Drug and alcohol review
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Drug and alcohol review · Nov 2015
The introduction of buprenorphine-naloxone film in opioid substitution therapy in Australia: Uptake and issues arising from changing buprenorphine formulations.
Buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) film for opioid dependence treatment was introduced in Australia in 2011. A key difference in State policy approaches saw transfer from BNX tablets to BNX film mandated in South Australia (SA) with New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (VIC) having less stringent policies. This study examined (i) how initiations and transfers were implemented, (ii) the profile and predictors of adverse effects as self-reported by BNX film clients, and (iii) dosing issues. ⋯ The introduction of BNX film in Australia varied across States. A perception of restricted choice in medication may have undermined initial acceptance in SA.
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Drug and alcohol review · Nov 2015
Jurisdictional differences in opioid use, other licit and illicit drug use, and harms associated with substance use among people who tamper with pharmaceutical opioids.
The harms associated with non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioid analgesics are well established; however, less is known about the characteristics and drug-use patterns of the growing and hidden populations of people using pharmaceutical opioids illicitly, including the frequency of pharmaceutical opioid injection. This paper aimed to undertake a detailed examination of jurisdictional differences in patterns of opioid use among a cohort of people who regularly tamper with pharmaceutical opioids in Australia. ⋯ Distinct jurisdictional profiles were evident for people who tamper with pharmaceutical opioids, potentially reflecting jurisdictional differences in prescribing regulatory mechanisms and addiction treatment models.
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Drug and alcohol review · Nov 2015
Injecting buprenorphine-naloxone film: Findings from an explorative qualitative study.
Experiences of buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) sublingual film injection are not well documented or understood. We examined how people who inject BNX film seek and share information about this practice, document the methods used to prepare BNX film for injection, and report participants' experiences of this practice. ⋯ Understanding knowledge acquisition about injecting new formulations of opioid substitution therapy is crucial in developing more effective harm-reduction strategies. Dissemination by peer networks to those who are currently or planning to inject BNX film regarding the 'gelatine like' texture when mixing, using only cold water and double filtering is important to ensure safer injecting practices. Findings from this study highlight the importance of peer networks for the dissemination of harm-reduction information. Introduction of new formulations internationally requires more qualitative studies to inform safer practices.
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While persons with addiction are often hospitalised, hospitals typically employ abstinence-based policies specific to illicit drug use. Although illicit drug use is known to occur within hospitals, this problem has not been well characterised. Therefore, we sought to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with having ever used drugs in hospital among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate that an abstinence-based approach to drug use in hospitals may be ineffective at prohibiting drug consumption. High-risk drug use behaviours arising from ongoing drug use may pose risks for further harm and illness. Efforts to minimise the harms associated with using drugs in hospital are urgently needed. [Grewal HK, Ti L, Hayashi K, Dobrer S, Wood E, Kerr T. Illicit drug use in acute care settings. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:499-502].
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Drug and alcohol review · Sep 2015
Screening for hazardous alcohol use among university students using individual questions from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption.
Abbreviated versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) instrument have not been investigated among students. We compared a modified second item (AUDIT-2*) (typical quantity per occasion as the number of drinks, rather than categorical responses) and the third item (AUDIT-3) (heavy episodic drinking frequency) with AUDIT-C scores and described their associations with sociodemographic variables. ⋯ The AUDIT-2* and the AUDIT-3 appear to be promising standalone screening items for detecting hazardous drinking in this population of heavy-drinking students. [Blank M-L, Connor J, Gray A, Tustin K. Screening for hazardous alcohol use among university students using individual questions from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:540-8].