2021
The opioid crisis and HIV in the USA: deadly synergies
Hodder SL, Feinberg J, Strathdee SA, Shoptaw S, Altice FL, Ortenzio L, Beyrer C. The opioid crisis and HIV in the USA: deadly synergies. The Lancet 2021, 397: 1139-1150. PMID: 33617769, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00391-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAnalgesics, OpioidBlack or African AmericanCase-Control StudiesDisease OutbreaksEvidence-Based MedicineFemaleFentanylHealth Services AccessibilityHispanic or LatinoHIV InfectionsHumansMaleNeedle SharingOpiate OverdoseOpioid EpidemicOpioid-Related DisordersSocial StigmaUnited StatesWhite PeopleYoung AdultConceptsNew HIV diagnosesHIV diagnosisOpioid epidemicHIV preventionMultiple evidence-based interventionsGreat public health problemRecent HIV outbreaksOpioid overdose death ratesOpioid use disorderLarge central metropolitan areasPublic health problemOverdose death ratesComprehensive health careEvidence-based interventionsDeadly synergyHIV acquisitionSynthetic opioid fentanylSyringe sharingHIV outbreakUse disordersOpioid fentanylTreatment servicesHealth problemsOpioid crisisDeath rate
2017
Correlates of willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis and anticipation of practicing safer drug- and sex-related behaviors among high-risk drug users on methadone treatment
Shrestha R, Karki P, Altice FL, Huedo-Medina TB, Meyer JP, Madden L, Copenhaver M. Correlates of willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis and anticipation of practicing safer drug- and sex-related behaviors among high-risk drug users on methadone treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2017, 173: 107-116. PMID: 28214391, PMCID: PMC5366273, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.12.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV risk reductionDrug injectionHIV riskRisk behaviorsHigh-risk drug usersHigh-risk PWUDOpioid-dependent personsHIV prevention approachesRecent risk behaviorsCross-sectional studyConsistent condom useHigh-risk behaviorsRisk reductionCorrelates of willingnessPrEP deliveryMethadone treatmentIndependent correlatesMethadone programsSafe drugElevated riskCasual partnersNeurocognitive impairmentDrug usersKey populations
2016
Pretreatment 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 monthTherapyDrugsWithin-prison drug injection among HIV-infected male prisoners in Indonesia: A highly constrained choice
Culbert GJ, Waluyo A, Iriyanti M, Muchransyah AP, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Within-prison drug injection among HIV-infected male prisoners in Indonesia: A highly constrained choice. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2015, 149: 71-79. PMID: 25659895, PMCID: PMC5108518, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.01.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrison drug injectionDrug injectionNeedle sharingDaily drug injectionsIncarceration of peopleDrug use changesSubstance use disordersHigh-risk behaviorsMale prisonersVoice-recorded interviewsHalf of participantsHIV transmissionHIV treatmentMultivariate correlatesUse disordersHIVDrug usersMultivariate analysisRisk behaviorsLogistic regressionStigmatizing attitudesDrug availabilityDrug cravingAddiction treatmentDrug supply
2014
Within-prison drug injection among HIV-infected Ukrainian prisoners: Prevalence and correlates of an extremely high-risk behaviour
Izenberg JM, Bachireddy C, Wickersham JA, Soule M, Kiriazova T, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. Within-prison drug injection among HIV-infected Ukrainian prisoners: Prevalence and correlates of an extremely high-risk behaviour. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2014, 25: 845-852. PMID: 24951025, PMCID: PMC4148465, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.02.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection equipment sharingPrison drug injectionNeedle/syringeIndependent correlatesDrug injectionNeedle/syringe exchange programsDrug useOpioid substitution therapyInjection drug useEquipment sharingSyringe exchange programsHigh-risk behaviorsPrior drug useOpioid useHIV infectionHIV incidenceHIV transmissionSubstitution therapyMale genderHarm reduction practicesHIVLogistic regressionMental healthConvenience sampleComplete dataLatent tuberculosis infection in a Malaysian prison: implications for a comprehensive integrated control program in prisons
Al-Darraji HA, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Latent tuberculosis infection in a Malaysian prison: implications for a comprehensive integrated control program in prisons. BMC Public Health 2014, 14: 22. PMID: 24405607, PMCID: PMC3907782, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTuberculin skin testLatent TB infectionNational TB incidence rateMalaysia's largest prisonSubstance abuse componentLatent tuberculosis infectionTB incidence rateTB control programsPPD RT 23Overall national rateProblem of tuberculosisLargest prisonLogistic regression modelsHIV-uninfectedIntegrated tuberculosisMethodsFrom JulyConclusionsThe prevalenceTB infectionActive tuberculosisTB screeningTST positivityMiddle-income countriesTuberculosis infectionHIV statusSkin test
2011
Attitudes toward opioid substitution therapy and pre-incarceration HIV transmission behaviors among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia: Implications for secondary prevention
Bachireddy C, Bazazi AR, Kavasery R, Govindasamy S, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Attitudes toward opioid substitution therapy and pre-incarceration HIV transmission behaviors among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia: Implications for secondary prevention. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2011, 116: 151-157. PMID: 21232882, PMCID: PMC3084892, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.12.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAttitudeComorbidityHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHIV InfectionsHumansMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedNeedle SharingOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPrisonersPrisonsRisk-TakingSecondary PreventionSexual BehaviorSubstance Abuse, IntravenousTime FactorsUnsafe SexYoung AdultConceptsOpioid substitution therapyHIV transmission behaviorsSubstitution therapyUnprotected sexSecondary HIV prevention effortsCommunity HIV transmissionInjection of buprenorphineSecondary HIV preventionInjection drug useHIV prevention effortsSterile injection equipmentOpioid injectionSecondary preventionOpioid dependenceHIV transmissionHIV preventionMale prisonersHIV riskInjection riskDrug useHIVCareful monitoringSexual riskBehavioral interventionsPrevention efforts
2009
Lack of Reduction in Buprenorphine Injection After Introduction of Co-Formulated Buprenorphine/Naloxone to the Malaysian Market
Bruce RD, Govindasamy S, Sylla L, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Lack of Reduction in Buprenorphine Injection After Introduction of Co-Formulated Buprenorphine/Naloxone to the Malaysian Market. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2009, 35: 68-72. PMID: 19212931, PMCID: PMC2791788, DOI: 10.1080/00952990802585406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBuprenorphine/naloxoneOpioid withdrawal symptomsSyringe sharingWithdrawal symptomsSnowball recruitment techniquesLogistic regression analysisDiversion of buprenorphineLack of reductionEvidence-based approachPrimary outcomeBuprenorphine injectionOnly symptomBenzodiazepine useBenzodiazepine injectionStomach painBuprenorphineInjection doseRisk behaviorsSymptomsNaloxoneInjectionRegression analysisNLXDaily amountDose
2007
Case Series on the Safe Use of Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Individuals with Acute Hepatitis C Infection and Abnormal Hepatic Liver Transaminases
Bruce RD, Altice FL. Case Series on the Safe Use of Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Individuals with Acute Hepatitis C Infection and Abnormal Hepatic Liver Transaminases. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2007, 33: 869-874. PMID: 17994482, DOI: 10.1080/00952990701653875.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusAcute hepatitis C infectionHepatitis C infectionBuprenorphine treatmentC infectionChronic viral illnessesSafety of buprenorphineAcute HCV infectionBuprenorphine/naloxoneOpiate substitution therapyOpioid-dependent patientsOpiate substitution treatmentLaboratory evaluationChronic hepatitisElevated transaminasesHCV infectionLiver transaminasesViral illnessCase seriesSubstitution therapyC virusSubstitution treatmentBuprenorphinePatientsTransaminase