Artificial Neural Network Analysis Examining Substance Use Problems Co-Occurring with Anxiety and Depressive Disorders Among Adults Receiving Mental Health Treatment.

Objective: The co-occurrence of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and substance use problems was examined. Methods: The Mental Health Client-Level Data dataset was used to conduct logistic regression models and an artificial neural network analysis. Logistic regression analyses were conducted among adults with anxiety (n = 547,473) or depressive disorders (n = 1,610,601) as their primary diagnosis who received treatment in a community mental health center. The artificial neural network analysis was conducted with the entire sample (N = 2,158,074). Results: Approximately 30% of the sample had co-occurring high-risk substance use or substance use disorder. Characteristics including region of treatment receipt, age, education, gender, race and ethnicity, and the presence of co-occurring anxiety and depressive disorders were associated with the co-occurring high-risk substance use or a substance use disorder. Conclusions: Findings from this study highlight the importance of mental health facilities to screen for and provide integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Differences in intent to refer buprenorphine among community correctional and treatment staff: A set of cross-lagged models predicting efficacy beliefs and familiarity with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite high rates of individuals with opioid use disorder, community correctional agencies underutilize medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Knowledge about the mechanisms which motivate correctional employees to refer buprenorphine remains underdeveloped, and differences in these patterns by employee status are unknown. This study has two objectives: (1) investigate the presence of a reciprocal relationship between familiarity with buprenorphine and efficacy beliefs among community corrections and community treatment staff and (2) identify whether this relationship differs by staff status in referral intentions. METHODS: Data were used from the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies 2 (CJ-DATS 2) among correctional and treatment employees (N = 873). Four models investigated whether a reciprocal relationship existed between buprenorphine familiarity and efficacy beliefs. Then, the best fitting model was used to test the influence that prior training had on future referral intention through familiarity and efficacy beliefs among the analytic sample (n = 612), by comparing two separate structural equation models (SEMs) among correctional staff and treatment staff, respectively. RESULTS: The fully cross-lagged model provided a significantly better fit to the data than other models ( χ diff 2 ${\chi }_{\mathrm{diff}}^{2}$ (1) = 7.189, p < .01). The results of the multigroup SEM show that training had positive, indirect effects on future referral intentions that significantly differed between treatment and community correction staff. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings show that training may influence correctional staff intent to refer individuals to receive buprenorphine through familiarity. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Tailored training for MOUD treatment for specific staff populations may prove more beneficial than existing approaches.

Predictors of Safe Prescription Opioid Storage and Participation in Drug Take-Back Events: Results from a Statewide Survey.

Improper storage and disposal of prescribed opioids can lead to diversion or accidental poisonings. Studies of emergency department and cancer patients suggest prescription opioids are rarely stored securely or disposed of when unneeded. Safe storage and disposal practices reduce risks for others living in or visiting a household. The purpose of this study is thus to examine prescription opioid storage and participation in drug take-back events among Michigan adults. Participants (N = 702) were recruited through social media advertisements to complete an online survey in July and August 2018. Logistic regression was used to examine correlates of safe storage and disposal. 8.4% (n = 59) of participants reported always keeping opioids locked; 29.8% (n = 209) reported attending a drug take-back event. Black participants and those who believed that illegal drug use was a serious problem had greater odds of locking opioids; participants with higher levels of education or who knew someone who used heroin or misused prescription opioids had lesser odds of locking opioids. Age and race were associated with take-back event participation. Findings identify factors associated with safe prescription opioid storage/disposal and indicate safe storage/disposal seldom occurs. Education and provision of safe storage equipment should be designed for diverse ages, races/ethnicities, and levels of education. Drug take-back events not hosted by law enforcement may have broader appeal, as may those led by Black or other people of color. Wider use of drug donation boxes may facilitate increased disposal among those who do not wish to or cannot attend take-back events.

Improving methadone access for rural communities in the USA: lessons learned from COVID-19 adaptations and international models of care.

CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic led to several changes to methadone treatment protocols at federal opioid treatment programs in the USA. ISSUE: Protocol changes were designed to reduce transmission of COVID-19 while allowing for continuity of care, but those changes also demonstrated that many policies surrounding opioid use disorder care in the USA cause unnecessary burdens to patients. In this commentary, we describe how current policies create and maintain fatal barriers to methadone treatment for people in rural communities who have opioid use disorder, and highlight how COVID-19 adaptations and more flexible methadone models in other countries can better allow for effective and accessible care. Reasons and ways to address these issues to create lasting solutions for rural communities are discussed. LESSONS LEARNED: We focus on three lessons: (1) methadone dispensing and take-home schedules during COVID-19, (2) telehealth services during COVID-19, and (3) international models in use prior to COVID-19. We then outline recommendations for each lesson to improve access to methadone treatment long term for rural communities in the USA. There is an urgent need to implement recommendations that maintain flexible approaches and address methadone treatment barriers in the rural USA. To achieve lasting health policy change and combat stigma about addiction and methadone treatment, there is a need for advocacy efforts that give voice to rural residents impacted by inequitable access to methadone treatment and rural-tailored educational initiatives that promote the evidence base for methadone. We hope opioid treatment program directors, regulatory authorities, and health policymakers consider our recommendations.

A systematic review of rural-specific barriers to medication treatment for opioid use disorder in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Opioid-related deaths have risen dramatically in rural communities. Prior studies highlight few medication treatment providers for opioid use disorder in rural communities, though literature has yet to examine rural-specific treatment barriers. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a systematic review to highlight the state of knowledge around rural medication treatment for opioid use disorder, identify consumer- and provider-focused treatment barriers, and discuss rural-specific implications. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature using PsycINFO, Web of Science, and PubMed databases (January 2018). Articles meeting inclusion criteria involved rural samples or urban/rural comparisons targeting outpatient medication treatment for opioid use disorder, and were conducted in the U.S. to minimize healthcare differences. Our analysis categorized consumer- and/or provider-focused barriers, and coded barriers as related to treatment availability, accessibility, and/or acceptability. RESULTS: Eighteen articles met inclusion, 15 which addressed consumer-focused barriers, while seven articles reported provider-focused barriers. Availability barriers were most commonly reported across consumer (n = 10) and provider (n = 5) studies, and included the lack of clinics/providers, backup, and resources. Acceptability barriers, described in three consumer and five provider studies, identified negative provider attitudes about addiction treatment, and providers' perceptions of treatment as unsatisfactory for rural patients. Finally, accessibility barriers related to travel and cost were detailed in four consumer-focused studies whereas two provider-focused studies identified time constraints. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings consistently identified a lack of medication providers and rural-specific implementation challenges. This review highlights a lack of rural-focused studies involving consumer participants, treatment outcomes, or barriers impacting underserved populations. There is a need for innovative treatment delivery for opioid use disorder in rural communities and interventions targeting provider attitudes.

Public Perceptions of Risks Associated with Mixing Opioid Pain-Relievers with Alcohol and Benzodiazepines.

Objectives: Use of alcohol or benzodiazepines with opioid pain-relievers increases risk of overdose and overdose death. A substantial proportion of adults receives an opioid prescription each year, and a number of these adults also use benzodiazepines or alcohol. As public opinion continues to shape public policy, it is imperative to understand correlates of recognizing risk of mixing substances in order to inform public outreach and prevention efforts. Methods: Characteristics associated with perceived risk were explored using an online survey of a community sample of adults (N = 639) in Michigan. Two logistic regression models examined potential correlates of perceived risk of 1) mixing opioid pain-relievers with alcohol and 2) mixing opioid pain-relievers with benzodiazepines. Results: In the multivariate results, participants reporting at least one heavy drinking episode in the past month (AOR = 0.46, p = .001) and individuals with advanced degrees (AOR = 0.49, p = .014) had lower odds of believing that mixing alcohol and opioid pain-relievers poses a great risk, while women (AOR = 1.66, p = .042) had higher odds. Participants reporting lifetime (AOR = 0.58, p = .046) or past-year (AOR = 0.28, p = .001) non-medical opioid use had lower odds of reporting that mixing benzodiazepines and opioid pain-relievers poses a great risk, whereas older participants (AOR = 1.02, p = .037) had higher odds. Conclusions: Certain groups were more likely to underestimate risks of mixing opioid pain-relievers with alcohol or benzodiazepines. Results underscore the importance of targeted public awareness campaigns, prevention programing, and communication between physicians and patients about the risks of mixing substances, particularly among high-risk groups.

A Comparison of Substance Use Patterns Among Lifetime Heroin-Injecting Individuals By Racial Groups.

BACKGROUND: Studies have identified differential substance use patterns by racial groups. One of the most commonly reported differences is a higher rate of injection drug use (IDU) among Non-Hispanic Whites compared to African Americans, but this is complicated by factors related to IDU (e.g., earlier drug-use initiation) that overlap with being White. OBJECTIVE: We explored differential substance use-patterns by racial groups within a sample of injection heroin users. METHODS: Substance-use data were collected from 373 not-in-treatment heroin users who endorsed any lifetime injection use (69.4% male). We examined differences in substance-use patterns (e.g., age of initiation, gateway adherence) by racial groups. Multiple t-tests with Bonferroni correction were conducted to understand which demographic and substance-use characteristics varied by racial groups. RESULTS: Relative to Non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans (45.8% of sample) were more likely to start using heroin earlier in their life, but also more likely to experience a longer delay between starting and regularly using heroin. We also identified differences in the degree of (injection) heroin-use consequences by racial groups. After correcting for multiple comparisons and controlling for age and gender, we observed differences for six substance-use and demographic characteristics by racial group. White participants were younger, started cocaine use earlier, and experienced more heroin-use consequences across two separate domains. CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for injection use, we observed differential substance-use characteristics by racial groups. The findings could be used to develop targeted prevention and harm-reduction strategies.

Demographic, Cannabis Use, and Depressive Correlates of Cannabis Use Consequences in Regular Cannabis Users.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Regular cannabis users experience cannabis-related consequences across many domains of functioning. The present study examined demographic, cannabis use, and depressive correlates of cannabis consequences. We hypothesized that (1) earlier onset of use would predict greater psychological and functional consequences; and (2) women would endorse more psychological and withdrawal consequences. METHODS: Data were collected from an urban sample of 184 adults who reported regular cannabis use. Seventeen items from a cannabis consequence checklist were grouped into three domains: Psychological Consequences, Cannabis Withdrawal, and Functional Consequences. Three multiple regressions were performed to explore demographic and cannabis use correlates of each domain. Correlations between domains and depressive symptoms were assessed using Pearson's r. RESULTS: Greater endorsement on the Psychological Consequence subgroup was predicted by female sex, lower educational attainment, and treatment-seeking history for cannabis abuse/dependence. Individuals with greater number of quit attempts or treatment-seeking history endorsed more items in the Cannabis Withdrawal domain. Although the model failed to reach significance for Functional Consequences, age at onset of regular and daily cannabis use were negatively associated with this domain. Correlational analyses demonstrated higher Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition scores were related to greater endorsement of Psychological Consequence and Cannabis Withdrawal items. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Regular cannabis users report consequences of use, which can be grouped into content-specific subgroups. Individual characteristics are differentially associated with these subgroups. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding which individual characteristics are related to cannabis use sequelae could help identify those at risk for greater consequences, thus leading to improved assessment and treatment interventions. (Am J Addict 2019;28:295-302).

Gender-specific predictors of methadone treatment outcomes among African Americans at an urban clinic.

Background: African American patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) have demonstrated poorer methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) outcomes compared with white patients. This issue is further complicated in urban settings, where African Americans experience high rates of poverty and publicly funded treatment. Despite interrelated factors that disadvantage African Americans, the literature focusing on this population is scant. To address this shortcoming, we conducted the first investigation of gender differences and gender-specific MMT outcome predictors among African Americans (or any racial minority population). This study provides gender-specific findings to improve African American MMT outcomes. Methods: We studied 211 African American patients (male: n = 137, 64.9%) at an urban, university-affiliated MMT clinic. We used existing intake data to assess baseline demographic, substance use, mental health, and interpersonal factors. Primary outcomes were 3-month drug+ (positive) urine drug screen (UDS) results and treatment retention. Results: Women were more likely (than men) to endorse histories of interpersonal violence, substance abuse in their social network, and mental health problems. Men reported a greater likelihood (than women) for early opioid-use onset and a lack of prior MMT. There were no gender differences in 3-month drug+ UDS or treatment retention. In multivariable analyses among women, no baseline factors predicted 3-month opioid+ UDS and physical abuse history predicted a higher proportion of 3-month cocaine+ UDS. Among men, primary injection opioid use and older age best predicted a higher proportion of 3-month cocaine+ UDS and parent substance abuse predicted shorter retention. In both gender-stratified analyses, higher proportions of 3-month opioid+ UDS and cocaine+ UDS predicted shorter retention. Conclusions: This study offers an analysis of gender differences in risk factors, MMT outcomes, and gender-specific predictors among African American patients. MMT clinics should tailor assessment and treatment protocols to address gender-specific needs.

Mediational Pathways Among Trait Impulsivity, Heroin-use Consequences, and Current Mood State.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether lifetime heroin-use consequences mediate the relationship between trait impulsivity and three current mood outcomes: depression symptoms, stress levels, and perception of life events. METHOD: Regular heroin users (N = 163) were assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) to measure trait impulsivity; a standardized Drug History and Use Questionnaire to measure lifetime adverse consequences of heroin use; Beck Depression Inventory II to measure current depression symptoms; Stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress scale; and Hassles and Uplifts scale to measure perception of life events. RESULTS: BIS-11 Attentional and Motor impulsivity were positively related to number of adverse heroin-use consequences, depression symptoms, and stress level, and negatively associated with positive perception of events. A greater number of heroin-use consequences was related to more depression symptoms, higher stress, more negative perception of events, injection heroin use, and earlier ages of first and regular heroin use. In six mediation models, lifetime heroin-use consequences partially mediated relationships between two trait impulsivity domains (Attentional, Motor) and current mood measures (depression symptoms, stress, perception of events). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that current negative mood can be a response to the accumulated burden of heroin-use consequences, particularly in the presence of high trait impulsivity.

Subtyping Non-treatment-seeking Problem Gamblers Using the Pathways Model.

This study examined whether distinct subgroups could be identified among a sample of non-treatment-seeking problem and pathological/disordered gamblers (PG) using Blaszczynski and Nower's (Addiction 97:487-499, 2002) pathways model (N = 150, 50% female). We examined coping motives for gambling, childhood trauma, boredom proneness, risk-taking, impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and antisocial personality disorder as defining variables in a hierarchical cluster analysis to identify subgroups. Subgroup differences in gambling, psychiatric, and demographic variables were also assessed to establish concurrent validity. Consistent with the pathways model, our analyses identified three gambling subgroups: (1) behaviorally conditioned (BC), (2) emotionally vulnerable (EV), and (3) antisocial-impulsivist (AI) gamblers. BC gamblers (n = 47) reported the lowest levels of lifetime depression, anxiety, gambling severity, and interest in problem gambling treatment. EV gamblers (n = 53) reported the highest levels of childhood trauma, motivation to gamble to cope with negative emotions, gambling-related suicidal ideation, and family history of gambling problems. AI gamblers (n = 50) reported the highest levels of antisocial personality disorder and ADHD symptoms, as well as higher rates of impulsivity and risk-taking than EV gamblers. The findings provide evidence for the validity of the pathways model as a framework for conceptualizing PG subtypes in a non-treatment-seeking sample, and underscore the importance of tailoring treatment approaches to meet the respective clinical needs of these subtypes.

Psychological Characteristics of Problem Gamblers With and Without Mood Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Problem and pathological gamblers are significantly more likely to experience mood disorders, compared with the general population. Our study examined the relation of psychological characteristics (personality, trait impulsiveness, and gambling motives) to current co-occurring mood disorder (major depression and dysthymia) status among problem and pathological gamblers. METHOD: Problem and pathological gamblers (N = 150) underwent a clinical interview to assess current co-occurring mood disorders; participants completed measures of problem gambling severity, personality, impulsiveness, and gambling motives. RESULTS: Problem and pathological gamblers with a current co-occurring mood disorder were more likely to be female, older, and to report higher lifetime and past-year gambling severity. A co-occurring mood disorder was associated with higher personality scores for alienation and stress reaction, lower scores for well-being, social closeness, and control, as well as higher impulsiveness scores for urgency and lack of premeditation, and lower sensation seeking scores. Participants with a co-occurring mood disorder also reported higher coping motives for gambling. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that personality factors (lower social closeness and higher alienation) contributed to the greatest likelihood of being diagnosed with a co-occurring mood disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Mood disorders frequently co-occur with problem and pathological gambling, and they are associated with greater gambling severity. These findings highlight that interpersonal facets of personality contribute substantially to co-occurring mood disorder status. Implications for treatment will be discussed.

The Dark Side of Authenticity: Feeling "Real" While Gambling Interacts with Enhancement Motives to Predict Problematic Gambling Behavior.

Engaging in activities that make people feel authentic or real is typically associated with a host of positive psychological and physiological outcomes (i.e., being authentic serves to increase well-being). In the current study, we tested the idea that authenticity might have a dark side among people engaged in an addictive or risky behavior (gambling). To test this possibility, we assessed gamblers (N = 61) who were betting on the National Hockey League playoff games at a sports bar. As predicted, people who felt authentic when gambling reported behavior associated with problem gambling (high frequency of betting) as well as problematic play (a big monetary loss and a big monetary win). Moreover, such behavior and gambling outcomes were particularly high among people who were motivated to gamble for the purpose of enhancement. The interaction of feeling authentic when betting and gambling for purposes of enhancing positive emotions proved especially troublesome for problematic forms of play. Implications of authenticity as a potential vulnerability factor for sports betting and other types of gambling are discussed.

Methadone treatment utilization and overdose trends among Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the traditional mode of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) delivery through the imposition of lockdowns and social distancing measures. In response, policy makers granted flexibilities to providers delivering MMT to change their practices to maintain patient participation while accommodating the measures imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study examines the utilization of MMT and overdoses of patients receiving MMT during the COVID-19 pandemic in one mid-Atlantic state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed Medicaid claims data for 2018-2020, calculating weekly trends for starts, discontinuations, and medically-treated overdoses for beneficiaries receiving MMT who had been continuously enrolled in Medicaid for the previous 12 months, to account for changes in the composition of the Medicaid population following the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). We completed data analyses from January to June 2022. RESULTS: We observed countervailing trends in new starts, which experienced an immediate, non-significant dip of -22.47 per 100,000 Medicaid beneficiaries (95%CI, -50.99 to 6.04) at the outset of the pandemic followed by an increasing upward trend of 1.41 per 100,000 beneficiaries per week (95%CI, 0.37 to 2.46), and in discontinuations, which also experienced an immediate dip of -3.23 per 1000 MMT enrollees (95%CI, -4.49 to -1.97) followed by an increasing upward trend of 0.14 per 1000 MMT enrollees per week (95%CI, 0.09 to 0.19). The net result of these shifts was a stable, slowly increasing rate of MMT treatment of 0.02 % per week before and after the PHE. We also found no statistically significant association of the PHE with medically-treated overdoses among beneficiaries enrolled in MMT (trend change = 0.02 overdoses per 10,000 MMT enrollees, 95%CI, -0.05 to 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: New Jersey achieved overall stability in MMT treatment prevalence following the pandemic's onset, while some changes in treatment dynamics took place. This outcome may reflect that the extensive flexibilities granted to providers of MMT by the state and federal government successfully maintained access to MMT for Medicaid beneficiaries through the pandemic without increasing risk of medically-treated overdose. These findings should inform policy makers developing the post-COVID-19 legal and regulatory landscape.

Mediational pathways among drug use initiation, use-related consequences, and quit attempts.

Background: Factors that predict attempts to discontinue drug use are clinically relevant and may inform treatment. This study investigated drug use-related consequences as a predictor of drug quit attempts and treatment seeking among two cohorts of persons who use drugs. Methods: Drug use and clinical characteristics were assessed among persons who use cocaine (N=176; urine-verified; 'Cocaine Cohort') and among those who use heroin (N=166; urine-verified; 'Heroin Cohort'). Mediation analyses assessed relationships among age at initial drug use, adverse drug-specific use-related consequences, and drug-specific quit attempts, separately for each cohort. Forward conditional logistic regression models evaluated drug use and clinical symptom scores as predictors of drug-specific treatment seeking. Results: Controlling for age, mediation models showed that drug use consequences fully mediated the relationship between age at initial drug use and number of drug-specific quit attempts for the 'Cocaine Cohort' and 'Heroin Cohort' (R2=0.30, p<.001; R2=0.17, p<.001; respectively). Reporting more consequences predicted more quit attempts in each cohort, accounting for duration of use (ps<.001). Reporting more consequences also predicted greater likelihood of seeking drug use treatment (ps<.001) and was associated with more severe clinical symptoms in each cohort (ps<.05). Conclusions: Using a parallel analysis design, we showed that reporting more drug-specific use-related consequences predicted more drug-specific quit attempts and greater likelihood to seek treatment in two cohorts: persons who use cocaine and those who use heroin. Our findings suggest that experiencing more drug use consequences predicts more attempts to seek drug abstinence and that assessment of consequences may be informative for treatment.

The Rutgers Integrated Care Evaluation (RICE) Research Framework: An Innovative and Rigorous Set of Methods to Evaluate Integrated Care Programs.

Introduction: Integrated care programs that prioritize comprehensive service delivery for behavioural health and medical conditions have the potential to improve patient outcomes. Few programs, however, use data-driven methods to guide program evaluation and implementation, limiting their effectiveness, as well as the scope of findings in the research literature. Purpose: To address these gaps, we describe an innovative and rigorous evaluative research framework: the Rutgers Integrated Care Evaluation (RICE) Research Framework, designed to be tailorable across conditions and care settings. Method: The RICE Research Framework is guided by two core concepts: (1) an approach built on engaging as equal partners and (2) data source triangulation. For the former, the approach relies on multiple teams (Project, Clinical Site, Evaluation, and Consumer) working in collaboration. While teams have specific roles, all teams engage frequently as equal partners to facilitate performance and advance research deliverables. For the latter, we provide a template with recommended primary and secondary data sources with areas of focus, applicable methods, and samples. These sources, when used in combination, can guide implementation, advance replicability, develop/refine health care programs, and foster dissemination of scientific findings. Conclusions: We recommend clinicians and scientists implement the RICE Research Framework to enhance their integrated care programs.

Decreases in Employer Referrals to First-Time Substance Use Treatment for Adults From 2004 to 2020.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to examine trends of employer/employee assistance program referred admissions to outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the United States. METHODS: The publicly available Treatment Episode Data Set was used. Full-time employed adults with no history of SUD treatment referred to outpatient treatment by an employer/employee assistance program from 2004 to 2020 were included ( N = 36,142). Joinpoint regression examined admission trends. RESULTS: Employer/employee assistance program referred admissions to outpatient treatment decreased annually by 6.4% from 2004 to 2020 ( P < 0.001). Joinpoint analyses identified 2 linear segments from 2004 to 2008 (increased but not significant) and from 2008 to 2020. From 2008 to 2020, an average annual percent decrease of 8.7% ( P < 0.001) was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this repeated cross-sectional study suggest a missed opportunity for workplaces to serve as a potential SUD treatment access point.

Exploring potential moderators of depressive symptoms and treatment outcomes among patients with opioid use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are common in patients seeking medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD treatment) and decrease quality of life but have been inconsistently related to opioid treatment outcomes. Here, we explore whether depressive symptoms may only be related to adverse treatment outcomes among individuals reporting high opioid use-related coping motives (i.e., use of opioids to change affective states) and high trait impulsivity, two common treatment targets. METHODS: Patients seeking MOUD treatment (N = 118) completed several questionnaires within two weeks of their treatment intake. Treatment outcomes (opioid-positive urine screens and days retained in treatment) were extracted from treatment records. Moderation analyses controlling for demographic characteristics and main effects were conducted to explore interaction effects between depressive symptoms and two distinct moderators. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were only related to opioid use during early treatment among patients reporting high opioid use-related coping motives (B = 2.67, p =.004) and patients reporting high trait impulsivity (B = 2.01, p =.039). Further, depressive symptoms were only inversely related to days retained among individuals with high opioid use-related coping motives (B = -10.12, p =.003). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals presenting to treatment with opioid-related coping motives and/or impulsivity in the context of depressive symptoms may confer unique risk for adverse treatment outcomes. Clinicians may wish to consider these additive risk factors when developing their treatment plan.

Experiences of healthcare and substance use treatment provider-based stigma among patients receiving methadone.

Background: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) are efficacious, however only one-third of individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD) enter into treatment. Low rates of MOUD utilization are partially due to stigma. This study examines provider-based stigma toward MOUD and identifies factors associated with experiencing stigma related to MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers among people receiving methadone. Methods: Clients receiving MOUD at an opioid treatment program (N = 247) were recruited to complete a cross-sectional computer-based survey assessing socio-demographics, substance use, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-stigma, and recovery supports/barriers. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with hearing negative comments about MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers. Results: 27.9% and 56.7% of respondents reported they sometimes/often hear negative comments about MOUD from substance use treatment and healthcare providers, respectively. Logistic regression results indicate that individuals who experience more negative consequences resulting from their OUD (OR=1.09, p=.019) had greater odds of hearing negative comments from substance use treatment providers. Age (OR=0.966, p=.017) and treatment stigma (OR=1.42, p=.030) were associated with greater odds of hearing negative comments from healthcare providers. Conclusions: Stigma can be a deterrent to seeking substance use treatment, healthcare, and recovery support. Understanding factors associated with experiencing stigma from substance use treatment providers and healthcare providers is important as these individuals may act as advocates for those with OUD. This study highlights individual factors associated with hearing negative comments about methadone and other MOUD and point to areas for targeted education.

An examination of correlates of simultaneous opioid and benzodiazepine use among patients in medication treatment for opioid use disorder in a small midwestern community.

Background: Concurrent and/or simultaneous use of opioids and benzodiazepines has been associated with increased risk of accident and injury, as well as with co-occurring psychopathology. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to explore potential correlates of simultaneous opioid and benzodiazepine use in a small community, including perceived risk, positive screens for psychiatric symptoms, and opioid-related consequences. Methods: A sample of 267 participants were recruited from a medication treatment provider that serves a small Midwestern community. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore demographic and mental health correlates associated with self-reports of past-year simultaneous use. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to explore past-year consequences associated with reported simultaneous benzodiazepine and opioid use. Results: Intentional simultaneous use of opioids and benzodiazepines was associated with greater anxiety and depression symptoms, greater likelihood of a positive PTSD screen, and low self-perceived risk of simultaneous use. Individuals reporting opioid/benzodiazepine simultaneous use were also more likely to report opioid-related consequences. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of assessing and treating simultaneous opioid/benzodiazepine co-use, as well as relevant comorbidities.