Featured Publications
Long-term opioid therapy trajectories and overdose in patients with and without cancer.
Merlin J, Black A, Midboe A, Troszak L, Asch S, Bohnert A, Fenton B, Giannitrapani K, Glassman P, Kerns R, Silveira M, Lorenz K, Abel E, Becker W. Long-term opioid therapy trajectories and overdose in patients with and without cancer. BMJ Oncology 2023, 2: e000023. PMID: 38259328, PMCID: PMC10802123, DOI: 10.1136/bmjonc-2022-000023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term opioid therapyVeterans Health Administration databaseRetrospective cohort studyCornerstone of managementOpioid overdose riskHealth Administration databaseOpioid-related overdosesPresence of cancerRole of cancerOpioid receiptOpioid therapyCohort studyConclusions PatientsMost patientsObjective painOpioid risksDose/Opioid overdoseOverdose riskInternational ClassificationLower riskPatientsEffect of trajectoriesCancerAdministration database
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 treatmentDeathTreatmentMethadoneRiskChanges in opioid prescribing in veterans with headache during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A regression discontinuity in time analysis
Wang K, Fenton B, Skanderson M, Black A, Becker W, Seng E, Anthony S, Guirguis A, Altalib H, Kimber A, Lorenze N, Scholten J, Graham G, Sandbrink F, Sico J. Changes in opioid prescribing in veterans with headache during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A regression discontinuity in time analysis. Headache The Journal Of Head And Face Pain 2023, 63: 1295-1303. PMID: 37596904, DOI: 10.1111/head.14605.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMorphine equivalent daily dosesVeterans Health AdministrationNumber of prescriptionsOpioid prescribingOpioid prescriptionsLong-term opioid therapyMME/dayRetrospective cohort studyEquivalent daily dosesCOVID-19 pandemicOpioid therapyPre-pandemic periodCohort studyDaily doseChronic painOutpatient visitsPrevious diagnosisDaily dosesMean ageSubgroup analysisHeadache disordersOpioid accessHealth AdministrationPrescribingCoronavirus disease
2022
Long-Term Opioid Therapy and Overdose in Patients With and Without Cancer (CO203A)
Merlin J, Black A, Troszak L, Giannitrapani K, Lorenz K. Long-Term Opioid Therapy and Overdose in Patients With and Without Cancer (CO203A). Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2022, 63: 1065-1066. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.04.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term opioid therapyOpioid therapyOpioid prescriptionsOpioid overdoseElectronic health record databaseTerm opioid therapyCancer pain managementRetrospective cohort studyCox proportional hazardsOpioid overdose riskHealth record databaseYears of ageRole of cancerOpioid receiptCohort studyMost patientsPain managementOutpatient visitsInpatient admissionsVHA careOpioid risksDose/Inclusion criteriaOverdose riskLatent growth mixture modelingLong-term Opioid Therapy and Overdose in Patients with and without Cancer
Merlin J, Black A, Midboe A, Troszak L, Asch S, Bohnert A, Fenton B, Giannitrapani K, Glassman P, Kerns R, Silveira M, Lorenz K, Becker W. Long-term Opioid Therapy and Overdose in Patients with and without Cancer. Journal Of Pain 2022, 23: 60. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.03.225.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term opioid therapyOpioid therapyCox proportional hazard modelingElectronic health record databaseCancer pain managementRetrospective cohort studyProportional hazard modelingOpioid overdose riskHealth record databasePresence of cancerRole of cancerOpioid receiptCohort entryCohort studyHazard ratioMost patientsPain managementOpioid risksDose/Inclusion criteriaOpioid overdoseOverdose riskLatent growth mixture modelingLower riskPatients