2024
Higher methadone dose at time of release from prison predicts linkage to maintenance treatment for people with HIV and opioid use disorder transitioning to the community in Malaysia
Ahmad A, Bromberg D, Shrestha R, Salleh N, Bazazi A, Kamarulzaman A, Shenoi S, Altice F. Higher methadone dose at time of release from prison predicts linkage to maintenance treatment for people with HIV and opioid use disorder transitioning to the community in Malaysia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2024, 126: 104369. PMID: 38484531, PMCID: PMC11056294, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMethadone maintenance treatmentNational Institute of Drug AbuseMethadone dosePost-releaseOpioid dependenceMaintenance treatmentMethadone maintenance treatment doseHigher doses of methadoneProspective trialsHighest methadone dosagePost-release outcomesHigher methadone dosesMalaysia’s largest prison.Levels of depressionTreatment of opioid use disorderMonths of releaseDose of methadoneOpioid use disorderLargest prisonHigher dosageIncarcerated peopleIncarceration periodUse disorderMethadone dosageTime-to-event analysis
2022
Implementation opportunities for scaling up methadone maintenance treatment in Kyrgyzstan: Methadone dosage and retention on treatment over two years
Ivasiy R, Madden LM, Farnum SO, Shumskaya N, de Leon S, Bromberg DJ, Kurmanalieva A, Duishenaliev A, Tokubaev R, Altice FL. Implementation opportunities for scaling up methadone maintenance treatment in Kyrgyzstan: Methadone dosage and retention on treatment over two years. Drug And Alcohol Dependence Reports 2022, 4: 100075. PMID: 36267100, PMCID: PMC9581459, DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100075.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMethadone maintenance treatmentDosage levelsMaintenance treatmentCox multivariate regression modelMethadone dosage levelsProspective observational databaseNational treatment guidelinesProportion of patientsHigher dosage levelsOptimal dosageMMT retentionMMT patientsMethadone dosageTreatment guidelinesHIV statusMultivariate regression modelHigh doseSurvival analysisTreatment dropoutClinical settingCost-effective strategySignificant predictorsMonthsHIVObservational databaseA pilot implementation study to scale-up methadone in incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder and retain them on treatment after release in Moldova
Dorgay CE, Bromberg DJ, Doltu S, Litz T, Galvez S, Polonsky M, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. A pilot implementation study to scale-up methadone in incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder and retain them on treatment after release in Moldova. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2022, 104: 103683. PMID: 35417790, PMCID: PMC9827420, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103683.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentOpioid use disorderUse disordersBrief interventionPilot implementation studySBIRT interventionTreatment initiationMaintenance treatmentMethadonePotential implementation strategiesIncarcerated personsInterventionImplementation studyTreatment proceduresBaselineDisordersTreatmentParticipantsDays of releaseReleaseImplementation strategiesPre-trial detention facilitySessionsHIVReferral
2021
Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study
O'Hara GL, Liberman AR, Polonsky M, Azbel L, Marcus R, Doltu S, Cugut S, Altice FL. Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 136: 108660. PMID: 34801282, PMCID: PMC10879837, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108660.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentCentral Asian regionNegative personal attitudesPrison hierarchySocial forcesInformal hierarchyMaintenance treatmentThematic barriersQualitative interviewsPrison populationInterview dataAsian regionPrisonPrison settingQualitative studyQuantitative surveyKey barriersNew HIV infectionsOpioid use disorderContent analysisComplete interview dataQualitative analysisDistrustPersonal attitudesPrisoners
2020
The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine
Farnum SO, Makarenko I, Madden L, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Prokhorova T, Bojko MJ, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine. Addiction 2020, 116: 83-93. PMID: 32428276, PMCID: PMC7674222, DOI: 10.1111/add.15115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOAT discontinuationAgonist therapyTreatment retentionIndependent predictorsHIV epidemicCost-effective HIV prevention strategyMethadone maintenance treatment patientsObservational longitudinal cohort studySpecialty addictions treatmentBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentHigh dosageHIV prevention strategiesLongitudinal cohort studyOpioid-dependent peopleTreatment discontinuationCohort studyMaintenance treatmentMale sexTreatment patientsPrevention strategiesDiscontinuationYounger ageCenter settingAddiction treatment
2019
HIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients
Shrestha R, Altice FL, Copenhaver MM. HIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2019, 80: 166-173. PMID: 30383588, PMCID: PMC6331231, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001891.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOptimal ART adherenceAntiretroviral therapyMethadone-maintained patientsMethadone maintenance treatmentART adherenceMaintenance treatmentHIV treatment outcomesHIV-positive patientsOpioid agonist therapyMultivariable logistic regressionHIV risk behaviorsExplanatory pathwaysAgonist therapySuboptimal adherenceMedication adherenceHIV treatmentTreatment outcomesHIV stigmaPatientsLogistic regressionHIVPrevention initiativesTherapyAdherenceSignificant correlates
2018
Drug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments
Azbel L, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Bachireddy C, Meyer J, Shumskaya N, Kurmanalieva A, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Drug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments. International Journal Of Prison Health 2018, 14: 175-187. PMID: 30274558, PMCID: PMC6447033, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-03-2017-0016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentNeedle syringe programsDrug injectionDrug injectorsHigh HIV risk behaviorElevated HIV riskPrison drug injectionHepatitis C infectionOpioid agonist treatmentHIV risk behaviorsC infectionHIV incidenceAgonist treatmentMaintenance treatmentIndependent correlatesBiobehavioral surveysHIV riskOnly examinationRisk behaviorsMMT useLow uptakeCurrent incarcerationInjectionLogit linkHigh-risk environmentsConcurrent drug injection during opioid agonist treatment among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Makarenko I, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Pykalo I, Madden L, Filippovich S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. Concurrent drug injection during opioid agonist treatment among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2018, 87: 1-8. PMID: 29471921, PMCID: PMC5826566, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.01.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentMethadone maintenance treatmentConcurrent illicit drug useOAT patientsIllicit drug useDrug injectionDrug useAgonist treatmentUse disordersMultivariable logistic regressionConcurrent drug useOngoing drug usePolysubstance use disorderAlcohol use disorderMaintenance treatmentIndependent correlatesBMT programSevere opioidDrug injectingPatientsHealth outcomesTreatment dropoutAlcohol dependenceInjection initiationYounger age
2017
Using nominal group technique among clinical providers to identify barriers and prioritize solutions to scaling up opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine
Madden L, Bojko MJ, Farnum S, Mazhnaya A, Fomenko T, Marcus R, Barry D, Ivanchuk I, Kolomiets V, Filippovych S, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Using nominal group technique among clinical providers to identify barriers and prioritize solutions to scaling up opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2017, 49: 48-53. PMID: 28957756, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.07.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNominal group techniqueAgonist therapyBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentAddiction treatment approachesImplementation science strategiesOAT servicesMaintenance treatmentClinical providersTreatment approachesTreatment servicesNGT discussionRegional controlTherapyCliniciansGroup techniqueStructural barriersEvaluation 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 services
2016
Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): An Empirical Test of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment
Shrestha R, Altice FL, Huedo-Medina TB, Karki P, Copenhaver M. Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): An Empirical Test of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 21: 1299-1308. PMID: 27990587, PMCID: PMC5380590, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1650-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-risk PWUDBehavioral skills modelCommunity-based methadone maintenance treatmentPre-exposure prophylaxis trialsSex-related HIV risk behaviorsHigh-risk drug usersPre-exposure prophylaxisIMB modelMethadone maintenance treatmentEfficacy of PrEPUse of PrEPHIV risk behaviorsKey risk populationsHealth behavior changeHIV acquisitionProphylaxis trialsHIV infectionMaintenance treatmentHIV preventionRisk populationsDrug usersRisk behaviorsPrEPPWUDIntervention development
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
2012
Retention on buprenorphine treatment reduces emergency department utilization, but not hospitalization, among treatment-seeking patients with opioid dependence
Schwarz R, Zelenev A, Bruce RD, Altice FL. Retention on buprenorphine treatment reduces emergency department utilization, but not hospitalization, among treatment-seeking patients with opioid dependence. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2012, 43: 451-457. PMID: 22534003, PMCID: PMC3419304, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.03.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentHealthcare utilizationED utilizationEmergency department usageOpioid-dependent patientsEmergency department utilizationLate-stage diseaseTreatment-seeking patientsBuprenorphine treatmentChart reviewPerson yearsED useMaintenance treatmentOpioid dependenceDependent patientsPrimary careHospitalizationDrug usersNegative binomial regressionBinomial regressionPatientsComparison of timeTreatmentAverage lengthStay
2009
Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Testing Reactivity in Opioid-Dependent Patients Seeking Treatment with Methadone versus Buprenorphine: Policy Implications for Tuberculosis Screening
Schwarz RK, Bruce RD, Ball SA, Herme M, Altice FL. Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Testing Reactivity in Opioid-Dependent Patients Seeking Treatment with Methadone versus Buprenorphine: Policy Implications for Tuberculosis Screening. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2009, 35: 439-444. PMID: 20014914, DOI: 10.3109/00952990903447741.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentTuberculin skin testingBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentOpioid-dependent patientsTST positivityMaintenance treatmentBMT programRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care settingSimilar high prevalenceCross-sectional analysisEthnic health disparitiesBMT patientsBMT settingCohort studyTuberculosis infectionSkin testingTuberculosis screeningTST resultsMMT programPatient populationPrimary careHigh prevalenceCare settingsPatients