopharmacology 2024, 241: 2145-2155. PMID: 38832949, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06625-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRey Auditory Verbal Learning TestCannabis use disorderHuman laboratory studiesOral tetrahydrocannabinolPsychoactive effectsSex differencesAuditory Verbal Learning TestDissociative Symptoms ScalePsychotomimetic States InventoryExposure to cannabisVerbal Learning TestPlacebo-controlledIncreased cannabis useInvestigate sex differencesClinician-AdministeredVerbal learningPsychotomimetic effectsCannabinoid effectsLearning TestCannabis useTetrahydrocannabinol dosesEffects of sexUse disorderDose-related effectsIndividual vulnerability
2022
Pharmacological Treatments for Cocaine Craving: What Is the Way Forward? A Systematic Review
Lassi D, Malbergier A, Negrão A, Florio L, De Aquino J, Castaldelli-Maia J. Pharmacological Treatments for Cocaine Craving: What Is the Way Forward? A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences 2022, 12: 1546. PMID: 36421870, PMCID: PMC9688748, DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12111546.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCocaine use disorderCocaine cravingUse disorderMeta-chlorophenylpiperazineShort-term treatmentAnti-craving effectsAlcohol use disorderAttention deficit hyperactivityEfficacy of pharmacotherapyCraving assessmentCraving measuresBipolar disorderRelapse preventionDrop-out ratePromote abstinenceCocaine useCravingTreatment-seekingCocaineNon-pharmacological treatmentInvestigational pharmacotherapyLong-term treatmentAbstinencePharmacological treatmentClinical trials
2021
Case Report: Increasing the Frequency of Intramuscular Naltrexone Administration in a High Risk Patient with Opioid use Disorder
Wright M, De Aquino J, Bystrak T. Case Report: Increasing the Frequency of Intramuscular Naltrexone Administration in a High Risk Patient with Opioid use Disorder. Substance Abuse 2021, 42: 493-496. PMID: 33689592, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1876811.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-risk patientsOpioid use disorderUse disorderReducing opioid cravingDosing strategiesFrequent dosingTreatment of opioid use disorderOpioid overdoseNovel dosing strategiesAlternative dosing strategiesCraving suppressionIncreased cravingEvidence of side effectsOpioid cravingShort-term safetyNaltrexone administrationIncreased dosing frequencyOpioid abstinenceNational opioid crisisRisk of opioid overdoseNaltrexoneExtended-releaseRisk patientsHigh-potencyPatient dose
2020
Rapid Transition From Methadone to Buprenorphine Utilizing a Micro-dosing Protocol in the Outpatient Veteran Affairs Setting.
De Aquino J, Fairgrieve C, Klaire S, Garcia-Vassallo G. Rapid Transition From Methadone to Buprenorphine Utilizing a Micro-dosing Protocol in the Outpatient Veteran Affairs Setting. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2020, 14: e271-e273. PMID: 32011408, PMCID: PMC7392785, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderPrecipitated withdrawalTreatment of opioid use disorderCessation of methadoneMicro-dose protocolRisk of precipitated withdrawalMethadone to buprenorphineOpioid agonist therapyTransition to buprenorphineAgonist therapyOpioid useOutpatient protocolUse disorderOutpatient settingVeterans Affairs settingsBuprenorphineMethadonePsychiatry settingWithdrawalTransition protocolDemonstrating feasibilityInductionOpioidTherapyPatients