2024
Interventions to reduce harms related to drug use among people who experience incarceration: systematic review and meta-analysis
Macdonald C, Macpherson G, Leppan O, Tran L, Cunningham E, Hajarizadeh B, Grebely J, Farrell M, Altice F, Degenhardt L. Interventions to reduce harms related to drug use among people who experience incarceration: systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health 2024, 9: e684-e699. PMID: 39214637, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00160-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug useRisk behaviorsReducing re-arrestsTherapeutic community interventionsEffectiveness of interventionsRecidivism outcomesReduce injection risk behaviorExperience incarcerationRe-arrestIncarcerationService provisionRecidivismPrisonSystematic reviewCommunity interventionsSubstance useSelf-harmInjection risk behaviorsRandom-effects meta-analysesMeta-analysisAlcohol useSyringe sharingPooled odds ratioRisk of death
2023
Scaling up evidence-based approaches to tuberculosis screening in prisons
Charalambous S, Velen K, Rueda Z, Croda J, Herce M, Shenoi S, Altice F, Muyoyeta M, Telisinghe L, Grandjean L, Keshavjee S, Andrews J. Scaling up evidence-based approaches to tuberculosis screening in prisons. The Lancet Public Health 2023, 8: e305-e310. PMID: 36780916, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(23)00002-6.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsIncidence of tuberculosisCase-finding strategyHigh tuberculosis burdenMinistry of HealthEvidence-based approachTuberculosis burdenTreatment cascadeTuberculosis screeningTuberculosis notificationsTuberculosis diagnosisGeneral populationCare programDiagnostic strategiesTuberculosisEvidence baseSystematic screeningHigh rateIncidenceScreeningSetting
2022
Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia
Bazazi A, Culbert G, Wegman M, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia. BMC Infectious Diseases 2022, 22: 837. PMID: 36368939, PMCID: PMC9652918, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07804-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist therapyInfectious etiologyMost deathsUse disordersSample of menPrison releaseOpen-label trialT-lymphocyte countsPredictors of mortalityNational death recordsCrude mortality rateProportional hazards modelCovariate-adjusted modelsLow CD4Methadone initiationModified intentionAgonist therapySurvival benefitTreat analysisMethodsThis studyHIVHazards modelMortality rateMethadoneInterest 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 concernsHIV, substance use, and mental health care in prisons
Fazel S, Bromberg DJ, Altice FL. HIV, substance use, and mental health care in prisons. The Lancet Psychiatry 2022, 9: 694-695. PMID: 35843228, PMCID: PMC9827418, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(22)00243-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA 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
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 peopleDurationReleaseMulti-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 attitudesPrisonersHIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis-related mortality among incarcerated people: a global scoping review.
Bosworth R, Borschmann R, Altice FL, Kinner SA, Dolan K, Farrell M. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis-related mortality among incarcerated people: a global scoping review. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2021, 18: 66-82. PMID: 35401772, PMCID: PMC8992694, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2021-0018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfectious disease-related mortalityDisease-related mortalityHIV/AIDSInfectious diseasesInfectious disease-related deathsTB-related deathsTuberculosis-related mortalityHIV/TBDisease-related deathScoping ReviewPublic health benefitsNumber of deathsGlobal scoping reviewPreventable mortalityHigh riskHCVMortalityCustodial settingsHBVFirst scoping reviewMortality dataAvailable evidenceDeath rateHealth benefitsDeathDecisional 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
2020
A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction
Meyer JP, Culbert GJ, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Kurmanalieva A, Rhodes T, Altice FL. A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction. Harm Reduction Journal 2020, 17: 86. PMID: 33129341, PMCID: PMC7603760, DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00435-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeedle/syringe programsMethadone maintenance therapyHIV prevention effortsMental health consequencesDiphenhydramine injectionMaintenance therapyOpioid dependenceHIV transmissionState of euphoriaSyringe programsIllicit injectionSkin infectionsMethadone utilizationStudy participantsHarmful drugsHealth consequencesMethadonePrevention effortsHarm reductionAntihistaminesInjectionFurther investigationKyrgyz prisonsVisible woundsQualitative study
2019
Prisons: ignore them at our peril.
Kamarulzaman A, Verster A, Altice FL. Prisons: ignore them at our peril. Current Opinion In HIV And AIDS 2019, 14: 415-422. PMID: 31343458, PMCID: PMC7137098, DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000572.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication-assisted therapyDrug useHIV prevention toolPrevalence of HIVMedication-assisted treatmentSyringe services programCriminal justice settingsBasic healthcareMiddle-income settingsHCV preventionOpioid dependenceTreatment strategiesHigh prevalenceOverdose managementRoutine screeningPrevention servicesHIVKey populationsMental healthcareHCVConsolidated guidelinesPrevention toolJustice settingsTreatmentEffective screeningEvaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine
Ranjit YS, Azbel L, Krishnan A, Altice FL, Meyer JP. Evaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. AIDS Care 2019, 31: 793-797. PMID: 30701981, PMCID: PMC6510603, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1573969.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveAzerbaijanCommunicable DiseasesComorbidityContinuity of Patient CareFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansKyrgyzstanMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPrevalencePrisonersPrisonsSubstance-Related DisordersSurveys and QuestionnairesSyphilisUkraineConceptsAlcohol use disorderAntiretroviral therapyHIV preventionHIV riskHIV care continuumCells/μLHigh-risk groupComorbid substance useEffective HIV preventionGlobal HIV preventionHigh rateHepatitis CIncarcerated womenHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV prevalencePsychiatric comorbidityDrug injectionRepresentative sampleCare continuumRisk groupsPsychiatric disordersMost womenUse disordersTreatment interventionsRetention 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
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Incarcerated Persons with HIV: Associations with Methadone and Perceived Safety
Culbert GJ, Waluyo A, Wang M, Putri TA, Bazazi AR, Altice FL. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Incarcerated Persons with HIV: Associations with Methadone and Perceived Safety. AIDS And Behavior 2018, 23: 2048-2058. PMID: 30465106, PMCID: PMC6698149, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2344-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyART adherenceART utilizationMethadone utilizationHIV status disclosureHealth service satisfactionStatus disclosureMedical treatmentDrug dependencyPWHAdherenceMost participantsHIVMethadoneTherapyChance locusSafetyAdequate supportHigh levelsPerceived SafetyPersonal safetyIncarceration history and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Stone J, Fraser H, Lim AG, Walker JG, Ward Z, MacGregor L, Trickey A, Abbott S, Strathdee SA, Abramovitz D, Maher L, Iversen J, Bruneau J, Zang G, Garfein RS, Yen YF, Azim T, Mehta SH, Milloy MJ, Hellard ME, Sacks-Davis R, Dietze PM, Aitken C, Aladashvili M, Tsertsvadze T, Mravčík V, Alary M, Roy E, Smyrnov P, Sazonova Y, Young AM, Havens JR, Hope VD, Desai M, Heinsbroek E, Hutchinson SJ, Palmateer NE, McAuley A, Platt L, Martin NK, Altice FL, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Incarceration history and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2018, 18: 1397-1409. PMID: 30385157, PMCID: PMC6280039, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30469-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHCV acquisition riskAcquisition riskHCV incidenceModerate heterogeneitySystematic reviewHepatitis C virus acquisitionHepatitis C virus infectionHIV acquisition riskRisk of HCVC virus infectionNewcastle-Ottawa ScaleRisk of biasRisk of HIVNational InstituteCommunity-recruited PWIDOutcomes of interestIncident infectionsCohort studyHIV acquisitionHIV transmissionHigh prevalenceVirus infectionRecent incarcerationExclusion criteriaHigh riskRetention in HIV care during the 3 years following release from incarceration: A cohort study
Loeliger KB, Meyer JP, Desai MM, Ciarleglio MM, Gallagher C, Altice FL. Retention in HIV care during the 3 years following release from incarceration: A cohort study. PLOS Medicine 2018, 15: e1002667. PMID: 30300351, PMCID: PMC6177126, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsViral suppressionInjection drug useHIV careCohort studyTreatment outcomesDrug useNational HIV prevention strategyMultivariable logistic regression modelCase management visitsProportion of followRetrospective cohort studyEarly linkageHIV prevention strategiesLongitudinal treatment outcomesHealth insuranceBetter treatment outcomesSubstance use disordersCase management servicesLogistic regression modelsAntiretroviral therapyCohort participantsManagement visitsCriminal justice populationsLarge cohortPsychiatric disordersPrisoner health status at three rural Haitian prisons
LaMonaca K, Desai M, May JP, Lyon E, Altice FL. Prisoner health status at three rural Haitian prisons. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2018, 14: 197-209. PMID: 30274560, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2017-0010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexHealth statusPhysical functionSociodemographic characteristicsSelf-reported physical functionBetter overall health statusHigher body mass indexPrisoners' health statusOverall health statusCross-sectional studyPhysical health statusMental health statusPoor health outcomesSelf-rated healthLength of detentionAdequate medical careMass indexFood insecurityHealth outcomesAdequate nutritionMedical carePrisoner healthRegional prisonsLow-income countriesMental healthDrug 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 Prisoner 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 environmentsAll-cause mortality among people with HIV released from an integrated system of jails and prisons in Connecticut, USA, 2007–14: a retrospective observational cohort study
Loeliger KB, Altice FL, Ciarleglio MM, Rich KM, Chandra DK, Gallagher C, Desai MM, Meyer JP. All-cause mortality among people with HIV released from an integrated system of jails and prisons in Connecticut, USA, 2007–14: a retrospective observational cohort study. The Lancet HIV 2018, 5: e617-e628. PMID: 30197101, PMCID: PMC6279524, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(18)30175-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIndex releaseCause mortalityMortality rateRetrospective observational cohort studyCox proportional hazards modelLow CD4 countObservational cohort studyHIV surveillance dataCrude mortality rateGeneral US populationProportional hazards modelStandardised mortality ratiosSubstance use disordersSystems of careHIV/AIDSSurvival of peopleVirological failureAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countMedical comorbiditiesCohort studyRetrospective cohortMedian ageLiver diseaseViral load