Featured Publications
US National Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 1999-2016
Gaither JR, Shabanova V, Leventhal JM. US National Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 1999-2016. JAMA Network Open 2018, 1: e186558. PMID: 30646334, PMCID: PMC6324338, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid poisoningPediatric deathsMortality rateUS national trendsPublic health problemPediatric mortality rateNational trendsPublic health officialsIllicit opioidsPrescription opioidsAge-specific mortality ratesOpioid deathsOpioid epidemicMAIN OUTCOMEOpioidsHealth problemsOpioid crisisPoisson regressionSynthetic opioidsDisease controlMortality dataHealth officialsDeathMedical facilitiesChildrenRacial disparities in discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy following illicit drug use among black and white patients
Gaither JR, Gordon K, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Kerns RD, Justice AC, Fiellin DA, Becker WC. Racial disparities in discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy following illicit drug use among black and white patients. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2018, 192: 371-376. PMID: 30122319, PMCID: PMC7106601, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioid therapyIllicit drug useUrine drug testsDrug useOpioid therapyWhite racePositive urine drug testDrug testsMonths of treatmentElectronic medical recordsWhite patientsChronic painPatient raceMedical recordsPatientsLogistic regressionOpioidsRacial disparitiesDrug testingCocaineCannabisTherapyCliniciansDiscontinuationPainNational Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Fentanyl, 1999-2021
Gaither J. National Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Fentanyl, 1999-2021. JAMA Pediatrics 2023, 177: 733-735. PMID: 37155161, PMCID: PMC10167597, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0793.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
The Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Pediatric Opioid Poisonings, 2004-2020.
Gaither J, McCollum S, Bechtel K, Leventhal J, Mintz S. The Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Pediatric Opioid Poisonings, 2004-2020. Pediatrics 2024, 154 PMID: 39484873, PMCID: PMC11528886, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-067043n.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAnalgesics, OpioidChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFentanylHeroinHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleOpiate OverdoseUnited StatesConceptsChild's own homeOpioid poisoningOwn homeHistory of maltreatmentSubstance use/abuseAge groupsDied of homicidePrimary caregiversYears of ageOpioid prescribingChildren 0Opioid fatalitiesHousehold factorsPrescription opioidsSubstance useChild maltreatmentCaregiversDecedentsReporting SystemIllicit fentanylMaltreatmentChildrenFatal opioid poisoningsAgeHomeHospital Readmissions Among Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Gaither J, Drago M, Grossman M, Li Y, Shabanova V, Xu X, Leventhal J. Hospital Readmissions Among Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2435074. PMID: 39316398, PMCID: PMC11423163, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35074.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal opioid withdrawal syndromeOpioid withdrawal syndromeWithdrawal syndromeCohort studyHospital readmissionLow birth weightReadmission ratesRetrospective cohort studyIncreased risk of readmissionNationwide Readmissions DatabaseClinical Modification codesGestational ageOdds of readmissionMultiple gestationsFull-termInternational Classification of DiseasesRisk of readmissionHospital discharge recordsBirth weightSurvey-weighted logistic regressionType of insuranceIncreased 5-foldIncreased riskReadmissions DatabaseYear of birth
2021
Twelve-Month Retention in Opioid Agonist Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Patients With and Without HIV
Wyse JJ, McGinnis KA, Edelman EJ, Gordon AJ, Manhapra A, Fiellin DA, Moore BA, Korthuis PT, Kennedy AJ, Oldfield BJ, Gaither JR, Gordon KS, Skanderson M, Barry DT, Bryant K, Crystal S, Justice AC, Kraemer KL. Twelve-Month Retention in Opioid Agonist Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Among Patients With and Without HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2021, 26: 975-985. PMID: 34495424, PMCID: PMC8840957, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03452-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidCohort StudiesHIV InfectionsHumansMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOpioid use disorderVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHIV statusUse disordersOpioid agonist treatmentAging Cohort StudyDiagnosis of HCVTwelve-month retentionPositive health outcomesOAT retentionAgonist therapyCohort studyHIV managementAgonist treatmentPredictors of retentionPatientsHealth outcomesHistory of homelessnessHIVLower likelihoodImproved likelihoodLikelihood of initiationBuprenorphineDisorders
2019
High-dose prescribed opioids are associated with increased risk of heroin use among United States military veterans.
Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT, Crystal S, Gordon KS, Gordon AJ, Gaither JR, Green TC, Kerns RD, Manhapra A, Moore BA, Fiellin DA, Marshall BDL. High-dose prescribed opioids are associated with increased risk of heroin use among United States military veterans. Pain 2019, 160: 2126-2135. PMID: 31145217, PMCID: PMC6699915, DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001606.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-dose opioid prescriptionsOpioid prescriptionsHeroin useCohort studyPrior receiptHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection statusLong-term opioid prescriptionsPast-year heroin useVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHigh-dose opioidsOpioid-prescribing patternsProspective cohort studyAging Cohort StudyOpioid use disorderCurrent national guidelinesUnhealthy alcohol useUnited States veteransUnited States military veteransVirus infection statusPosttraumatic stress disorderOpioid receiptPrescribed opioidsPain interferenceCox regressionStates veteransPatterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans: A National, 18-Year Observational Cohort Study
Rentsch CT, Edelman EJ, Justice AC, Marshall BDL, Xu K, Smith AH, Crystal S, Gaither JR, Gordon AJ, Smith RV, Kember RL, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Fiellin DA, Tate JP, Kranzler HR, Becker WC. Patterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans: A National, 18-Year Observational Cohort Study. AIDS And Behavior 2019, 23: 3340-3349. PMID: 31317364, PMCID: PMC7344341, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02608-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid receiptCohort studyLong-term opioid therapyVeterans Aging Cohort StudyLatent growth mixture modellingPrescription opioid receiptObservational cohort studyAging Cohort StudyOpioid therapyCause mortalityHepatitis COpioid prescriptionsFuture prevention researchOUD diagnosisGrowth mixture modellingUS veteransHigh prevalenceLow doseHigh incidenceUse disordersPrevention researchGenetic discoveriesReceiptHIVAssociation of Prescribed Opioids With Increased Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Among Patients With and Without HIV
Edelman EJ, Gordon KS, Crothers K, Akgün K, Bryant KJ, Becker WC, Gaither JR, Gibert CL, Gordon AJ, Marshall BDL, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Samet JH, Justice AC, Tate JP, Fiellin DA. Association of Prescribed Opioids With Increased Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Among Patients With and Without HIV. JAMA Internal Medicine 2019, 179: 297-304. PMID: 30615036, PMCID: PMC6439696, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6101.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidCase-Control StudiesCommunity-Acquired InfectionsFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPneumoniaUnited StatesVeteransConceptsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyCommunity-acquired pneumoniaImmunosuppressive propertiesPrescribed opioidsCaP riskHIV statusMedian morphine equivalent daily doseVeterans Health Administration medical centersMorphine equivalent daily doseEquivalent daily doseAging Cohort StudyCase-control studyImmune-related outcomesRace/ethnicityIndex dateOpioid exposureCohort studyDaily doseOpioid propertiesStratified analysisMedical CenterMAIN OUTCOMEOpioidsMedicaid dataHIV
2018
Duration of opioid prescriptions predicts incident nonmedical use of prescription opioids among U.S. veterans receiving medical care
Barry DT, Marshall BDL, Becker WC, Gordon AJ, Crystal S, Kerns RD, Gaither JR, Gordon KS, Justice AC, Fiellin DA, Edelman EJ. Duration of opioid prescriptions predicts incident nonmedical use of prescription opioids among U.S. veterans receiving medical care. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2018, 191: 348-354. PMID: 30176548, PMCID: PMC6596307, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrescription opioid receiptPrescription opioidsMedical careOpioid receiptVeterans Health Administration primary careNonmedical useMultivariable Cox modelInfectious disease clinicProspective cohort studyProportional hazards regressionPrescription opioid medicationsPublic health problemSubstance use disordersMedication-related characteristicsOpioid therapyOpioid medicationsOpioid prescriptionsCohort studyDisease clinicMedian ageHazards regressionEligible participantsPrimary careRisk factorsIncidence rate
2017
Reply to Osborne & Serdarevic (2017): Potential impact of exposure definition when examining non‐medical use of prescription opioids among US veterans
Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT, Becker WC, Cerdá M, Crystal S, Gaither JR, Gordon AJ, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Martins SS, Fiellin DA, Marshall BDL. Reply to Osborne & Serdarevic (2017): Potential impact of exposure definition when examining non‐medical use of prescription opioids among US veterans. Addiction 2017, 112: 1510-1511. PMID: 28608455, DOI: 10.1111/add.13864.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesReply to Ruan et al. (2017): Non‐medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans
Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT, Becker WC, Cerdá M, Crystal S, Gaither JR, Gordon AJ, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Martins SS, Fiellin DA, Marshall BD. Reply to Ruan et al. (2017): Non‐medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans. Addiction 2017, 112: 728-729. PMID: 28120531, DOI: 10.1111/add.13710.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical Notes
2016
National Trends in Hospitalizations for Opioid Poisonings Among Children and Adolescents, 1997 to 2012
Gaither JR, Leventhal JM, Ryan SA, Camenga DR. National Trends in Hospitalizations for Opioid Poisonings Among Children and Adolescents, 1997 to 2012. JAMA Pediatrics 2016, 170: 1195-1201. PMID: 27802492, PMCID: PMC7245935, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2154.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid poisoningInpatient DatabaseAge groupsSerial cross-sectional dataDischarge recordsPrescription opioid poisoningsOpioid prescribing practicesHospital discharge recordsKids' Inpatient DatabaseCharacteristics of hospitalizationsYears of ageCochran-Armitage testPediatric hospital discharge recordsOpioid exposureAnnual incidencePediatric populationPrescription opioidsNinth RevisionPrescribing practicesChildren 1Opioid storageClinical ModificationRetrospective analysisHospitalizationMAIN OUTCOMEThe Effect of Substance Use Disorders on the Association Between Guideline-concordant Long-term Opioid Therapy and All-cause Mortality
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Kerns RD, Rimland D, Skanderson M, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. The Effect of Substance Use Disorders on the Association Between Guideline-concordant Long-term Opioid Therapy and All-cause Mortality. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2016, 10: 418-428. PMID: 27610580, PMCID: PMC5083184, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000255.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersLong-term opioid therapyCause mortalityOpioid therapySUD treatmentUse disordersLower mortalityTime-updated Cox regressionUntreated substance use disordersVeterans Aging Cohort StudyOpioid-prescribing guidelinesGuideline-concordant careSUD statusAging Cohort StudyClinical practice guidelinesSUD treatment servicesOverall sampleHIV patientsCohort studyCox regressionPractice guidelinesPatientsTreatment servicesHigh mortalityMortalityThe impact of prescribed opioids on CD4 cell count recovery among HIV‐infected patients newly initiating antiretroviral therapy
Edelman E, Gordon K, Tate J, Becker W, Bryant K, Crothers K, Gaither, Gibert C, Gordon A, Marshall B, Rodriguez‐Barradas M, Samet J, Skanderson M, Justice A, Fiellin D. The impact of prescribed opioids on CD4 cell count recovery among HIV‐infected patients newly initiating antiretroviral therapy. HIV Medicine 2016, 17: 728-739. PMID: 27186715, PMCID: PMC5053822, DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12377.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCD4 cell countBaseline CD4 cell countCell countPrescribed opioidsImmunosuppressive propertiesVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) dataCD4 cell count recoveryAntiretroviral therapy responseCell count recoveryShort-term opioidsViral load suppressionCohort study dataOverall disease severityYear of initiationPrimary independent variableOpioid durationAntiretroviral therapyCount recoveryComorbid conditionsPharmacy dataOpioid propertiesTherapy responseOpioidsPatientsHIVNon‐medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: a prospective cohort study
Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT, Becker WC, Cerdá M, Crystal S, Gaither JR, Gordon AJ, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Martins SS, Fiellin DA, Marshall BD. Non‐medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: a prospective cohort study. Addiction 2016, 111: 2021-2031. PMID: 27552496, PMCID: PMC5056813, DOI: 10.1111/add.13491.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultivariable Cox regression modelsNon-medical useCox regression modelHeroin initiationPrescription opioidsHeroin useCohort studyUS veteransOpioid use disorder diagnosisVeterans Aging Cohort StudyProspective cohort studyAging Cohort StudyIllicit opioid usePrimary care clinicsPrimary outcome measureStrong risk factorPost-traumatic stress disorderUninfected veteransUninfected patientsOpioid useRegression modelsCare clinicsPain interferencePrior diagnosisPrimary exposureThe Association Between Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Long-Term Opioid Therapy and All-Cause Mortality
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Kerns RD, Rimland D, Skanderson M, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. The Association Between Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Long-Term Opioid Therapy and All-Cause Mortality. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2016, 31: 492-501. PMID: 26847447, PMCID: PMC4835362, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-015-3571-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersGuideline-concordant careCause mortalityOpioid therapyLong-term opioid therapyUntreated substance use disordersCurrent substance use disorderTerm opioid therapyTime-updated covariatesPrimary care visitsImportant clinical outcomesMulti-modal treatmentUrine drug testingUninfected patientsUntreated patientsCare visitsChronic painClinical outcomesCox regressionDecreased riskHigh comorbidityMortality burdenRehabilitative therapySUD treatmentHigh risk
2014
Guideline-Concordant Management of Opioid Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Uninfected Veterans
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Kerns RD, Rimland D, Skanderson M, Weisberg DF, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Guideline-Concordant Management of Opioid Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Uninfected Veterans. Journal Of Pain 2014, 15: 1130-1140. PMID: 25152300, PMCID: PMC4253900, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.08.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCurrent substance use disorderGuideline-concordant careOpioid therapyUrine drug testsHuman immunodeficiency virusSubstance use disordersUninfected patientsImmunodeficiency virusUse disordersPatient/provider characteristicsPrimary care provider visitsVeterans Affairs/DepartmentGuideline-concordant managementDrug testsCare concordantGuideline concordanceUninfected veteransProvider visitsPatient characteristicsPatient groupPrimary careClinical guidelinesPain medicineProvider characteristicsPatients
2012
Receipt of Opioid Analgesics by HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Edelman EJ, Gordon K, Becker WC, Goulet JL, Skanderson M, Gaither JR, Brennan Braden J, Gordon AJ, Kerns RD, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Receipt of Opioid Analgesics by HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2012, 28: 82-90. PMID: 22895747, PMCID: PMC3539026, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-012-2189-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioidsHigh-dose opioidsUninfected patientsOpioid receiptHIV statusPain diagnosisHIV infectionVeterans Aging Cohort StudyVeterans Health Administration (VHA) careDaily morphine equivalent doseAcute pain diagnosisDays of opioidsMorphine equivalent doseAging Cohort StudyDesignCross-sectional analysisChronic pain diagnosesICD-9 codesVulnerable patient populationAverage daily doseMorphine equivalentsOpioid prescriptionsCohort studyDaily doseOpioid analgesicsPain management