TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of methadone maintenance treatment patients prescribed opioid analgesics
AU - Glenn, Matthew C.
AU - Sohler, Nancy L.
AU - Starrels, Joanna L.
AU - Maradiaga, Jeronimo
AU - Jost, John J.
AU - Arnsten, Julia H.
AU - Cunningham, Chinazo O.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2016/7/2
Y1 - 2016/7/2
N2 - Background: Opioid analgesic use and disorders have dramatically increased among the general American population and those receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Most research among MMT patients focuses on opioid analgesics misuse or disorders; few studies focus on MMT patients prescribed opioid analgesics. We describe demographic, clinical, and substance use characteristics of MMT patients prescribed opioid analgesics and compare them with MMT patients not prescribed opioid analgesics. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary data analysis using screening interviews from a parent study. From 2012 to 2015, we recruited adults from 3 MMT Bronx clinics. Questionnaire data included patterns of opioid analgesic use, substance use, comorbid illnesses, and demographic characteristics. Our main dependent variable was patients' report of currently taking prescribed opioid analgesics. To compare characteristics between MMT patients prescribed and not prescribed opioid analgesics, we conducted chi-square tests, t tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Of 611 MMT patients, most reported chronic pain (62.0%), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (52.1%), and current use of illicit substances (64.2%). Of the 29.8% who reported currently taking prescribed opioid analgesics, most misused their opioid analgesics (57.5%). Patients prescribed (versus not prescribed) opioid analgesics were more likely to report human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–2.3) and chronic pain (aOR = 7.6, 95% CI: 4.6–12.6). Conclusion: Among MMT patients primarily in 3 Bronx clinics, nearly one third reported taking prescribed opioid analgesics. Compared with patients not prescribed opioid analgesics, those prescribed opioid analgesics were more likely to report chronic pain and HIV infection. However, between these patients, there was no difference in illicit substance use. These findings highlight the complexity of addressing chronic pain in MMT patients.
AB - Background: Opioid analgesic use and disorders have dramatically increased among the general American population and those receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Most research among MMT patients focuses on opioid analgesics misuse or disorders; few studies focus on MMT patients prescribed opioid analgesics. We describe demographic, clinical, and substance use characteristics of MMT patients prescribed opioid analgesics and compare them with MMT patients not prescribed opioid analgesics. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary data analysis using screening interviews from a parent study. From 2012 to 2015, we recruited adults from 3 MMT Bronx clinics. Questionnaire data included patterns of opioid analgesic use, substance use, comorbid illnesses, and demographic characteristics. Our main dependent variable was patients' report of currently taking prescribed opioid analgesics. To compare characteristics between MMT patients prescribed and not prescribed opioid analgesics, we conducted chi-square tests, t tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Of 611 MMT patients, most reported chronic pain (62.0%), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (52.1%), and current use of illicit substances (64.2%). Of the 29.8% who reported currently taking prescribed opioid analgesics, most misused their opioid analgesics (57.5%). Patients prescribed (versus not prescribed) opioid analgesics were more likely to report human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–2.3) and chronic pain (aOR = 7.6, 95% CI: 4.6–12.6). Conclusion: Among MMT patients primarily in 3 Bronx clinics, nearly one third reported taking prescribed opioid analgesics. Compared with patients not prescribed opioid analgesics, those prescribed opioid analgesics were more likely to report chronic pain and HIV infection. However, between these patients, there was no difference in illicit substance use. These findings highlight the complexity of addressing chronic pain in MMT patients.
KW - HIV
KW - methadone
KW - opiate substitution therapy
KW - opioid analgesics
KW - pain
KW - substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976319289&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84976319289&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08897077.2015.1135225
DO - 10.1080/08897077.2015.1135225
M3 - Article
C2 - 26731299
AN - SCOPUS:84976319289
SN - 0889-7077
VL - 37
SP - 387
EP - 391
JO - Substance Abuse
JF - Substance Abuse
IS - 3
ER -