2022
Interest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Litz T, Kurmanalieva A, Galvez S, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Interest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0276723. PMID: 36282864, PMCID: PMC9595522, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsCriminal justice systemDepth qualitative interviewsMethadone utilizationMethadone treatmentMixed-method analysisBrief interventionJustice systemPrison systemCriminal subcultureQualitative interviewsEastern EuropeEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicQualitative findingsPrison releaseHIV prevention strategiesPrisonInjection drug useMedication-assisted therapyMethadone uptakeInterpersonal relationshipsAttitudesHealth-related concerns
2021
Methadone within prison and linkage to and retention in treatment upon community release for people with opioid use disorder in Kyrgyzstan: Evaluation of a national program
Bachireddy C, Shrestha R, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Kurmanalieva A, Wegman M, Shumskaya N, Rozanova J, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Methadone within prison and linkage to and retention in treatment upon community release for people with opioid use disorder in Kyrgyzstan: Evaluation of a national program. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 101: 103558. PMID: 34915426, PMCID: PMC9998103, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV statusMean treatment durationOpioid use disorderPositive HIV statusDuration of treatmentMethadone doseHIV incidenceMethadone servicesMethadone treatmentIndependent correlatesHIV preventionUse disordersTreatment durationMethadoneNational programTreatmentHIVAdministrative dataCommunity releaseMonthsKyrgyz prisonsFirst evaluationIncarcerated peopleDurationReleaseDecisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Rozanova J, Madden L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Decisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 94: 103209. PMID: 33838398, PMCID: PMC8373625, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103209.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsInformal governance systemSecondary thematic analysisMethadone uptakePrison governanceGovernance systemPrison economyPrison administrationQualitative interviewsInterrelated themesSocial risksPrison contextEastern EuropePrisonCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicUnderstanding contextThematic analysisDecisional considerationsContent analysisMethadone treatmentRespondents' perceptionsHIV preventionMethadone utilizationInterviews
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 continuumRiskRetention in clinical trials after prison release: results from a clinical trial with incarcerated men with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia
Chandra DK, Bazazi AR, Solim M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL, Culbert GJ. Retention in clinical trials after prison release: results from a clinical trial with incarcerated men with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia. HIV Research & Clinical Practice 2019, 20: 12-23. PMID: 31303149, PMCID: PMC6698147, DOI: 10.1080/15284336.2019.1603433.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinical trialsStudy visitHIV clinical trialsOpioid dependenceMethadone initiationStudy retentionHolistic Health Recovery ProgramPrison releaseHIV risk reduction interventionsRisk reduction interventionsIncarcerated menStandard careMethadone treatmentReduction interventionsStudy participantsFactorial trialHIVBehavioral interventionsTrialsVisitsMost participantsInterventionMenCommunity reentryRecovery program
2018
Perceptions 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
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
Attitudes 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
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
2013
Methadone treatment improves tuberculosis treatment among hospitalized opioid dependent patients in Ukraine
Morozova O, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Methadone treatment improves tuberculosis treatment among hospitalized opioid dependent patients in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2013, 24: e91-e98. PMID: 24360402, PMCID: PMC5553122, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.09.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnalgesics, OpioidAntitubercular AgentsDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedDrug UsersFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHeroin DependenceHumansInpatientsMaleMedication AdherenceMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentProspective StudiesRisk FactorsTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeTuberculosisUkraineConceptsTB medication adherenceMethadone maintenanceTB treatmentMedication adherenceTreatment discontinuationMulti-drug resistant tuberculosisInpatient TB treatmentNumerous treatment challengesTB treatment completionOnly independent predictorOpioid-dependent patientsIndependent predictorsPrimary outcomeOpioid dependenceResistant tuberculosisMethadone treatmentTB facilitiesTreatment optionsDependent patientsTuberculosis treatmentTreatment completionTreatment challengesObservational studyMMT groupTreatment retentionImplementing 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