The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Characteristics of methadone maintenance treatment patients prescribed opioid analgesics

Matthew C. Glenn, MS; Nancy L. Sohler, PhD, MPH; Joanna L. Starrels, MD, MS; Jeronimo Maradiaga; John J. Jost, PhD; Julia H. Arnsten, MD, MPH;  &Chinazo O. Cunningham, MD, MS

Substance Abuse Vol. 37, Iss. 3, 2016

“Despite the potential iatrogenic hazards of concurrent methadone treatment and opioid analgesic prescription, the published literature has focused on illicit opioid use amongst MMT patients. Our novel findings suggest high prevalence of prescription opioid overuse amongst opioid analgesic-prescribed MMT patients, higher prevalence of HIV infection and chronic pain when compared to MMT patients not prescribed opioid analgesics, and similarly high rates of illicit substance use across all MMT patients, regardless of opioid analgesic prescription. Thus, the opioid analgesic-prescribed MMT population represents a very high risk group due to the potential for overdose. These findings highlight the complex challenges facing physicians treating patients with comorbid chronic pain and opioid dependence and adds to the body of literature calling for coordinated and integrated strategies to treating these patients.”

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As we begin looking at the future of the Substance Abuse journal, we recognize that there are not nearly enough papers that shed light on the extra important things in life. Due to this, we have put out a call for papers that address the topics below:

• Game of Thrones Literature
• Feline Behaviors During Times of Social Isolation
• Research Exploring Ways to Plant the Perfect Plant in Any Climate

We hope to see not only your papers, but your support for SAj as we transition to different research topics.

APRIL FOOLS!

Don’t worry, we aren’t changing anything!

The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence in Twelve-Step-Oriented Residential Rehabilitation Settings

Marc Galanter, MD; Marvin Seppala, MD; & Audrey Klein, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 37, Iss. 3, 2016

“There are 3,450 residential programs in the USA that are colloquially referred to as “rehabs.” They treat a large portion of people with severe substance use disorders, often with little input regarding contemporary therapeutic techniques developed within the biomedical community. It is important for expert clinicians to be aware of this potential deficit, both in choice of facility, to which they may refer patients, and to the clinical issues they may confront when asked to follow up when a patient is discharged from residential treatment.”

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Treating addiction may not be easy, but it is possible. Volume 37, Issue 4 of Substance Abuse offers a lot of insight into how treat addiction safely and ethically. Themes mentioned in this issue are bipartisanship, medication assisted treatment, racial disparity, homelessness, and more.

The most viewed manuscript in this issue was:

Co-prescribing naloxone does not increase liability risk

Corey S. Davis, JD, MSPH; Scott Burris, JD; Leo Beletsky, JD, MPH; & Ingrid Binswanger MD, MPH, MS

With 1,409 views…and counting!

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The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Co-prescription of Naloxone as a Universal Precautions Model for Patients on Chronic Opioid Therapy – observational study

Mikiko Y. Takeda, PharmD, MS; Joanna G. Katzman, MD, MSPH; Ernest Dole, PharmD; Melissa Heinz Bennett, MPH; Amal Alchbli, MD; Daniel Duhigg, DO, MBA; & Howard Yonas, MD

Substance Abuse Vol. 37, Iss. 4, 2016

“Since opioid overdose death is such a pressing public health issue, harm reduction innovations to prevent overdose death are critical to study. The ambulatory co-prescribing of naloxone is a universal precaution model for all patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy. This can be adapted universally for all patients treated with chronic opioid therapy in an ambulatory setting so that there is increased availability and utilization in the case of an opioid overdose.”

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