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- Access to Care (1)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 13 of 13 Research Studies DisplayedRains A, Sibley AL, Levander XA
"I would do anything but that": attitudes towards sex work among rural people who use drugs.
This study explored how people who use drugs in rural counties across the United States appraise sex work by themselves or other community members. The authors used qualitative interview data that came from the Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI), a project coordinated by research teams across 65 rural counties in 10 states. These interviews were individual and conducted from 2018 to 2020, with all participants reporting past 30-day opioid use and/or any injection drug use. Across sites, 355 interviews were conducted with a mean participant age of 36, 55% male, and 93% white. Negative attitudes were expressed towards sex work as a function of its criminal-legal repercussions or was framed as morally transgressive. Many appraisals were gendered, with the behavior described as being “easier” for women who were often described as "whores," with more neutral terms used to describe men. Some participants viewed sex work as an implicit “exchange” for drugs.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Rains A, Sibley AL, Levander XA .
"I would do anything but that": attitudes towards sex work among rural people who use drugs.
Int J Drug Policy 2023 Dec; 122:104237. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104237..
Keywords: Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
This study’s goal was to inform efforts to increase prescriptions of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among Medicaid beneficiaries. A retrospective study of North Carolina licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners was conducted to estimate Medicaid participation prevalence among clinicians authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and to estimate the association between clinician characteristics and OUD care delivery to Medicaid beneficiaries. Outcomes looked for were indicators of any Medicaid professional claims and Medicaid claims data for buprenorphine and naltrexone. Licensure data from 2018 was merged with 2019 US Drug Enforcement Administration to identify clinicians who used the DEA waiver required to prescribe buprenorphine (n = 1714). Services by waivered clinicians to Medicare beneficiaries ranged from 67% of behavioral health clinicians to 82.9% of specialist physicians. Prevalence of prescribing buprenorphine to Medicaid beneficiaries ranged from 30.3% among specialist physicians to 51.6% among behavioral health clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME .
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
Addiction 2022 Nov;117(11):2855-63. doi: 10.1111/add.15854..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Vulnerable Populations, Medication, Access to Care, Medicaid
Lillie KM, Shaw J, Jansen KJ
Buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use disorder among Alaska Native and American Indian people.
Opioid-related disparities are magnified among Alaska Native and American Indian (ANAI) people. Yet, no outcome studies on medication for addiction treatment, an effective treatment in other populations, among ANAI people exist. The objective of this study was to identify variables associated with buprenorphine/naloxone retention among ANAI people with opioid use disorder (OUD). The investigators concluded that younger patients and those with co-occurring substance use remained at higher risk of discontinuing buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for OUD in this population of ANAI people.
AHRQ-funded; HS023207.
Citation: Lillie KM, Shaw J, Jansen KJ .
Buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use disorder among Alaska Native and American Indian people.
J Addict Med 2021 Jul-Aug 01;15(4):297-302. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000757..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Vulnerable Populations
Magee LA, Fortenberry JD, Rosenman M
Two-year prevalence rates of mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses among repeat arrestees.
Investigators examined the prevalence of mental health and substance use diagnoses among arrestees and repeat arrestees to identify opportunities for intervention. Their retrospective cohort study linked police arrest and clinical care data at the individual level for persons arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2016. They found that linked clinical and criminal justice data systems identified individuals at risk of repeat arrest and informed opportunities for interventions aimed at low-level offenders with behavioral health needs.
AHRQ-funded; HS023318.
Citation: Magee LA, Fortenberry JD, Rosenman M .
Two-year prevalence rates of mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses among repeat arrestees.
Health Justice 2021 Jan 7;9(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s40352-020-00126-2..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Dir AL, Clifton RL
Patterns of drug screen results and court-ordered substance use treatment referrals and completion among justice-involved youth
This study examined court records of drug screens among youth to explore patterns of substance use as well as rates of court-ordered referral to substance use treatment and treatment completion. Of the studied youth with a positive oral drug screen, 96% tested positive for cannabis and 9.8% for opioids at least once; 48.5% were court-ordered to substance use treatment. Of those referred, 67% had history of completing at least one treatment episode. These results underscore the need to utilize objective measures as well as validated self-reports of substance use history in both research and justice system decision-making to aid in identifying youth in need of services.
AHRQ-funded; HS022681; HS023318.
Citation: Dir AL, Clifton RL .
Patterns of drug screen results and court-ordered substance use treatment referrals and completion among justice-involved youth
J Subst Abuse Treat 2020 Nov;118:108095. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108095..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Substance Abuse, Screening, Vulnerable Populations
Wisk LE, Magane KM, Levy S
Alcohol use behaviors and reasons to abstain from or limit drinking among medically vulnerable youth.
Youth with chronic medical conditions (YCMC) use alcohol at levels similar to their healthy peers but face elevated risk for adverse health consequences. As salient reasons to abstain from or limit drinking (RALD) among YCMC are unknown, the investigators sought to identify clusters of RALD and test associations with use behaviors. The investigators concluded that for YCMC, RALD were complex but endorsement of multiple general and health-related RALD was associated with less use, and health concerns are especially prevalent.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Wisk LE, Magane KM, Levy S .
Alcohol use behaviors and reasons to abstain from or limit drinking among medically vulnerable youth.
J Addict Med 2020 Jul/Aug;14(4):311-18. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000603..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Alcohol Use, Behavioral Health, Vulnerable Populations, Substance Abuse
Ferguson WJ, Johnston J, Clarke JG
Advancing the implementation and sustainment of medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders in prisons and jails.
Four jail and prison systems partnered with researchers to document their adoption of medication assisted therapy (MAT) for incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorders using their established treatment protocols. Despite efforts at all four sites to increase utilization of MAT, only one site achieved sustained growth in the proportion of individuals treated over the course of the project. Recommendations included adoption of evidence-based MATs for opioid use disorders in prisons and jails with persistent effort to identify and overcome challenges and dedicated funding to sustain programs.
AHRQ-funded; HS024243.
Citation: Ferguson WJ, Johnston J, Clarke JG .
Advancing the implementation and sustainment of medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders in prisons and jails.
Health Justice 2019 Dec 12;7(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s40352-019-0100-2..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Hill LM, Golin CE, Gottfredson NC
Drug use mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and adherence to ART among recently incarcerated people living with HIV.
The purpose of this study was to identify the mechanisms involved with antiretroviral therapy (ART) non-adherence among people living with HIV (PLHIV) after release from prison. Results showed that, on average, study participants achieved 79% ART adherence. Greater symptoms of depression were associated with greater drug use, which was in turn associated with lower adherence. Lower adherence self-efficacy was associated with depressive symptoms, but not with adherence. Results suggested that depression screening and targeted mental health and substance use services for depressed individuals at risk of substance use constitute important steps to promote adherence to ART after prison release.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Hill LM, Golin CE, Gottfredson NC .
Drug use mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and adherence to ART among recently incarcerated people living with HIV.
AIDS Behav 2019 Aug;23(8):2037-47. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2355-3..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Depression, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Wisk LE, Levy S, Weitzman ER
Parental views on state cannabis laws and marijuana use for their medically vulnerable children.
Given a rapidly changing policy landscape, the investigators sought to characterize the effects of state marijuana laws on parents' views of marijuana use by their teenage children. The investigators found that among parents of medically vulnerable children, perceiving state marijuana policies as more permissive was strongly associated with lower perceived riskiness of marijuana use for their children.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Wisk LE, Levy S, Weitzman ER .
Parental views on state cannabis laws and marijuana use for their medically vulnerable children.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2019 Jun 1;199:59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.12.027..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Policy, Vulnerable Populations, Chronic Conditions, Substance Abuse
Banks DE, Hershberger AR, Pemberton T
Poly-use of cannabis and other substances among juvenile-justice involved youth: variations in psychological and substance-related problems by typology.
Juvenile offenders engage in both cannabis use and polysubstance use at higher rates than the general adolescent population. Yet, limited research has examined the relationship between cannabis poly-use (e.g., cannabis and alcohol use) and functional or psychological problems among juvenile offenders. The current study addresses this gap by examining the association of polysubstance use of cannabis compared to cannabis only use with cognitive functioning, psychological distress, and substance-related problems among juvenile detainees.
AHRQ-funded; HS024296.
Citation: Banks DE, Hershberger AR, Pemberton T .
Poly-use of cannabis and other substances among juvenile-justice involved youth: variations in psychological and substance-related problems by typology.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019;45(3):313-22. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2018.1558450..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Moulin A, Evans EJ, Xing G
Substance use, homelessness, mental illness and Medicaid coverage: a set-up for high emergency department utilization.
The objective of this study was to identify characteristics unique to patients with psychiatric illness who are frequent emergency department (ED) users for mental health care. The authors suggest that understanding unique features of this population could lead to better care and lower healthcare costs. The authors concluded that patients with substance use disorders, homelessness and public healthcare coverage were more likely to be frequent users of EDs for mental illness.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.
Citation: Moulin A, Evans EJ, Xing G .
Substance use, homelessness, mental illness and Medicaid coverage: a set-up for high emergency department utilization.
West J Emerg Med 2018 Nov;19(6):902-06. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2018.9.38954..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Medicaid, Healthcare Utilization, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Horton M, McDonald R, Green TC
A mapping review of take-home naloxone for people released from correctional settings.
The objective of this review is to map research into take-home naloxone (THN) for people released from correctional settings in order to identify further research needs. It concluded that the feasibility of THN in the context of release from a correctional setting has been established, but there is a need for rigorous research into health outcomes and program implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Horton M, McDonald R, Green TC .
A mapping review of take-home naloxone for people released from correctional settings.
Int J Drug Policy 2017 Aug;46:7-16. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.015.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Lebrun-Harris LA, Tomoyasu N, Ngo-Metzger Q
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q
Substance use, risk of dependence, counseling and treatment among adult health center patients.
The authors examined the prevalence of substance use and risk of dependence among health center patients, and identified factors associated with desire for counseling/treatment and discussions about substance use with a clinician. They found that 84% of patients who desired substance use counseling or treatment reported receiving it, and those patients most likely to desire substance use counseling or treatment were male, unmarried, insured, current smokers, and indicated mental health problems.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lebrun-Harris LA, Tomoyasu N, Ngo-Metzger Q .
Substance use, risk of dependence, counseling and treatment among adult health center patients.
J Health Care Poor Underserved 2014 Aug;25(3):1217-30. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2014.0130.
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Keywords: Behavioral Health, Community-Based Practice, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations