Opioid Use Disorder
Pharmacists help keep patients with opioid use disorder engaged in care
Pharmacy-based care was associated with higher rates of retention in opioid use disorder treatment compared with usual care, a pilot study in the New England Journal of Medicine found.
Buprenorphine-naloxone combo appears safe for treating opioid use disorder in pregnancy
Women receiving buprenorphine-naloxone therapy for the treatment of opioid use disorder during pregnancy had similar outcomes vs. buprenorphine therapy alone in terms of maternal and neonatal health, data show.
Informing physicians of fatal overdoses reduces opioid prescriptions up to 1 year
Clinicians who were notified after one of their patients fatally overdosed prescribed fewer opioids for up to 1 year compared with those who were not notified, according to results of a randomized clinical trial.
Integrating ID, substance use care reduces risk for readmission, death
Patients with injection drug use-associated infections were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital or die when they were treated by a clinical team that integrated infectious disease and substance use disorder care, researchers found.
HIV, HBV, HCV testing up among Medicaid enrollees, although missed opportunities remain
Testing for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C increased among U.S. Medicaid enrollees initiating treatment for opioid use disorder. However, a recent study showed approximately three-quarters of enrollees were not tested for each condition.
SAMHSA proposes permanent changes to OUD treatment, hoping to expand access
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is proposing permanent changes to federal rules that would allow take-home doses of methadone and greater use of telehealth, according to a press release.
COVID-19-associated endocarditis risk ‘substantial’ in those with cocaine, opioid use disorders
COVID-19 infection more than doubles risk for a new diagnosis of endocarditis in adults with cocaine or opioid use disorder, according to data published in Molecular Psychiatry.
Fewer than 3% of US ID physicians have waivers to prescribe buprenorphine
Few infectious disease physicians are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, despite being “well-positioned” to treat opioid use disorder, according to a recent study.
Wastewater data shows 286% increase in ecstasy use during pandemic
Wastewater-based epidemiology revealed a 286% increase in the use of methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy, in a New England-based rural town during the early months of the pandemic, a researcher said.
Buprenorphine may be safer than methadone for opioid use disorder in pregnancy
New data published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that buprenorphine use during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk for adverse neonatal outcomes compared with methadone use.