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ObjectivesTo evaluate how performing artists (PAs) with chronic pain may differ on measures of substance use compared to non-PA controls.Methods157 participants reporting chronic pain (89 PAs, 68 non-PA controls) completed an online cross-sectional survey. Participants were assessed for self-reported current pain severity using the Brief Pain Inventory Short-Form, opioid misuse risk using the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised, opioid withdrawal using the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale, and symptoms of opioid use disorder (OUD) using a modified version of the DSM-V checklist.ResultsPAs had lower pain severity (p

ObjectivesAcute pain management in patients with opioid use disorder who are maintained on methadone presents unique challenges due to high levels of opioid tolerance in this population. This randomized controlled study assessed the analgesic and abuse liability effects of escalating doses of acute intravenous (IV) hydromorphone versus placebo utilizing a validated experimental pain paradigm, quantitative sensory testing (QST).MethodsIndividuals (N = 8) without chronic pain were maintained on 80-100 mg/day of oral methadone. Participants received four IV, escalating/incremental doses of hydromorphone over 270 min (32 mg total) or four placebo doses within a session test day. Test sessions were scheduled at least one week apart. QST and abuse liability measures were administered at baseline and after each injection.ResultsNo significant differences between the hydromorphone and placebo control conditions on analgesic indices for any QST outcomes were detected. Similarly, no differences on safety or abuse liability indices were detected despite the high doses of hydromorphone utilized. Few adverse events were detected, and those reported were mild in severity.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate that methadone-maintained individuals are highly insensitive to the analgesic effects of high-dose IV hydromorphone and may require very high doses of opioids, more efficacious opioids, or combined non-opioid analgesic strategies to achieve adequate analgesia.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a public health crisis. Differences in opioid withdrawal severity that predict treatment outcome could facilitate the process of matching patients to treatments. This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that enrolled treatment seeking heroin-users (N = 89, males = 78) into a residential study. Participants maintained on morphine (30 mg, subcutaneous, four-times daily) underwent a naloxone (0.4 mg, IM = intramuscular) challenge session to precipitate withdrawal. Area-under-the-curve (AUC) values from self-reported withdrawal ratings during the challenge session were analyzed using K-means clustering, revealing two phenotype groups. Withdrawal and retention from the subsequent 14-day double-blind, double-dummy RCT comparing three study medications (clonidine, tramadol-ER, and buprenorphine) were evaluated as a function of phenotype. Cluster analyses suggested HIGH (N = 37; mean [SD] subjective opiate withdrawal scale [SOWS]-AUC 123.7 [65.8]) and LOW (N = 52; SOWS-AUC 68.0 [47.7]) withdrawal phenotype groups. HIGH participants were significantly more female and had lower body mass indices than LOW participants; no drug-use variables were significant. Regarding RCT outcomes, HIGH phenotype participants were less likely to be retained in the study (P = 0.02) and had higher mean self-reported withdrawal (P = 0.05) than LOW phenotype participants. A significant interaction in RCT retention was observed between phenotype (P = 0.02) and study medication (P

Objective Individuals with chronic pain who misuse prescription opioids are at high risk for developing opioid use disorder and/or succumbing to opioid overdose. The current study conducted a survey to evaluate sex-based differences in pain catastrophizing, opioid withdrawal, and current pain in persons with co-occurring chronic pain and opioid misuse. We hypothesized that women with chronic pain who misused prescription opioids would self-report higher pain ratings compared with men and that the relationship between pain catastrophizing and self-reported current pain would be moderated by symptoms of opioid withdrawal in women only. Design Survey assessment of the relationship between pain and opioid misuse. Setting Online via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants Persons with ongoing chronic pain who also misused prescription opioids on one or more days in the last 30 days were eligible (N = 181). Methods Participants completed demographic and standardized assessments including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS). Results Women reported higher levels of current (P

BackgroundUnderstanding mechanisms of physiological opioid withdrawal symptoms can inform treatment strategies. This secondary analysis evaluated the association between mydriasis (dilated pupils), a commonly-assessed opioid withdrawal metric, with self- and observer-rated opioid withdrawal severity.MethodNinety-five participants with opioid physical dependence were stabilized with morphine before receiving an injection of the opioid antagonist naloxone to precipitate withdrawal. Pupil diameter, the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS), and the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) were collected at baseline and in 15-minute intervals for 120 min following naloxone administration. Pearson product-moment correlations and linear regressions characterized the relationships between pupil measurements (baseline and peak naloxone-induced) and self- and observer-rated measures of withdrawal. Repeated-measures ANOVAs tested whether self and observer-rated withdrawal severity corresponded to unique patterns in pupil changes.ResultsBaseline pupil diameter significantly correlated with SOWS and COWS peak scores. Peak naloxone-induced pupil diameter significantly correlated with SOWS scores only. Peak changes in pupil from baseline did not correspond to peak changes in self- and observer-rated withdrawal scales.ConclusionsThis study suggests that pupil diameter measurements were more closely associated with acute opioid withdrawal severity than changes in pupil diameter. Prospective research examining the mechanisms underlying the relationship between pupil diameter and opioid withdrawal severity are warranted.

BackgroundWhile most opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment providers consider opioid abstinence to be the preferred outcome, little is known about the treatment preferences of the larger population of individuals who engage in nonmedical opioid use and have not yet sought treatment. This study sought to descriptively quantify the proportion of out-of-treatment individuals with nonmedical opioid use that have abstinent and nonabstinent recovery goals.MethodsParticipants (N = 235) who engage in nonmedical opioid use and met self-reported criteria for OUD were recruited online and participated in a cross-sectional survey on recovery goals and treatment perceptions. Participants were dichotomized as having either abstinent (70.6%) or nonabstinent (29.4%) recovery goals. Participants were presented with 13 treatment options and asked which treatment they would "try first" and which treatment they thought would be the best option for long-term recovery.ResultsPersons in the nonabstinent group were more likely to want to continue use of prescription opioids as prescribed by a physician compared with the abstinent group (χ[1] = 9.71, P = 0.002). There were no group differences regarding preference for individual OUD treatments. The most frequently endorsed treatments that participants would "try first" were physician visits (23.4%), one-on-one counseling (18.7%), and 12-step groups (13.2%), whereas the most frequently endorsed treatments for long-term recovery were one-on-one counseling (17.4%), residential treatment (16.7%), and buprenorphine (15.3%).ConclusionPublic health initiatives to engage out-of-treatment individuals should take into account recovery goals and treatment preferences to maximize treatment initiation and retention.

Methadone maintenance is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder, yet many methadone-maintained patients (MMPs) continue to struggle with chronic relapse. The current study evaluated whether functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) could identify prefrontal cortex (PFC) markers of ongoing opioid use in MMPs, and whether clinical measures of depression and self-report measures of craving would also be associated with opioid use. MMPs (n = 29) underwent a drug cue reactivity paradigm during fNIRS measurements of PFC reactivity. Self-reported opioid craving (measured by a visual analog scale; 0-100) was collected before and after drug cue reactivity, and depressive symptoms were assessed via the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Hierarchical regression and partial correlations were used to evaluate associations between weekly urine drug screens over a 90-day follow-up period and fNIRS, craving, and HAM-D assessments. Neural response to drug cues in the left lateral PFC, controlling for age, sex, and days in treatment was significantly associated with percent opioid-negative urine screens during follow-up (∆F1, 24 = 13.19, p = 0.001, ∆R2 = 0.30), and correctly classified 86% of MMPs as either using opioids, or abstaining from opioids (χ2(4) = 16.28, p = 0.003). Baseline craving (p

BackgroundManaging acute pain in buprenorphine-maintained individuals in emergency or perioperative settings is a significant challenge. This study compared analgesic and abuse liability effects of adjunct hydromorphone and buprenorphine using quantitative sensory testing, a model of acute clinical pain, in persons maintained on 12 to 16 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone.MethodsParticipants (N = 13) were enrolled in a randomized within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled three-session experiment. Each session used a cumulative dosing design with four IV injections (4, 4, 8, and 16 mg of hydromorphone or 4, 4, 8, and 16 mg of buprenorphine); quantitative sensory testing and abuse liability assessments were measured at baseline and after each injection. The primary analgesia outcome was change from baseline cold pressor testing; secondary outcomes included thermal and pressure pain testing, as well as subjective drug effects and adverse events.ResultsA significant two-way interaction between study drug condition and dose was exhibited in cold pressor threshold (F10,110 = 2.14, P = 0.027) and tolerance (F10,110 = 2.69, P = 0.006). Compared to after placebo, participants displayed increased cold pressor threshold from baseline after cumulative doses of 32 mg of IV hydromorphone (means ± SD) (10 ± 14 s, P = 0.035) and 32 mg of buprenorphine (3 ± 5 s, P = 0.0.39) and in cold pressor tolerance after cumulative doses of 16 mg (18 ± 24 s, P = 0.018) and 32 mg (48 ± 73 s, P = 0.041) IV hydromorphone; cold pressor tolerance scores were not significant for 16 mg (1 ± 15 s, P = 0.619) or 32 mg (7 ± 16 s, P = 0.066) buprenorphine. Hydromorphone and buprenorphine compared with placebo showed greater ratings on subjective measures of high, any drug effects, good effects, and drug liking. Adverse events were more frequent during the hydromorphone compared with buprenorphine and placebo conditions for nausea, pruritus, sedation, and vomiting.ConclusionsIn this acute clinical pain model, high doses of IV hydromorphone (16 to 32 mg) were most effective in achieving analgesia but also displayed higher abuse liability and more frequent adverse events. Cold pressor testing was the most consistent measure of opioid-related analgesia.

BackgroundOlder adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) are a medically complex population. The current study evaluated trends in older adults seeking treatment for OUD, with a focus on primary heroin versus prescription opioid use. This study also compared older adults with OUD to the younger OUD population on demographics and drug use behaviors.MethodsPublicly available data from state-certified addiction treatment centers were collected via the Treatment Episode Data Set - Admissions (TEDS-A) between 2004-2015. This study utilized Joinpoint Regression to conduct a cross-sectional, longitudinal analysis of trends in first-time treatment admissions for OUD in adults 55 and older (older adults; n = 400,421) versus adults under the age of 55 (n = 7,795,839). Given the rapid increase in older adults seeking treatment for OUD between 2013-2015, secondary outcomes include changes in demographics and drug use between 2012 (as a baseline year) and 2015.ResultsThe proportion of older adults seeking treatment for OUD rose steadily between 2004-2013 (41.2% increase; p-trend = 0.046), then rapidly between 2013-2015 (53.5% increase; p-trend = 0.009). The proportion of older adults with primary heroin use more than doubled between 2012-2015 (p

Background and aimsProbability discounting refers to the effect of outcome uncertainty on decision making. Using probability discounting, we examined the degree to which self-identified chronic pain patients (CPP) were likely to try a novel analgesic medication given increasing addiction risk. We postulated that propensity for opioid misuse, trait impulsivity and previous opioid experience would be associated positively with likelihood of risky medication use.DesignThis cross-sectional on-line study determined state/trait associations with addiction-related medication decisions in CPP.SettingUS-based CPP participated via Amazon Mechanical Turk; data were collected and analyzed in Baltimore, Maryland.ParticipantsA total of 263 CPP (70.6% female) participated in the study from 12-13 December 2014.MeasurementsCPP responded to the Benefit versus Addiction Risk Questionnaire (BARQ) assessing likelihood of taking a hypothetical once-daily oral analgesic medication as a function of two factors: risk of addiction (0-50%) and duration of expected complete pain relief (3, 30 or 365 days). The primary outcome was the BARQ, quantified as area under the curve (AUC). Grouping of CPP at high or low risk for opioid misuse was based on the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised (SOAPP-R). Predictors included previous experience with opioids, as well as various measures of chronic pain and mental health.FindingsAcross hypothetical addiction risk assessed in the BARQ, the likelihood of taking a novel analgesic medication was elevated significantly in patients with high (≥18; n = 137) versus low (

BackgroundRelatively little is known regarding the perception of medication-assisted treatments (MATs) and other treatment options amongst individuals that engage in non-medical prescription opioid use. This study surveyed out-of-treatment individuals that misuse opioids to better understand how perceived access to treatment shapes treatment preference.MethodsParticipants (n=357) were out-of-treatment adults registered as workers on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform who reported current non-medical prescription opioid use. Participants were surveyed regarding demographics, insurance status, attitudes toward opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments, and self-reported symptoms of OUD.ResultsParticipants who were male, did not have health insurance, and knew that counseling-type services were locally available were most likely to first attempt counseling/detox treatments (χ2(6)=30.19, p

Tweet: The authors discuss harm reduction strategies and associated outcome metrics in relation to the ongoing opioid crisis. Opioid overdose deaths and opioid-related harms have reached unprecedented levels, particularly as compounds such as xylazine and fentanyl have infiltrated the drug supply. Harm reduction strategies are especially relevant in this climate, as they aim to reduce drug-related harms independently of whether an individual chooses to enter treatment or abstain from opioid use. Assessment of harm reduction strategies should consider targets beyond substance use. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize existing harm reduction strategies in the United States and elsewhere and to describe how outcomes of these strategies could be assessed. Strategies designed to reduce opioid-related harms include syringe exchange programs, overdose education and naloxone distribution, supervised consumption sites, injectable opioid agonist treatment, safer supply programs, drug checking, and decriminalization. Outcomes besides abstinence that could be considered include reductions in substance use patterns that are associated with a high likelihood of negative consequences (e.g., solitary use and polydrug use), reductions in severity of opioid use disorder or early remission of opioid use disorder, improved quality of life and psychological health, improvements in community functioning including linkage and adherence to treatment, and reductions in the incidence of infectious disease. As opioid overdose deaths and related harms continue to rise, harm reduction strategies have become critically important. Harm reduction strategies for opioid use disorder should be considered in the context of outcomes that extend beyond measuring drug use, to capture benefits such as reduced mortality and greater well-being and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]