2017
HIV Testing and awareness of HIV status among people who inject drugs in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bazazi AR, Vijay A, Crawford FW, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. HIV Testing and awareness of HIV status among people who inject drugs in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AIDS Care 2017, 30: 59-64. PMID: 28803503, PMCID: PMC5699941, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1363852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV testingCompulsory drug detention centersHIV statusCorrelates of testingHIV-positive PWIDHIV testing servicesHigh-risk populationHIV testing policiesRecent criminal justice involvementRespondent-driven samplingMost PWIDHIV treatmentHIV epidemicVoluntary testingCriminal justice involvementPWIDHIVTesting recommendationsKuala LumpurTesting behaviorMandatory testingPrimary locationGreater Kuala LumpurMain correlatesTesting servicesAssessment 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 Abuse 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 sample
2015
Treatment Readiness, Attitudes Toward, and Experiences with Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy Among People Who Inject Drugs in Malaysia
Vijay A, Bazazi AR, Yee I, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Treatment Readiness, Attitudes Toward, and Experiences with Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy Among People Who Inject Drugs in Malaysia. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2015, 54: 29-36. PMID: 25841703, PMCID: PMC4758679, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.01.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAge FactorsAge of OnsetAgedAttitudeBuprenorphineEthnicityFemaleHumansMalaysiaMaleMethadoneMiddle AgedNarcoticsNeedle SharingNeedle-Exchange ProgramsOpiate Substitution TreatmentPatient Acceptance of Health CareStress, PsychologicalSubstance Abuse Treatment CentersSubstance Abuse, IntravenousYoung AdultConceptsOpioid maintenance therapyBuprenorphine maintenance therapyMaintenance therapyTreatment readinessNeedle/syringe exchange programsSharing of needlesMultivariable linear regressionSyringe exchange programsCompulsory drug detention centersMajority of subjectsReadiness scoresOpioid dependencePatients' attitudesPrimary careMethadoneTreatment settingsStress symptom severityBuprenorphineIndian ethnicityAdult populationSymptom severityOlder agePast monthTherapyDrugs
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 programs