2023
Modelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Stone J, Trickey A, Walker J, Bivegete S, Semchuk N, Sazonova Y, Varetska O, Altice F, Saliuk T, Vickerman P. Modelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2023, 26: e26073. PMID: 37012669, PMCID: PMC10070931, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyHepatitis C virusHCV incidenceHCV infectionHIV/HCV testingHIV/HCV infectionHCV transmission modelNeedles/syringesHCV testingHCV eliminationHCV transmissionAgonist treatmentC virusNew HIVHigh prevalencePWIDHIVCondom useSubstantial detrimental impactInfectionIncidencePreventative impactDrugsCoverage levelsDALYs
2022
Implementation of a Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among HIV-Positive People Who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan: A Randomized Trial
Davis A, Mergenova G, Landers S, Sun Y, Rozental E, Gulyaev V, Gulyaev P, Nurkatova M, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Altice F, Remien R. Implementation of a Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among HIV-Positive People Who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan: A Randomized Trial. Research On Social Work Practice 2022, 33: 313-324. PMID: 37576461, PMCID: PMC10421639, DOI: 10.1177/10497315221117543.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV-positive PWIDAntiretroviral therapy adherenceHIV-positive peopleTherapy adherenceART adherence interventionsStandard of careSupport partnersART adherenceAdherence interventionsIntervention deliveryPWIDTraining of staffInterventionTrialsAdherenceCouple interventionsSocial supportFamily membersDrugsIntimate partnersRemote deliveryCollection of assessmentsImplementation strategiesDeliveryAdapted version
2021
Use of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among People Who Inject Drugs: Exploratory Findings of the Interaction Between Race, Homelessness, and Trust
Zhou X, Altice FL, Chandra D, Didomizio E, Copenhaver MM, Shrestha R. Use of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among People Who Inject Drugs: Exploratory Findings of the Interaction Between Race, Homelessness, and Trust. AIDS And Behavior 2021, 25: 3743-3753. PMID: 33751313, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03227-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useProvider trustPatient-level factorsOpioid-dependent patientsLogistic regression analysisNon-homeless participantsHomeless participantsRace/ethnicityEligibility criteriaCross-sectional dataPrEPProphylaxisMethadoneRegression analysisDrugsExploratory findingsParticipantsPotential moderatorsPWIDPatientsSignificant moderator
2020
Hazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt, and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the United States, India, Russia, and Vietnam.
Wagman JA, Wynn A, Matsuzaki M, Gnatienko N, Metsch LR, Del Rio C, Feaster DJ, Nance RM, Whitney BM, Delaney JAC, Kahana SY, Crane HM, Chandler RK, Elliott JC, Altice F, Lucas GM, Mehta SH, Hirsch-Moverman Y, El-Sadr WM, Vu Q, Nguyen Thanh B, Springer SA, Tsui JI, Samet JH. Hazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt, and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the United States, India, Russia, and Vietnam. AIDS 2020, 34: 2285-2294. PMID: 33048870, PMCID: PMC7951611, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002716.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHazardous alcohol useFormer injection drug useART receiptViral suppressionInjection drug useLow-middle income countriesAlcohol useAntiretroviral therapyMiddle-income countriesDrug useAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scoresHIV viral suppressionAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestDisorders Identification TestTherapy receiptHIV continuumMean ageHigh-income countriesCare outcomesLogistic regressionUpper middle-income countriesPLHIVDrugsIdentification TestHIV
2019
Online HIV information seeking and pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness among people who use drugs
Ranjit YS, Shrestha R, Copenhaver M, Altice FL. Online HIV information seeking and pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness among people who use drugs. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2019, 111: 16-22. PMID: 32087834, PMCID: PMC7039922, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHIV informationMethadone treatmentPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awarenessPre-exposure prophylaxisNew HIV diagnosesHIV-negative PWUDBehavior change continuumCross-sectional surveyMethods of preventionAddiction treatment programsHIV diagnosisImmunodeficiency virusInjection drugsHIV preventionHigh riskGeneral populationSex partnersOverall healthTreatment programPrEPDrugsPWUDChange continuumRiskGlobal patterns of opioid use and dependence: harms to populations, interventions, and future action
Degenhardt L, Grebely J, Stone J, Hickman M, Vickerman P, Marshall BDL, Bruneau J, Altice FL, Henderson G, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Larney S. Global patterns of opioid use and dependence: harms to populations, interventions, and future action. The Lancet 2019, 394: 1560-1579. PMID: 31657732, PMCID: PMC7068135, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32229-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid useExtramedical opioid useIllicit opioid useRisk Factor StudyHepatitis C virusDrug-related harmRange of interventionsHIV mortalityOverall mortalityAgonist treatmentExtramedical usePatient acceptabilityC virusHigh prevalenceOpioid overdoseHigh-income countriesGlobal burdenOpioidsMultiple healthEffective interventionsInterventionTreatment qualityDrugsHIV
2018
Assessment of barrier severity and willingness to enter opioid agonist treatment among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Zelenev A, Shea P, Mazhnaya A, Rozanova J, Madden L, Marcus R, Altice FL. Assessment of barrier severity and willingness to enter opioid agonist treatment among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2018, 190: 82-88. PMID: 29990648, PMCID: PMC6292439, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid-dependent peopleSubstance abuse treatment programsCross-sectional surveyAgonist therapyAgonist treatmentHIV preventionTreatment perceptionsTreatment efficacyOAT expansionStudy participantsTreatment programAddiction treatmentComposite measureSeveritySocial stigmaDrugsTreatmentStructural barriersBarrier severityParticipantsPerceptions of Health-Related Community Reentry Challenges among Incarcerated Drug Users in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine
Rozanova J, Morozova O, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Izenberg JM, Kiriazova T, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Perceptions of Health-Related Community Reentry Challenges among Incarcerated Drug Users in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. Journal Of Urban Health 2018, 95: 508-522. PMID: 29728898, PMCID: PMC6095752, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-018-0256-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentSubstance use disordersUse disordersMethadone treatmentDrug usersPoor general healthGeneral health conditionPerception of healthAgonist treatmentDrug injectionGeneral healthHigh prevalenceHealth needsHealth-related tasksLogistic regressionMethadoneHealth conditionsPre-release planningDisordersTreatmentPublic healthTotal samplePrison settingDrugsHealth
2017
Hepatitis C virus treatment as prevention in an extended network of people who inject drugs in the USA: a modelling study
Zelenev A, Li J, Mazhnaya A, Basu S, Altice FL. Hepatitis C virus treatment as prevention in an extended network of people who inject drugs in the USA: a modelling study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2017, 18: 215-224. PMID: 29153265, PMCID: PMC5860640, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30676-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntiviral AgentsChemopreventionCitiesComputer SimulationDisease Transmission, InfectiousFemaleHepatitis CHumansMaleMiddle AgedModels, StatisticalPrevalenceSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSurveys and QuestionnairesTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesYoung AdultConceptsBaseline HCV prevalenceHepatitis C virusHCV prevalenceInjection partnersPrevention strategiesTreatment coverageTransmission of HCVHepatitis C virus (HCV) treatmentHCV elimination strategySuccessful HCV treatmentC virus treatmentInjection drug usersHCV treatment coverageAdditional network memberHCV treatmentActing antiviralsC virusChronic infectionVirus treatmentDrug usersPrevalenceDrug abuseDrugsNational InstitutePreventionWillingness to pay for opioid agonist treatment among opioid dependent people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Makarenko I, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Bojko MJ, Madden L, Filippovich S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. Willingness to pay for opioid agonist treatment among opioid dependent people who inject drugs in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2017, 45: 56-63. PMID: 28628853, PMCID: PMC5533603, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid-dependent peopleAgonist treatmentCurrent opioid agonist treatmentCross-sectional nationwide surveyMonthly incomeMultivariate logistic regressionIndependent predictorsPWIDKruskal-Wallis testPsychosocial counselingPrevious unsuccessful attemptsYounger ageLogistic regressionDependent peopleHigher incomeOne-way ANOVANationwide surveyDrugsContinuous variablesFamily supportTreatmentLarge percentageBetter accessA Self-report Measure to Detect Neurocognitive Impairment Among Incarcerated People Living with HIV in Malaysian Context: an Exploratory Factor Analysis
Shrestha R, Weikum D, Copenhaver M, Altice FL. A Self-report Measure to Detect Neurocognitive Impairment Among Incarcerated People Living with HIV in Malaysian Context: an Exploratory Factor Analysis. International Journal Of Mental Health And Addiction 2017, 15: 812-825. PMID: 29051714, PMCID: PMC5642920, DOI: 10.1007/s11469-017-9752-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeuropsychological Impairment ScaleNeurocognitive impairmentHIV treatment outcomesNeuro-cognitive impairmentExploratory factor analysisSelf-report measuresNeurocognitive symptomsTreatment outcomesTreatment strategiesImpairment ScaleHIVScreening toolImpairmentPLWHEight-factor structureCronbach's alphaPrincipal axis factoringCognitive functioningOrthogonal varimax rotationPsychometric propertiesDrugsPresent studyMale prisonersIncarcerated peopleMore specific forms
2016
Examining the Acceptability of mHealth Technology in HIV Prevention Among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment
Shrestha R, Huedo-Medina TB, Altice FL, Krishnan A, Copenhaver M. Examining the Acceptability of mHealth Technology in HIV Prevention Among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 21: 3100-3110. PMID: 28025735, PMCID: PMC5484759, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1637-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAdultCell PhoneConnecticutDelivery of Health CareDrug UsersFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansInternetMaleMethadoneNeurocognitive DisordersOpiate Substitution TreatmentPatient Acceptance of Health CarePrevalenceRisk FactorsRisk-TakingSexual BehaviorSmartphoneSubstance Abuse, IntravenousTelemedicineText MessagingConceptsSex-related risk behaviorsNeurocognitive impairmentDrug usersRisk behaviorsHIV-negative drug usersHigh-risk drug usersHigh-risk populationHigh-risk peopleHIV prevention effortsUse of mHealthMethadone clinicsHIV preventionHigh prevalenceMedication remindersHealth programsMHealth acceptancePrevention effortsHealth conditionsMHealth technologiesConvenience sampleDrugsStandardized assessmentReal-world acceptanceMobile healthPhone callsThe perfect storm: incarceration and the high-risk environment perpetuating transmission of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Altice FL, Azbel L, Stone J, Brooks-Pollock E, Smyrnov P, Dvoriak S, Taxman FS, El-Bassel N, Martin NK, Booth R, Stöver H, Dolan K, Vickerman P. The perfect storm: incarceration and the high-risk environment perpetuating transmission of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Lancet 2016, 388: 1228-1248. PMID: 27427455, PMCID: PMC5087988, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)30856-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyHepatitis C virusIncident tuberculosis casesAgonist therapyC virusTuberculosis casesHIV transmissionEECA countriesAntiretroviral therapy coverageHIV transmission riskNew HIV infectionsInjection of opioidsTransmission of HIVSecondary preventionHIV infectionHIV incidenceSyringe programsHIVDrug useLarge burdenTransmission riskTherapyTuberculosisDrugsHigh levelsAttitudes toward medication-assisted treatment among fishermen in Kuantan, Malaysia, who inject drugs
Brown SE, Wickersham JA, Pelletier AR, Marcus RM, Erenrich R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Attitudes toward medication-assisted treatment among fishermen in Kuantan, Malaysia, who inject drugs. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse 2016, 16: 363-379. PMID: 27404914, PMCID: PMC5592158, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1196632.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDeterminants of willingness to enroll in opioid agonist treatment among opioid dependent people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Makarenko I, Mazhnaya A, Polonsky M, Marcus R, Bojko MJ, Filippovych S, Springer S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. Determinants of willingness to enroll in opioid agonist treatment among opioid dependent people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2016, 165: 213-220. PMID: 27370527, PMCID: PMC5094181, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.06.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentAdjusted odds ratioOpioid use disorderAgonist treatmentUse disordersSignificant adjusted odds ratiosMultivariable logistic regressionHIV-negative statusPatient-level interventionsOpioid-dependent peopleInjection frequencyHIV statusOdds ratioRecent overdoseIndependent factorsPWIDLogistic regressionPrevious imprisonmentHigher injection frequencySignificant correlatesPrior incarcerationFamily supportDisordersDrugsInterventionAttitudes Toward Addiction, Methadone Treatment, and Recovery Among HIV-Infected Ukrainian Prisoners Who Inject Drugs: Incarceration Effects and Exploration of Mediators
Polonsky M, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Izenberg J, Kiriazova T, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Attitudes Toward Addiction, Methadone Treatment, and Recovery Among HIV-Infected Ukrainian Prisoners Who Inject Drugs: Incarceration Effects and Exploration of Mediators. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 20: 2950-2960. PMID: 27011378, PMCID: PMC5035551, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1375-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyGroup 1Drug useGroup 2 participantsDrug addiction severityAwareness of addictionMaintenance therapyMethadone treatmentExploration of mediatorsHIV stigmaGroup 2MMT treatmentAddiction severityGroup comparisonsDrug addictionHIVHigh rateAddictionHigher optimismDrugsTreatmentParticipantsMethadoneGroupPaper’s key findings
2015
HIV Prevalence Among People Who Inject Drugs in Greater Kuala Lumpur Recruited Using Respondent-Driven Sampling
Bazazi AR, Crawford F, Zelenev A, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. HIV Prevalence Among People Who Inject Drugs in Greater Kuala Lumpur Recruited Using Respondent-Driven Sampling. AIDS And Behavior 2015, 19: 2347-2357. PMID: 26358544, PMCID: PMC4743744, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1191-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicPrevention interventionsRapid HIV testingHIV prevention interventionsRespondent-driven samplingHIV testingAppropriate treatmentHigh prevalencePWIDCommunity surveillanceKuala LumpurPrevalenceBehavioral assessmentOverall sampleDrugsInterventionRecruitment sitesEpidemicInterview siteHIVGeographic regionsGreater Kuala LumpurDiscrete geographic regionsLumpurDrug Treatment as HIV Prevention Among Women and Girls Who Inject Drugs From a Global Perspective
Springer SA, Larney S, Alam-mehrjerdi Z, Altice FL, Metzger D, Shoptaw S. Drug Treatment as HIV Prevention Among Women and Girls Who Inject Drugs From a Global Perspective. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2015, 69: s155-s161. PMID: 25978482, PMCID: PMC4443704, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000637.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication-assisted therapyDrug treatmentAntiretroviral therapyHIV transmission riskNew HIV infectionsHarm reduction servicesSubstance use disordersPoor treatment accessImplementation of interventionsOpioid useHIV infectionEvidence-based practiceHIV preventionOpioid addictionTreatment accessUse disordersReduction servicesSexual riskTransmission riskTherapyWomenTreatmentDrugsImpressive lackSignificant reduction“Bureaucracy & Beliefs”: Assessing the barriers to accessing opioid substitution therapy by people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Bojko MJ, Mazhnaya A, Makarenko I, Marcus R, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. “Bureaucracy & Beliefs”: Assessing the barriers to accessing opioid substitution therapy by people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Drugs Education Prevention And Policy 2015, 22: 255-262. PMID: 27087758, PMCID: PMC4831711, DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2015.1016397.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid substitution therapySubstitution therapySide effectsEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesOpioid-dependent PWIDHIV prevention strategiesMulti-level barriersImplementation science projectHIV preventionMethadone clientsTreatment accessWaiting listPWIDPrevention strategiesTreatment attitudesSocial marketing campaignFree treatmentTreatment slotsTreatmentPublic healthTherapyFocus group discussionsDrugsStructural barriersParticipantsTreatment 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