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
Integrating HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis and harm reduction among men who have sex with men and transgender women to address intersecting harms associated with stimulant use: a modelling study
Bórquez A, Rich K, Farrell M, Degenhardt L, McKetin R, Tran LT, Cepeda J, Silva‐Santisteban A, Konda K, Cáceres CF, Kelly S, Altice FL, Martin NK. Integrating HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis and harm reduction among men who have sex with men and transgender women to address intersecting harms associated with stimulant use: a modelling study. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2020, 23: e25495. PMID: 32562365, PMCID: PMC7305413, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25495.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMSM/transgender womenHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisPre-exposure prophylaxisNew HIV infectionsHIV infectionTransgender womenStimulant useCVD mortalityCVD deathHealth harmsIntegrated substance useMore HIV infectionsHigh HIV incidenceCardiovascular disease mortalityRandom allocationUnprotected anal sexRisk of suicideHIV incidenceHIV transmissionDisease mortalityHIV riskGlobal systematic reviewAnal sexReduction interventionsSystematic review
2019
Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study
Tan J, Altice FL, Madden LM, Zelenev A. Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study. The Lancet HIV 2019, 7: e121-e128. PMID: 31879250, PMCID: PMC7289179, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(19)30373-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNew HIV infectionsHigh HIV burdenHIV infectionMinistry of HealthOAT coverageAgonist therapyHIV burdenHIV incidenceBuprenorphine maintenance therapyPublic Health CenterMaintenance therapyHIV outcomesHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionMedication procurementHIV epidemicHealth centersHIV preventionTreatment goalsPWIDOAT expansionDisease controlSexual riskInfection
2016
The 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 levels
2015
Drug 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
2007
Strategies for Primary HIV Prevention That Target Behavioral Change
Safren SA, Wingood G, Altice FL. Strategies for Primary HIV Prevention That Target Behavioral Change. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2007, 45: s300-s307. PMID: 18190303, DOI: 10.1086/522554.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHIV infectionHigh-risk behaviorsPrimary HIV preventionBehavioral changesNew HIV infectionsInjection drug usersRoutes of transmissionHIV transmissionImmunodeficiency virusHIV preventionDrug usersObjective evidencePsychosocial influencesInfectionOverall rateTarget populationMinority racial groupsRacial groupsMenRiskGroupVaccinePublic awarenessComplex interplay