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
2023
Aligning public health and public safety: Probation as a touchpoint to identify and link patients with opioid use disorder to opioid agonist treatment
Bromberg D, Galvez de Leon S, Litz T, Azbel L, Liberman A, Polonsky M, Dvoriak S, Saichuk N, Taxman F, Altice F. Aligning public health and public safety: Probation as a touchpoint to identify and link patients with opioid use disorder to opioid agonist treatment. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3: e0002349. PMID: 37910486, PMCID: PMC10619786, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002349.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCriminal justice settingsOpioid use disorderBrief interventionUse disordersPrevalence of OUDProbation centersHIV prevention effortsJustice settingsMental healthHigh rateCommunity supervision settingsOAT servicesSBIRT interventionAgonist therapyHIV testingOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentConsecutive individualsTreatment strategiesGeneral populationProbationSBIRTPrevention effortsSupervision settingParticipants
2022
Health-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection
Dalgard O, Litwin AH, Shibolet O, Grebely J, Nahass R, Altice FL, Conway B, Gane EJ, Luetkemeyer AF, Peng CY, Iser D, Gendrano IN, Kelly MM, Haber BA, Platt H, Puenpatom A. Health-related quality of life in people receiving opioid agonist treatment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection. Journal Of Addictive Diseases 2022, 41: 213-224. PMID: 35920743, DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2088978.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsElbasvir/grazoprevirHepatitis C virus infectionC virus infectionOpioid agonist therapyHealth-related qualityEnd of treatmentHCV infectionAgonist therapyVirus infectionChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionImproved health-related qualityMental component summary scoresTreatment week 4Placebo-controlled studyOpioid agonist treatmentMedical Outcomes StudyComponent summary scoresSF-36v2 scoresTreatment differencesImproved HRQOLViral eradicationActing antiviralsOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentGeneral health
2021
Modelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis
Stone J, Degenhardt L, Grebely J, Larney S, Altice FL, Smyrnov P, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Alavi M, Young AM, Havens JR, Miller WC, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Modelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry 2021, 8: 301-309. PMID: 33640039, PMCID: PMC8255389, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30538-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug-related deathsOAT coverageDrug-related harmAgonist treatmentHepatitis C virus transmissionC virus transmissionOverall health benefitsUK National InstituteNational InstituteHIV 0OAT retentionHIV mortalityInjury 3Opioid dependenceMortality outcomesUS National InstitutesHCV-2Overdose deathsSignificant additional effectIntervention effectsDrug abuseHealth benefitsMortalityDeath
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 screeningTreating opioid dependence with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) in Ukraine: Feasibility and three-month outcomes
Makarenko I, Pykalo I, Springer SA, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Filippovich S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. Treating opioid dependence with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) in Ukraine: Feasibility and three-month outcomes. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2019, 104: 34-41. PMID: 31370983, PMCID: PMC8215516, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.05.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist treatmentXR-NTX injectionXR-NTX treatmentXR-NTXUrine drug testingOpioid useExtended-release naltrexoneMonths of treatmentThree-month outcomeHealth-related qualityAdverse side effectsSymptoms of depressionOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentLife scoresTreatment optionsIndependent factorsSide effectsUse disordersPeriod of observationDrug useStimulant useTreatment motivationDrug testingRetention 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
2017
Retention in medication-assisted treatment programs in Ukraine—Identifying factors contributing to a continuing HIV epidemic
Dumchev K, Dvoryak S, Chernova O, Morozova O, Altice FL. Retention in medication-assisted treatment programs in Ukraine—Identifying factors contributing to a continuing HIV epidemic. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2017, 48: 44-53. PMID: 28800420, PMCID: PMC5603251, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentMedication-assisted treatment programTB test resultsTwelve-month retentionCare delivery systemCorrelates of retentionEvidence-based strategiesTB patientsMultivariable analysisOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentHIV transmissionClinical recordsHIV epidemicOAT programsPatient retentionHigher dosingHigh dosesTreatment programPatientsSurvival analysis methodsDosingTuberculosisElectronic monitoring systemTreatmentDesign and implementation of a factorial randomized controlled trial of methadone maintenance therapy and an evidence-based behavioral intervention for incarcerated people living with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia
Bazazi AR, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Shrestha R, Al-Darraji H, Copenhaver MM, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Design and implementation of a factorial randomized controlled trial of methadone maintenance therapy and an evidence-based behavioral intervention for incarcerated people living with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2017, 59: 1-12. PMID: 28479216, PMCID: PMC5557499, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.05.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyHIV transmission risk behaviorsMaintenance therapyTransmission risk behaviorsEvidence-based behavioral interventionsOpioid dependencePoor HIV treatment outcomesRisk behaviorsBehavioral interventionsHIV treatment outcomesProspective clinical trialsEvidence-based treatmentsHealth-related outcomesOpioid useTreatment receiptClinical trialsTreatment outcomesIncarcerated peopleTherapyStudy participantsFactorial trialHIVTrialsInterventionOutcomesA Moderated Mediation Model of HIV-Related Stigma, Depression, and Social Support on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated Malaysian Men with HIV and Opioid Dependence
Shrestha R, Copenhaver M, Bazazi AR, Huedo-Medina TB, Krishnan A, Altice FL. A Moderated Mediation Model of HIV-Related Stigma, Depression, and Social Support on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated Malaysian Men with HIV and Opioid Dependence. AIDS And Behavior 2017, 21: 1059-1069. PMID: 28108877, PMCID: PMC5344717, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1693-x.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2016
The Influence of Neurocognitive Impairment, Depression, and Alcohol Use Disorders on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated, HIV-Infected, Opioid Dependent Malaysian Men: A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Shrestha R, Weikum D, Copenhaver M, Altice FL. The Influence of Neurocognitive Impairment, Depression, and Alcohol Use Disorders on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated, HIV-Infected, Opioid Dependent Malaysian Men: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 21: 1070-1081. PMID: 27544515, PMCID: PMC5318281, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1526-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderNeurocognitive impairmentUse disordersMalaysia's largest prisonHealth-related qualityNeuropsychological factorsQuality of lifeLargest prisonHIV-InfectedOpioid dependenceHIV treatmentHRQoLImportant negative predictorMeeting criteriaFuture interventionsDepressionNegative predictorPLWHDisordersMalaysian menStandardized scalesImpairmentMediation analysisHRQoL.HIVConfronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia
Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Bick J, Al-Darraji HA, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Bazazi AR, Ferro E, Copenhaver M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia. Journal Of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 2016, 11: 446-455. PMID: 27216260, PMCID: PMC5118227, DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9676-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyMalaysia's largest prisonIsoniazid preventive therapyLatent tuberculosis infectionStandardized treatment protocolMandatory HIV testingDrug treatment centersEvidence-based addiction treatmentEvidence-based interventionsLargest prisonReservoir of infectionActive diseaseActive tuberculosisPreventive therapyHIV testingTuberculosis infectionOpioid dependenceHIV treatmentRapid relapseMethadone maintenanceTreatment protocolClinical careHIVTreatment centersCompulsory drug treatment centersFactors associated with interest in receiving prison-based methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysia
Mukherjee TI, Wickersham JA, Desai MM, Pillai V, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Factors associated with interest in receiving prison-based methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2016, 164: 120-127. PMID: 27207155, PMCID: PMC5592792, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance therapyMaintenance therapyOpioid dependenceDaily heroin useOpioid use disorderLogistic regression analysisMMT initiationDrug use consequencesIndependent correlatesModifiable factorsHIV preventionHeroin useUse disordersParticipant characteristicsMental healthConvenience sampleHIVRegression analysisTherapyStructured questionnaireIncarcerated menMale prisonersUse consequencesLarge proportionPrison population
2015
Treatment 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 monthTherapyDrugsValidation of a Brief Measure of Opioid Dependence
Wickersham JA, Azar MM, Cannon CM, Altice FL, Springer SA. Validation of a Brief Measure of Opioid Dependence. Journal Of Correctional Health Care 2015, 21: 12-26. PMID: 25559628, PMCID: PMC4435561, DOI: 10.1177/1078345814557513.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid dependencePredictive valueMini International Neuropsychiatric InterviewModerate diagnostic agreementHIV-positive individualsInternational Neuropsychiatric InterviewNegative predictive valuePositive predictive valueAverage administrationNeuropsychiatric InterviewInter-item correlationsMental disordersDiagnostic agreementStatistical ManualStrong internal consistencyComprehensive interviewPrimary measureFourth EditionInternal consistencyPsychometric propertiesResearch settingsBrief measureConcordance analysisInitial validationAdministration
2014
Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Retention Improves Nationally Recommended Preventive Primary Care Screenings when Integrated into Urban Federally Qualified Health Centers
Haddad MS, Zelenev A, Altice FL. Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Retention Improves Nationally Recommended Preventive Primary Care Screenings when Integrated into Urban Federally Qualified Health Centers. Journal Of Urban Health 2014, 92: 193-213. PMID: 25550126, PMCID: PMC4338126, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-014-9924-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBuprenorphine maintenance therapyPrimary care providersPrimary health care settingsHealth care screeningQualified health centersHealth care settingsOpioid dependenceHealth centersPsychiatric specialistsUrban Federally Qualified Health CenterFederally Qualified Health CentersOpioid-dependent womenPrimary care screeningObservational cohort studyOpioid-dependent patientsHuman immunodeficiency virusProportion of subjectsHealth care indicatorsHealth care outcomesImproved health outcomesElectronic health recordsUrban FQHCsHepatitis CMaintenance therapyCohort studyChallenges to implementing opioid substitution therapy in Ukrainian prisons: Personnel attitudes toward addiction, treatment, and people with HIV/AIDS
Polonsky M, Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Taxman FS, Grishaev E, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Challenges to implementing opioid substitution therapy in Ukrainian prisons: Personnel attitudes toward addiction, treatment, and people with HIV/AIDS. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2014, 148: 47-55. PMID: 25620732, PMCID: PMC4330127, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.12.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid substitution therapyHIV/AIDSSubstitution therapyEffective HIV prevention strategiesHIV prevention strategiesDrug intoleranceOpioid dependencePrevention treatmentPrevention strategiesSubsequent interventionsUkrainian prisonsHealth benefitsScientific evidenceDrug addictionTherapyPositive attitudesTreatmentAIDSAddictionPersonnel attitudesOverwhelming evidenceCriminal justice outcomesEffective formCustodial staffWorkers' attitudesHigh prevalence of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia: Correlates of overdose and implications for overdose prevention from a cross-sectional study
Bazazi AR, Zelenev A, Fu JJ, Yee I, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. High prevalence of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia: Correlates of overdose and implications for overdose prevention from a cross-sectional study. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2014, 26: 675-681. PMID: 25532449, PMCID: PMC4452449, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.11.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-fatal overdoseRecent non-fatal overdoseRespondent-driven samplingDrug useOdds of overdoseOpioid substitution therapyInjection drug useMultivariable logistic regressionCross-sectional studyProvision of naloxoneRisk of overdoseCause of deathSelf-reported historyPast-month drug useMethadone usePrimary outcomePeriod prevalenceOpioid dependenceSubstitution therapyOpioid usersFatal overdoseHigh prevalenceLower oddsOverdose preventionPolysubstance useDesign and methods of a double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of extended-release naltrexone for HIV-infected, opioid dependent prisoners and jail detainees who are transitioning to the community
Di Paola A, Lincoln T, Skiest DJ, Desabrais M, Altice FL, Springer SA. Design and methods of a double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of extended-release naltrexone for HIV-infected, opioid dependent prisoners and jail detainees who are transitioning to the community. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2014, 39: 256-268. PMID: 25240704, PMCID: PMC4283549, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.09.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentPlacebo-controlled trialXR-NTXAgonist treatmentOpioid dependenceTreatment outcomesPoor HIV treatment outcomesOpioid treatment outcomesOpioid-dependent prisonersExtended-release naltrexoneHIV treatment outcomesHIV transmission riskEvidence-based treatmentsCriminal justice settingsEarly acceptabilityStudy medicationFirst injectionStudy acceptabilityHIVTotal referralsJail detaineesCommunity settingsTransmission riskDrug relapseHigh internal validity