2017
Design and implementation of a factorial randomized controlled trial of methadone maintenance therapy and an evidence-based behavioral intervention for incarcerated people living with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia
Bazazi AR, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Shrestha R, Al-Darraji H, Copenhaver MM, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Design and implementation of a factorial randomized controlled trial of methadone maintenance therapy and an evidence-based behavioral intervention for incarcerated people living with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2017, 59: 1-12. PMID: 28479216, PMCID: PMC5557499, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.05.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyHIV transmission risk behaviorsMaintenance therapyTransmission risk behaviorsEvidence-based behavioral interventionsOpioid dependencePoor HIV treatment outcomesRisk behaviorsBehavioral interventionsHIV treatment outcomesProspective clinical trialsEvidence-based treatmentsHealth-related outcomesOpioid useTreatment receiptClinical trialsTreatment outcomesIncarcerated peopleTherapyStudy participantsFactorial trialHIVTrialsInterventionOutcomes
2015
Burden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan
Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Suleymanov M, Ismayilov R, Dvoryak S, Rotberga S, Altice FL. Burden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2015, 151: 68-75. PMID: 25861943, PMCID: PMC4447560, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.02.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyDrug injectionInfectious diseasesPrevalence of HCVSignificant independent correlatesLow HIV prevalenceHigh-endemic countriesHigh diagnostic rateEvidence-based addiction treatmentSubstance use disordersHealth assessment surveyHCV epidemicHepatitis BHCV diagnosisHIV statusHIV prevalenceART coverageHIV treatmentIndependent correlatesNew medicationsHIV epidemicHeterosexual riskHealth SurveyEndemic countriesHIV
2013
Methadone dose at the time of release from prison significantly influences retention in treatment: Implications from a pilot study of HIV-infected prisoners transitioning to the community in Malaysia
Wickersham JA, Zahari MM, Azar MM, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Methadone dose at the time of release from prison significantly influences retention in treatment: Implications from a pilot study of HIV-infected prisoners transitioning to the community in Malaysia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2013, 132: 378-382. PMID: 23414931, PMCID: PMC3718876, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.01.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentMethadone doseKaplan-Meier survival analysisDose escalation procedureMethadone initiationThirty HIVMMT clinicsEvaluable participantsMaintenance treatmentOpioid dependenceMMT programSide effectsHigh dosesSurvival analysisHIVFirst weekPilot studyDoseMonthsTreatmentEscalation procedureDosesCravingParticipantsMonths of release