Fiona N Conway, Heather Kane, Amanda Bingaman, Patrick Kennedy, Elaine Tang, Sheila V Patel, Jessica D Cance
{"title":"User Experience of a Just-in-Time Smartphone Resonance Breathing Application for Substance Use Disorder: Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility.","authors":"Fiona N Conway, Heather Kane, Amanda Bingaman, Patrick Kennedy, Elaine Tang, Sheila V Patel, Jessica D Cance","doi":"10.1177/29767342241263675","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342241263675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Addressing the negative impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on individuals, families, and communities is a public health priority. Most treatments and interventions require engagement with a healthcare provider or someone who can offer recovery support. The need for interventions that facilitate self-management of relapse triggers at the moment they occur is also critical. Our study aimed to explore the user experience of individuals using a just-in-time smartphone episodic resonance breathing (eRPB) intervention to address stress, anxiety, and drug cravings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an 8-week pilot study of the eRPB with 30 individuals in recovery from SUD. Data on 3 indicators of user experience-acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility-were collected using survey questions (n = 30) and semi-structured interviews (n = 11). We performed univariate analysis on the survey data and deductive thematic analysis on the qualitative data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A majority of the survey respondents agreed that the application (app) was acceptable (> 77%), appropriate (> 82%), and feasible (> 89%). Several interview participants stated that the app helped them relax and manage stress and cravings and expressed appreciation for the simplicity of its design. Participants also reported barriers to feasibility (such as forgetting to use the app) and recommendations for improvement (such as the addition of motivational messages).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings show that individuals in recovery from SUD had highly positive experiences with the eRPB app. A positive user experience may improve adherence to the intervention and, ultimately, the self-management of stress, anxiety, and craving relapse triggers.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141861976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yoonsang Kim, Alex Kresovich, Kai MacLean, Phoebe Lamuda, Marie Ngobo-Ekamby, Cedasia McQueen, John Schneider, Harold A Pollack, Bruce G Taylor
{"title":"Pointing Fingers: Who US Adults Blame for the Opioid Overdose Epidemic.","authors":"Yoonsang Kim, Alex Kresovich, Kai MacLean, Phoebe Lamuda, Marie Ngobo-Ekamby, Cedasia McQueen, John Schneider, Harold A Pollack, Bruce G Taylor","doi":"10.1177/29767342241262556","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241262556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Over 3 million Americans have an opioid use disorder (OUD), and only a fraction receive treatment. Public opinion is crucial in enacting evidence-based policies. Few studies have examined the public's perception of blame for the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic directed at distinct groups. We assessed US adults' perceived blameworthiness for the epidemic and examined factors that may influence the perceived blameworthiness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a national survey in 2022 using the AmeriSpeak® panel to assess US adults' perception of blame toward individuals with an OUD and external contributors. Of the 3335 eligible panel members invited to participate, 1233 (37%) completed the survey. We developed a measure of knowledge and understanding of OUD, with a higher value indicating a greater understanding of the nature of OUD and recovery-including knowledge and beliefs on evidence-based treatment and relapse. We analyzed the relationships between sources of blame, knowledge, and understanding of OUD, and individual-level correlates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher score of knowledge and understanding of OUD was associated with lower odds of blaming individuals with OUD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.51, 1.05]) and greater odds of blaming external contributors: healthcare providers (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = [1.05, 2.12]), pharmaceutical companies (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = [1.50, 3.15]), and health insurance companies (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = [0.97, 2.09]). Those who are female, non-Hispanic White, Democrat, have higher education, or have friends or family who misused opioids tended to score higher in knowledge and understanding of OUD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Perceived blameworthiness for the opioid overdose epidemic is related to knowledge and understanding of OUD. Public health campaigns with a bipartisan agenda to increase evidence-informed knowledge about OUD targeting people of color and with lower education may help reduce the blame toward people with an OUD, which in turn may increase support for evidence-informed policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141794491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica N D'Arcey, Leah Tackaberry-Giddens, Sana Junaid, Wenjia Zhou, Lena Quilty, Matthew Sloan, Sean A Kidd
{"title":"Co-Design of a Digital Health Tool for Use by Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: App4Independence (A4i-O).","authors":"Jessica N D'Arcey, Leah Tackaberry-Giddens, Sana Junaid, Wenjia Zhou, Lena Quilty, Matthew Sloan, Sean A Kidd","doi":"10.1177/29767342241258915","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342241258915","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Opioid use disorder (OUD) has arguably the highest mortality rate of mental health conditions; opiate-related deaths are identified as the number one cause of accidental deaths in Canada and the United States. Specialized care for OUD is often described as lacking, fractured, and with frequent periods of disengagement. Digital health strategies may support connection to evidence-based resources even during periods of disengagement. However, sustained engagement in digital interventions remains a barrier, and as such, experts recommend using co-design approaches to develop interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The current study outlines the results from a qualitative co-design project that engaged 6 lived experts and 8 clinical experts in a series of focus groups and interviews to adapt an existing intervention for use in OUD. Focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed before undergoing thematic analysis. This co-design process is the first stage of a larger project that will lead to the development of a novel digital health intervention for OUD populations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Transcripts underwent thematic analysis, and themes were divided into Crosscutting Themes, Feasibility and Engagement, and Specific Features. Each theme was divided into specific subthemes, which were reviewed by the design team and informed the design of the digital health platform. Key resulting directions included creating a psychologically safe digital space, curating resources for OUD as a multifaceted condition, and being mindful of barriers to implementation from both lived and clinical expert perspectives. Specific features are discussed in detail in the article.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lived experts and clinicians strongly supported integrating digital tools into OUD care. Ongoing work is needed to better understand the role of technology in existing OUD structures as well as the implementation of key features such as digital peer support and creating effective and safe social connections. This study also validates co-design as an essential step in digital health development.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141794490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin T Hayes, Guillermo Sanchez Fat, Kristine Torres-Lockhart, Laila Khalid, Haruka Minami, Megan Ghiroli, Mary Beth Hribar, Jessica Pacifico, Yuhua Bao, Caryn R R Rodgers, Vilma Gabbay, Joanna Starrels, Aaron D Fox
{"title":"Low-Dose Buprenorphine Initiation for Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder or Opioid Misuse: Protocol for an Open-Label, Parallel-Group, Effectiveness-Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Benjamin T Hayes, Guillermo Sanchez Fat, Kristine Torres-Lockhart, Laila Khalid, Haruka Minami, Megan Ghiroli, Mary Beth Hribar, Jessica Pacifico, Yuhua Bao, Caryn R R Rodgers, Vilma Gabbay, Joanna Starrels, Aaron D Fox","doi":"10.1177/29767342241263221","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241263221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Buprenorphine is an effective medication for both opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain (CP), but transitioning from full opioid agonists to buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, can be challenging. Preliminary studies suggest that low-dose buprenorphine initiation can overcome some challenges in starting treatment, but no randomized controlled trials have compared low-dose and standard buprenorphine initiation approaches regarding effectiveness and safety or examined implementation in hospital settings. In a pragmatic open-label hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation trial based in a single urban health system, 270 hospitalized patients with (a) CP and (b) OUD or opioid misuse are being randomized to buprenorphine treatment initiation using 5-day low-dose or standard initiation protocols. Outcomes include buprenorphine treatment uptake (primary), defined as receiving buprenorphine treatment 7 days after enrollment, and other OUD and pain outcomes at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up (secondary). Data collection will also include safety measures, implementation of low-dose initiation protocols, patient acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. Comparing strategies in a randomized clinical trial will provide the most definitive data to date regarding the effectiveness and safety of low-dose buprenorphine initiation. The study will also provide important data on treating CP at a time that clinical guidelines are evolving to center buprenorphine as a preferred opioid for CP.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141790815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy E Wahlquist, Stephanie M Mathis, Laura Hunt Trull, Kusse Koirita Toitole, Andrew Howard, Ernest Fletcher, Michael Meit
{"title":"Associations Between Drug Overdose Mortality and Recovery Ecosystems in the United States: A County-Level Analysis Using a Novel Index.","authors":"Amy E Wahlquist, Stephanie M Mathis, Laura Hunt Trull, Kusse Koirita Toitole, Andrew Howard, Ernest Fletcher, Michael Meit","doi":"10.1177/29767342241262125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342241262125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Communities with robust recovery ecosystems could reduce negative outcomes associated with substance use disorders (SUDs) and facilitate the recovery process. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between drug overdose mortality rates in the United States and the strength of county-level recovery ecosystems, as measured by the Recovery Ecosystem Index (REI).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The REI assesses the strength of county-level recovery ecosystems in the United States. Comprised of 14 indicators across 3 component classes, overall and component scores ranging from \"one\" (strongest) to \"five\" (weakest) were calculated for each county using standardized values of the indicators. County-level analyses included: (1) correlational analyses between drug overdose mortality rates (n = 2076) and REI scores (overall score and by component); and (2) quadrant analysis (n = 2076), dividing counties based on their drug overdose mortality rates and overall REI scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Drug overdose mortality rates were inversely related to REI overall, SUD treatment component, and continuum of SUD support component scores, indicating that lower (stronger) scores corresponded to higher rates. Conversely, REI infrastructure and social component scores were positively related to rates. Counties were relatively evenly distributed across quadrants, with 26% (n = 537) with a strong REI score and high overdose mortality rate, 24% (n = 489) with a strong REI score and low overdose mortality rate, 20% (n = 409) with a weak REI and high overdose mortality rate, and 31% (n = 641) with a weak REI and low overdose mortality rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>REI scores were generally inversely associated with drug overdose mortality rates in US counties, suggesting that communities have stronger recovery systems and services as the burden of SUD increases. Given relative variation in the scale of drug overdose mortality and strength of recovery ecosystems among counties, results could guide the identification of communities where the need for expanded recovery systems and services may be particularly critical.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141750168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bethany Canver, Alayna Liptak, Katie Clark, Jeanette M Tetrault, Stephen R Holt
{"title":"Preparing Physicians to Treat Addiction: Inclusion of Dedicated Addiction Training During Internal Medicine Residency.","authors":"Bethany Canver, Alayna Liptak, Katie Clark, Jeanette M Tetrault, Stephen R Holt","doi":"10.1177/29767342231224978","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342231224978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physicians in internal medicine lack comfort and skills required to diagnose and treat substance use disorder (SUD). Formal training in substance use treatment within primary care training has traditionally been inconsistent and sparse. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a longitudinal experiential addiction curriculum on the attitudes and experiences of graduates from a primary care/internal medicine residency program that included formal addiction didactics, rotations in an outpatient addiction clinic embedded within the resident primary care clinic, and exposure to addiction medicine faculty across treatment settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was emailed to all graduates from a single academic primary care residency program who graduated between 2016 and 2018 (n = 53). The survey assessed pharmacotherapy for SUD prescribing patterns, comfort with SUD pharmacotherapy, overall comfort treating SUD, experience correcting stigmatizing language, and providing guidance to colleagues on the care of patients with SUD. A subset of respondents (n = 14) were interviewed regarding their experience with the residency program's addiction medicine curriculum and its impact on their current clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty percent (n = 28) of graduates responded to the survey. All respondents felt comfortable using medications to treat SUD. Eighty-four percent perceived themselves as more comfortable using pharmacotherapy to treat SUD than their colleagues. Qualitative interviews revealed that this addiction medicine training shaped participants' attitudes toward patients with SUD and imparted them with the skills to address stigmatizing language. Participants described how they have become ambassadors of addiction medicine in their workplace and a resource to colleagues with less comfort in the management of SUD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Graduates of a primary care/internal medicine residency with a dedicated addiction medicine curriculum are comfortable prescribing pharmacotherapy for SUD, taking an active role in reducing SUD-related stigma, and serving as a resource for colleagues.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139522379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Sayko Adams, John D Corrigan, Grant A Ritter, Zoe A Pringle, Galina Zolotusky, Rachel Blayney, Sharon Reif
{"title":"Association of Disability Status and Type With Binge Drinking and Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Adults From a 3-State Sample.","authors":"Rachel Sayko Adams, John D Corrigan, Grant A Ritter, Zoe A Pringle, Galina Zolotusky, Rachel Blayney, Sharon Reif","doi":"10.1177/29767342241236027","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241236027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research examining at-risk substance use by disability status is limited, with little investigation into differences by disability type. We investigated binge drinking and prescription opioid misuse among adults with and without disabilities, and by type of disability, to inform need for assessment and intervention within these populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Secondary analyses of adults who completed the disability, alcohol, and prescription opioid misuse items in the 2018 Ohio, Florida, or Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 28 341), the only states that included prescription opioid misuse in 2018. Self-reported disability status (yes/no) relied on 6 standardized questions assessing difficulties with: vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, self-care, and independent living (dichotomous, nonmutually exclusive, for each disability). Logistic regression models estimated the association of disability status and type with (1) past 30-day binge drinking and (2) past-year prescription opioid misuse. Additional models were restricted to separate subsamples of adults who: (a) currently drink, (b) received a past-year prescription opioid, and (c) did not receive a past-year prescription opioid.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One-third reported at least one disability, with mobility (19.5%), cognitive (11.5%), and hearing (10.2%) disability being the most common. Disability status was associated with lower odds of binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.80, <i>P</i> ≤ .01). However, among adults who currently drink, people with disabilities had higher odds of binge drinking (AOR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22, <i>P</i> ≤ .05]. Disability was associated with higher odds of past-year prescription opioid misuse (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI 2.17-2.91, <i>P</i> ≤ .01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adults with disabilities had higher odds of prescription opioid misuse, and among adults who currently drink, higher odds for binge drinking were observed. The magnitude of the association between disability status and prescription opioid misuse was particularly concerning. Providers should be trained to screen and treat for substance use problems for people with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140178590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Initiation and Receipt of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 4 State Medicaid Programs in 2018: Improving Medicaid Quality Metrics.","authors":"Victoria Lynch, Lisa Clemans-Cope","doi":"10.1177/29767342241227791","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241227791","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in youth can reduce harms but many youths do not receive MOUD. Improving quality metrics of MOUD among youth can advance interventions for youth with opioid use disorder (OUD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We relied on 2018 Medicaid claims data from California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. We calculated the percentage of youth with OUD included in the quality metric for initiation, and the percentage who initiated by state. We also calculated the percentage excluded from the quality metric for initiation because they have an existing episode of OUD care and their MOUD receipt. We compared the characteristics of those who initiated/received MOUD to those who did not and compared state estimates after adjusting for age and health conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Estimates of initiation exclude about half of the youth with OUD because they were in an existing episode of OUD care and could not be observed initiating. Among youth in a new episode of OUD care, only about 1 in 4 initiated and state estimates varied from 18.9% to 40.1%. Among youth with an existing episode of OUD care, more than half received MOUD and state estimates ranged from 35.2% to 71.3%. Youth who initiated MOUD or received MOUD with an existing OUD had more severe OUD but fewer co-occurring substance use disorders or mental or physical health diagnoses. After adjusting for age and health conditions, MOUD still varied substantially across states.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most youth with a new OUD diagnosis do not initiate MOUD but more than half of the youth in an existing OUD diagnosis receive MOUD. MOUD quality metrics that are disaggregated, adjusted, and inclusive of youth in an existing episode of care provide additional insight into opportunities to better support youth who might choose MOUD. State differences should be further studied for insight into policies that may affect MOUD.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139643754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel L Graves, Frances S Shofer, Joshua B Kayser, Jeanmarie Perrone
{"title":"First-Year Medical Students' Perceptions of Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder Before and After an Educational Intervention.","authors":"Rachel L Graves, Frances S Shofer, Joshua B Kayser, Jeanmarie Perrone","doi":"10.1177/29767342241236302","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241236302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stigma among medical trainees toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) compounds the problems associated with opioid addiction. People with OUD who experience overt and implicit stigma from healthcare providers are less likely to seek and receive treatment, further restricting their access to already limited resources. The objective of our study was to assess an educational strategy to mitigate stigma toward people with OUD among first-year medical students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study assessed perceptions of stigma toward people with OUD among first-year medical students using an adaptation of a brief, validated opioid stigma scale before and after an educational intervention. The intervention consisted primarily of a recorded panel in which people with a history of OUD shared their experiences with stigma followed by small group discussions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After the educational intervention, students were more likely to respond that (1) they believed most people held negative beliefs about people with OUD and (2) they personally disagreed with negative statements about people with OUD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Educational interventions addressing stigma toward people with OUD are potentially effective and should be integrated into medical curricula. Such interventions are a crucial part of the effort to improve the medical care of people with OUD.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140061701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How Does Telehealth Expansion Change Access to Healthcare for Patients With Different Types of Substance Use Disorders?","authors":"Alyssa Shell Tilhou, Marguerite Burns, Preeti Chachlani, Ying Chen, Laura Dague","doi":"10.1177/29767342241236028","DOIUrl":"10.1177/29767342241236028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) exhibit low healthcare utilization despite high medical need. Telehealth could boost utilization, but variation in uptake across SUDs is unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using Wisconsin Medicaid enrollment and claims data from December 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, we conducted a cohort study of telemedicine uptake in the all-ambulatory and the primary care setting during telehealth expansion following the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) onset (March 14, 2020). The sample included continuously enrolled (19 months), nonpregnant, nondisabled adults aged 19 to 64 years with opioid (OUD), alcohol (AUD), stimulant (StimUD), or cannabis (CannUD) use disorder or polysubstance use (PSU). Outcomes: total and telehealth visits in the week, and fraction of visits in the week completed by telehealth. Linear and fractional regression estimated changes in in-person and telemedicine utilization. We used regression coefficients to calculate the change in telemedicine utilization, the proportion of in-person decline offset by telemedicine uptake (\"offset\"), and the share of visits completed by telemedicine (\"share\").</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort (n = 16 756) included individuals with OUD (34.8%), AUD (30.1%), StimUD (9.5%), CannUD (9.5%), and PSU (19.7%). Total and telemedicine utilization varied by group post-PHE. All-ambulatory: total visits dropped for all, then rose above baseline for OUD, PSU, and AUD. Telehealth expansion was associated with visit increases: OUD: 0.489, <i>P</i> < .001; PSU: 0.341, <i>P</i> < .001; StimUD: 0.160, <i>P</i> < .001; AUD: 0.132, <i>P</i> < .001; CannUD: 0.115, <i>P</i> < .001. StimUD exhibited the greatest telemedicine share. Primary care: total visits dropped for all, then recovered for OUD and CannUD. Telemedicine visits rose most for PSU: 0.021, <i>P</i> < .001; OUD: 0.019, <i>P</i> < .001; CannUD: 0.011, <i>P</i> < .001; AUD: 0.010, <i>P</i> < .001; StimUD: 0.009, <i>P</i> < .001. PSU and OUD exhibited the greatest telemedicine share, while StimUD exhibited the lowest. Telemedicine fully offset declines for OUD only.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Telehealth expansion helped maintain utilization for OUD and PSU; StimUD and CannUD showed less responsiveness. Telehealth expansion could widen gaps in utilization by SUD type.</p>","PeriodicalId":516535,"journal":{"name":"Substance use & addiction journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11179974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140144994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}