2025
Retention and dropout from sublingual and extended-release buprenorphine treatment: A comparative analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of commercially-insured people with opiod use disorder in the United States
Ivasiy R, Madden L, Johnson K, Machavariani E, Ahmad B, Oliveros D, Tan J, Kil N, Altice F. Retention and dropout from sublingual and extended-release buprenorphine treatment: A comparative analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of commercially-insured people with opiod use disorder in the United States. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2025, 138: 104748. PMID: 40020306, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104748.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderSL-BUPXR-BUPUse disorderRetrospective cohort studyExtended-release buprenorphineReduce treatment discontinuationDays of supplyTreatment discontinuationSublingual buprenorphineReduce overdose riskBuprenorphine treatmentCohort studyHigh dosesPrimary outcomeImpact of dosagePatientsBuprenorphineMonthsMg/dayCommercially-insured individualsProportion of individualsOpioidOverdose riskImprove health outcomesPrescribing methadone in prison predicts linkage to HIV care after release from prison: A randomized and patient preference trial
Mobley A, Wegman M, Bazazi A, Shenoi S, Bromberg D, Ahmad A, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Prescribing methadone in prison predicts linkage to HIV care after release from prison: A randomized and patient preference trial. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2025, 137: 104733. PMID: 39923270, PMCID: PMC11875876, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104733.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMalaysiaMaleMethadoneMiddle AgedOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPatient PreferencePrisonersPrisonsProspective StudiesConceptsLinkage to HIV careHIV careIncrease linkage to HIV careTreatment-as-prevention strategiesHIV treatment cascadeHIV treatment outcomesOpen-label trialCox proportional hazards modelsPatient preference trialOpioid use disorderMalaysia’s largest prison.Impact of methadoneProportional hazards modelTreatment cascadeInverse probability weighted Cox proportional hazards modelAnalytic sampleStudy participantsCareTreatment outcomesPrescribed methadoneOpioidConfounding variablesHIVUse disorderHazards modelRationale and design of a randomized clinical trial of integrated eHealth for PrEP and medications for opioid use disorders for women in the criminal legal system. The Athena study
Meyer J, Brunson S, Price C, Mulrain M, Nguyen J, Altice F, Kyriakides T, Cropsey K, Eaton E. Rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial of integrated eHealth for PrEP and medications for opioid use disorders for women in the criminal legal system. The Athena study. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2025, 20: 4. PMID: 39825419, PMCID: PMC11742507, DOI: 10.1186/s13722-024-00534-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultCriminal LawFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMiddle AgedOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPre-Exposure ProphylaxisTelemedicineConceptsCriminal legal systemOpioid use disorderLegal systemStandard of careStructural barriersUse disorderEnhanced standard of careRates of opioid use disorderDelivery of PrEPPre-exposure prophylaxisWomen's abilityRandomized clinical trialsLife-saving interventionsRandomized controlled trialsHealth disparitiesImplementation outcomesPrEP initiationPreventive servicesClinical outcomesIntegrated deliveryFollow-upDelivery modelsClinical trialsDecision aidPrEP
2024
Decrease in provider stigma is associated with improved quality health indicators among individuals receiving methadone in primary care centers in Ukraine
Machavariani E, Bromberg D, Dumchev K, Esserman D, Earnshaw V, Pykalo I, Filippovich M, Ivasiy R, Ahmad B, Long J, Haddad M, Madden L, Oliveros D, Dvoriak S, Altice F. Decrease in provider stigma is associated with improved quality health indicators among individuals receiving methadone in primary care centers in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2024, 136: 104682. PMID: 39705875, PMCID: PMC11821433, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104682.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care centersQuality health indicatorsProvider stigmaEvidence-based practiceGuideline-concordantPatient outcomesHealth indicatorsReduce provider stigmaCare centerInfluence healthcare utilizationSpecialty health servicesPatient-level outcomesTele-educationImprove patient outcomesProvider fearsImplementation trialHealthcare utilizationPreventive careHealth servicesPoor healthLinear mixed-effects modelsImprove attitudesStigmaIncrease accessMixed-effects models
2022
Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia
Bazazi A, Culbert G, Wegman M, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia. BMC Infectious Diseases 2022, 22: 837. PMID: 36368939, PMCID: PMC9652918, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07804-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidHIV InfectionsHumansMalaysiaMaleMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPrisonersPrisonsConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist therapyInfectious etiologyMost deathsUse disordersSample of menPrison releaseOpen-label trialT-lymphocyte countsPredictors of mortalityNational death recordsCrude mortality rateProportional hazards modelCovariate-adjusted modelsLow CD4Methadone initiationModified intentionAgonist therapySurvival benefitTreat analysisMethodsThis studyHIVHazards modelMortality rateMethadoneInterest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Litz T, Kurmanalieva A, Galvez S, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Interest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0276723. PMID: 36282864, PMCID: PMC9595522, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAnalgesics, OpioidHumansMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPrisonersPrisonsConceptsKyrgyz prisonsCriminal justice systemDepth qualitative interviewsMethadone utilizationMethadone treatmentMixed-method analysisBrief interventionJustice systemPrison systemCriminal subcultureQualitative interviewsEastern EuropeEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicQualitative findingsPrison releaseHIV prevention strategiesPrisonInjection drug useMedication-assisted therapyMethadone uptakeInterpersonal relationshipsAttitudesHealth-related concernsA pilot implementation study to scale-up methadone in incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder and retain them on treatment after release in Moldova
Dorgay CE, Bromberg DJ, Doltu S, Litz T, Galvez S, Polonsky M, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. A pilot implementation study to scale-up methadone in incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder and retain them on treatment after release in Moldova. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2022, 104: 103683. PMID: 35417790, PMCID: PMC9827420, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103683.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentOpioid use disorderUse disordersBrief interventionPilot implementation studySBIRT interventionTreatment initiationMaintenance treatmentMethadonePotential implementation strategiesIncarcerated personsInterventionImplementation studyTreatment proceduresBaselineDisordersTreatmentParticipantsDays of releaseReleaseImplementation strategiesPre-trial detention facilitySessionsHIVReferral
2021
Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study
O'Hara GL, Liberman AR, Polonsky M, Azbel L, Marcus R, Doltu S, Cugut S, Altice FL. Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 136: 108660. PMID: 34801282, PMCID: PMC10879837, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108660.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHIV InfectionsHumansMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentPrisonersPrisonsSubstance Abuse, IntravenousConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentCentral Asian regionNegative personal attitudesPrison hierarchySocial forcesInformal hierarchyMaintenance treatmentThematic barriersQualitative interviewsPrison populationInterview dataAsian regionPrisonPrison settingQualitative studyQuantitative surveyKey barriersNew HIV infectionsOpioid use disorderContent analysisComplete interview dataQualitative analysisDistrustPersonal attitudesPrisonersSuccessful transfer of stable patients on opioid agonist therapies from specialty addiction treatment to primary care settings in Ukraine: A pilot study
Meteliuk A, Galvez S, Fomenko T, Kalandiia H, Iaryi V, Farnum SO, Islam Z, Altice FL, Madden LM. Successful transfer of stable patients on opioid agonist therapies from specialty addiction treatment to primary care settings in Ukraine: A pilot study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 134: 108619. PMID: 34579978, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108619.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnalgesics, OpioidFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPilot ProjectsPrimary Health CareSubstance Abuse, IntravenousUkraineConceptsOpioid agonist therapyPrimary care clinicsPrimary care settingOAT coverageAgonist therapyStable patientsCare clinicsSubstance useCare settingsNegative urine drug testsSpecialty addictions treatmentUrine drug testsSymptom Identification ScaleMental health symptomsAddiction treatment clinicsHIV transmissionPrimary careTreatment clinicsOAT patientsBASIS-24PatientsHealth symptomsEmotional labilityAddiction treatmentPilot studyWillingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment
Ni Z, Altice FL, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM, DiDomizio EE, Nelson LE, Shrestha R. Willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 219: 108477. PMID: 33422864, PMCID: PMC7946167, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid-dependent individualsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useHIV riskHealthcare providersSex-related risk behaviorsMultivariable logistic regression analysisAwareness of PrEPUrban methadone clinicMultiple logistic regressionDisproportionate HIV burdenLogistic regression analysisCross-sectional surveyHIV burdenHIV infectionHIV testingIndependent correlatesMethadone clinicsDrug treatmentRisk behaviorsLogistic regressionPrEPPrevious useHigher likelihoodProphylaxis
2020
Rapid transitional response to the COVID-19 pandemic by opioid agonist treatment programs in Ukraine
Meteliuk A, Galvez de Leon SJ, Madden LM, Pykalo I, Fomenko T, Filippovych M, Farnum SO, Dvoryak S, Islam ZM, Altice FL. Rapid transitional response to the COVID-19 pandemic by opioid agonist treatment programs in Ukraine. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2020, 121: 108164. PMID: 33191004, PMCID: PMC7769928, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108164.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidBuprenorphineCOVID-19Drug OverdoseHumansMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPatient DropoutsTelemedicineUkraineConceptsOpioid agonist therapyTake-home dosingInterim guidanceShort-term overall mortalityOpioid agonist treatment programPerson clinical encountersOAT deliveryAgonist therapyOverall mortalityCOVID-19 transmissionPatient dropoutOAT patientsNaloxone distributionOverdose educationClinical practiceClinic interactionsTreatment programClinical encountersPatientsCliniciansCOVID-19COVID-19 pandemicOverdosesDosingPrevious yearThe real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine
Farnum SO, Makarenko I, Madden L, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Prokhorova T, Bojko MJ, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine. Addiction 2020, 116: 83-93. PMID: 32428276, PMCID: PMC7674222, DOI: 10.1111/add.15115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnalgesics, OpioidBuprenorphineCohort StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMethadoneMiddle AgedOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPatient DropoutsTime FactorsUkraineConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOAT discontinuationAgonist therapyTreatment retentionIndependent predictorsHIV epidemicCost-effective HIV prevention strategyMethadone maintenance treatment patientsObservational longitudinal cohort studySpecialty addictions treatmentBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentHigh dosageHIV prevention strategiesLongitudinal cohort studyOpioid-dependent peopleTreatment discontinuationCohort studyMaintenance treatmentMale sexTreatment patientsPrevention strategiesDiscontinuationYounger ageCenter settingAddiction treatmentAdherence to and Retention in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adolescents and Young Adults
Viera A, Bromberg DJ, Whittaker S, Refsland BM, Stanojlović M, Nyhan K, Altice FL. Adherence to and Retention in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adolescents and Young Adults. Epidemiologic Reviews 2020, 42: 41-56. PMID: 32239206, PMCID: PMC8087870, DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxaa001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentBuprenorphineChildHumansMethadoneNaltrexoneNarcotic AntagonistsOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersYoung AdultConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersYoung adultsAssociation of ageFull-text reviewRetention of adolescentsConcurrent substance useNegative health outcomesMOUD retentionOpioid epidemicInclusion criteriaHealth outcomesYounger ageAge groupsMOUDSubstance useAdherenceGood evidenceAdultsMedicationsDisordersAdolescentsSearch criteriaAgeOutcomes
2019
Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study
Tan J, Altice FL, Madden LM, Zelenev A. Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study. The Lancet HIV 2019, 7: e121-e128. PMID: 31879250, PMCID: PMC7289179, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(19)30373-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidHIV InfectionsHumansIncidenceModels, TheoreticalOpiate Substitution TreatmentPrevalenceRiskSubstance Abuse, IntravenousUkraineConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNew HIV infectionsHigh HIV burdenHIV infectionMinistry of HealthOAT coverageAgonist therapyHIV burdenHIV incidenceBuprenorphine maintenance therapyPublic Health CenterMaintenance therapyHIV outcomesHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionMedication procurementHIV epidemicHealth centersHIV preventionTreatment goalsPWIDOAT expansionDisease controlSexual riskInfectionCost‐effectiveness of expanding the capacity of opioid agonist treatment in Ukraine: dynamic modeling analysis
Morozova O, Crawford FW, Cohen T, Paltiel AD, Altice FL. Cost‐effectiveness of expanding the capacity of opioid agonist treatment in Ukraine: dynamic modeling analysis. Addiction 2019, 115: 437-450. PMID: 31478285, PMCID: PMC7015766, DOI: 10.1111/add.14797.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidCost-Benefit AnalysisForecastingHealth Services Needs and DemandHIV InfectionsHumansModels, TheoreticalOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersUkraineConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid use disorderOAT coverageAgonist treatmentGross domestic productOpioid use initiationOpioid addiction epidemicOAT accessHIV epidemicUse disordersAddiction epidemicCapita gross domestic productPay thresholdsTreatment demandUse initiationAddiction treatmentIncremental costBaseline capacityTreatmentPotential peer effectsDomestic productTreatment spilloversEpidemicPeer effectsCoverage levelsStaying hepatitis C negative: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cure and reinfection in people who inject drugs
Latham NH, Doyle JS, Palmer AY, Vanhommerig JW, Agius P, Goutzamanis S, Li Z, Pedrana A, Gottfredsson M, Bouscaillou J, Luhmann N, Mazhnaya A, Altice FL, Saeed S, Klein M, Falade‐Nwulia O, Aspinall E, Hutchinson S, Hellard ME, Sacks‐Davis R. Staying hepatitis C negative: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cure and reinfection in people who inject drugs. Liver International 2019, 39: 2244-2260. PMID: 31125496, DOI: 10.1111/liv.14152.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntiviral AgentsDrug UsersHepatitis CHumansMedication AdherenceOpiate Substitution TreatmentSustained Virologic ResponseConceptsSustained viral responseDirect-acting antiviralsRecent PWIDOST recipientsTreatment discontinuationPerson yearsReinfection rateRelative riskTreatment outcomesSystematic reviewIncidence of reinfectionTreatment discontinuation ratesPooled relative riskHepatitis C treatmentNewcastle-Ottawa ScaleMixed effects linear modelTherapy recipientsDiscontinuation ratesHepatitis C.Pooled incidenceViral responseCure rateRecent injectingStudy qualityPWIDHIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients
Shrestha R, Altice FL, Copenhaver MM. HIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2019, 80: 166-173. PMID: 30383588, PMCID: PMC6331231, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001891.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOptimal ART adherenceAntiretroviral therapyMethadone-maintained patientsMethadone maintenance treatmentART adherenceMaintenance treatmentHIV treatment outcomesHIV-positive patientsOpioid agonist therapyMultivariable logistic regressionHIV risk behaviorsExplanatory pathwaysAgonist therapySuboptimal adherenceMedication adherenceHIV treatmentTreatment outcomesHIV stigmaPatientsLogistic regressionHIVPrevention initiativesTherapyAdherenceSignificant correlatesUsing nominal group technique to identify barriers, facilitators, and preferences among patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder: A needs assessment for decision making support
Muthulingam D, Bia J, Madden LM, Farnum SO, Barry DT, Altice FL. Using nominal group technique to identify barriers, facilitators, and preferences among patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder: A needs assessment for decision making support. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2019, 100: 18-28. PMID: 30898324, PMCID: PMC6432946, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.01.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderNominal group techniquePharmacologic therapyUse disordersSyringe exchange programsIndividual-level barriersEvidence-based interventionsAddiction treatment centersEvidence-based strategiesOUD treatmentPharmacologic treatmentSpecific medicationsTreatment optionsPharmacologic propertiesMedicationsDecision aidPatient considerationsSide effectsTreatment centersOpioid crisisSpecific knowledge gapsGroup techniqueDecision aid developmentTreatmentTherapyRetention 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
2018
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Incarcerated Persons with HIV: Associations with Methadone and Perceived Safety
Culbert GJ, Waluyo A, Wang M, Putri TA, Bazazi AR, Altice FL. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Incarcerated Persons with HIV: Associations with Methadone and Perceived Safety. AIDS And Behavior 2018, 23: 2048-2058. PMID: 30465106, PMCID: PMC6698149, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2344-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyART adherenceART utilizationMethadone utilizationHIV status disclosureHealth service satisfactionStatus disclosureMedical treatmentDrug dependencyPWHAdherenceMost participantsHIVMethadoneTherapyChance locusSafetyAdequate supportHigh levelsPerceived SafetyPersonal safety
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