2021
Willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment
Ni Z, Altice FL, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM, DiDomizio EE, Nelson LE, Shrestha R. Willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 219: 108477. PMID: 33422864, PMCID: PMC7946167, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid-dependent individualsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useHIV riskHealthcare providersSex-related risk behaviorsMultivariable logistic regression analysisAwareness of PrEPUrban methadone clinicMultiple logistic regressionDisproportionate HIV burdenLogistic regression analysisCross-sectional surveyHIV burdenHIV infectionHIV testingIndependent correlatesMethadone clinicsDrug treatmentRisk behaviorsLogistic regressionPrEPPrevious useHigher likelihoodProphylaxis
2017
Evaluation of a hepatitis C education intervention with clients enrolled in methadone maintenance and needle/syringe programs in Malaysia
Mukherjee TI, Pillai V, Ali SH, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA. Evaluation of a hepatitis C education intervention with clients enrolled in methadone maintenance and needle/syringe programs in Malaysia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2017, 47: 144-152. PMID: 28652072, PMCID: PMC5592150, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeedle/syringe programsHCV knowledgeHarm reduction servicesTreatment interestEducation interventionSyringe programsEducation sessionsReduction servicesEffective public health approachHepatitis B vaccineMethadone maintenance treatmentOverall knowledge scorePublic health approachResource-limited settingsHCV treatmentHepatitis CB vaccineHIV testBaseline knowledge assessmentMaintenance treatmentPost-intervention knowledge assessmentMethadone maintenanceMMT clientsKnowledge scoreNSP servicesDesign 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 trialHIVTrialsInterventionOutcomesAssessment 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 satisfaction
2016
Factors associated with interest in receiving prison-based methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysia
Mukherjee TI, Wickersham JA, Desai MM, Pillai V, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Factors associated with interest in receiving prison-based methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2016, 164: 120-127. PMID: 27207155, PMCID: PMC5592792, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyMaintenance therapyOpioid dependenceDaily heroin useOpioid use disorderLogistic regression analysisMMT initiationDrug use consequencesIndependent correlatesModifiable factorsHIV preventionHeroin useUse disordersParticipant characteristicsMental healthConvenience sampleHIVRegression analysisTherapyStructured questionnaireIncarcerated menMale prisonersUse consequencesLarge proportionPrison populationAn Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Brief Self-Report Scale to Detect Neurocognitive Impairment Among Participants Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance Therapy
Copenhaver M, Shrestha R, Wickersham JA, Weikum D, Altice FL. An Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Brief Self-Report Scale to Detect Neurocognitive Impairment Among Participants Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance Therapy. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2016, 63: 61-65. PMID: 26879859, PMCID: PMC4775373, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2016.01.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyNeuropsychological Impairment ScaleNeurocognitive impairmentMaintenance therapySex-related HIV risk behaviorsHIV risk behaviorsClinical care settingsNeuro-cognitive impairmentExploratory factor analysisCare settingsImpairment ScaleRisk behaviorsAddiction treatmentBrief self-report scaleImpairmentSelf-report measuresSelf-report scalesPatientsPrincipal axis factoringCognitive functioningTherapyFactor analysisOrthogonal varimax rotationPresent studyPotential utility
2015
Accessing methadone within Moldovan prisons: Prejudice and myths amplified by peers
Polonsky M, Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Marcus R, Doltu S, Grishaev E, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Accessing methadone within Moldovan prisons: Prejudice and myths amplified by peers. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2015, 29: 91-95. PMID: 26809933, PMCID: PMC5592800, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.016.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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 releaseImplementing methadone maintenance treatment in prisons in Malaysia
Wickersham JA, Marcus R, Kamarulzaman A, Zahari MM, Altice FL. Implementing methadone maintenance treatment in prisons in Malaysia. Bulletin Of The World Health Organization 2013, 91: 124-129. PMID: 23554524, PMCID: PMC3605007, DOI: 10.2471/blt.12.109132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDose of methadoneMMT programHIV infectionHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectionMethadone maintenance treatment programDaily oral doseImmunodeficiency virus infectionMethadone maintenance treatmentMaintenance treatment programHarm reduction strategiesMinistry of HealthAdequate dosingOral doseMaintenance treatmentMethadone treatmentStandard operating proceduresMMT clientsVirus infectionTreatment programMethadoneOngoing educationInfectionDosePhase 3Tuberculosis