AMERSA, Author at AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words: Religiosity as a Predictor of Adolescents’ Substance Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes

Jan 23, 2016 by AMERSA

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.

Religiosity as a Predictor of Adolescents’ Substance Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes
Julie D. Yeterian , Krisanne Bursik , John F. Kelly
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015

This study examines religiosity as a predictor of treatment outcomes in an outpatient adolescent sample, with alcohol/other drug problem recognition as a hypothesized moderator. The present study extends current knowledge by (a) examining outcomes longitudinally over a longer period of time than has previously been examined, (b) using a standard outpatient sample, which is the most common type of adolescent SUD treatment, and (c) examining a potential moderator of the relationship between religiosity and outcomes. Results indicated that religiosity predicted reductions in substance-related consequences over time and interacted with problem recognition to predict baseline abstinence. However, it was not a consistent predictor of outcomes (it predicted changes in just one of three examined outcomes) and did not interact with problem recognition to predict changes in outcomes over time, as hypothesized. This suggests that religiosity, which has been found to predict improved outcomes among adults with SUD, may not be as salient to this younger cohort, who are likely to be less religious and less interested in stopping their substance use than their adult counterparts.

The Authors’ Own Words: Medicine Resident Preparedness to Diagnose and Treat Substance Use Disorders: Impact of an Enhanced Curriculum

Jan 22, 2016 by AMERSA

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.

Medicine Resident Preparedness to Diagnose and Treat Substance Use Disorders: Impact of an Enhanced Curriculum
Sarah E. Wakeman , Genevieve Pham-Kanter , Meridale V. Baggett , Eric G. Campbell
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015

Our findings demonstrate that medicine resident preparedness to diagnose and treat substance use disorders (SUD) can be significantly improved with a relatively limited educational intervention. A greater sense of confidence has been shown to improve physicians’ professional satisfaction caring for patients with addiction and increase screening and referral to treatment, suggesting that improved resident preparedness is a relevant outcome. However, addiction knowledge did not increase in this study. This highlights the need for greater addiction education reform with the development and dissemination of a comprehensive curriculum that includes clinical rotations. This is the educational standard for medical training in other diseases that are far less prevalent, morbid, or fatal than addiction.

The Authors’ Own Words: The Association Between Stimulant, Opioid, and Multiple Drug Use on Behavioral Health Care Utilization in a Safety-Net Health System

Jan 21, 2016 by AMERSA

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.

The Association Between Stimulant, Opioid, and Multiple Drug Use on Behavioral Health Care Utilization in a Safety-Net Health System
Susan L. Calcaterra , Angela Keniston , Joshua Blum , Tessa Crume , Ingrid A. Binswanger
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015

This article demonstrates that patients who use illicit opioids or who use multiple illicit drugs are more likely to access behavioral healthcare services. By combining primary care and behavioral healthcare services in one location, we may be able to prevent costly healthcare utilization with early recognition of medical problems such as cellulitis, HIV, or other medical issues often seen in patients who use drugs. If such medical problems were detected early, we may be able to decrease utilization of costly healthcare resources such as the emergency department or the inpatient hospital setting.

The Authors’ Own Words: The Dabbing Dilemma: A Call for Research on Butane Hash Oil and Other Alternate Forms of Cannabis Use

Jan 20, 2016 by AMERSA

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.

The Dabbing Dilemma: A Call for Research on Butane Hash Oil and Other Alternate Forms of Cannabis Use
John M. Stogner , Bryan Lee Miller
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015

Stogner and Miller discuss what appears to be an emerging trend in marijuana use: “dabbing.” Dabbing consists of inhaling vaporized butane hash oil products– many of which are significantly stronger than flower cannabis. The authors suggest that research lags behind this growing trend and offer eight suggestions for future avenues of research. They argue that policy and health care practices related to dabbing may be inefficient until such time as the behavior and its effects are better understood.

The Authors’ Own Words: Advanced Practice Nurses: Increasing Access to Opioid Treatment by Expanding the Pool of Qualified Buprenorphine Prescribers

Jan 14, 2016 by AMERSA

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.

Advanced Practice Nurses: Increasing Access to Opioid Treatment by Expanding the Pool of Qualified Buprenorphine Prescribers
Matthew Tierney , Deborah S. Finnell , Madeline A. Naegle , Colleen LaBelle , Adam J. Gordon
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015

This editorial is noteworthy for appealing to a broad audience to promote Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorders. This significant change in practice would require a change to current federal law that currently grants only physicians the authority to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The authors join other stakeholders, including professional organizations and communities throughout the US represented by numerous senators, by calling for APRNs to join the insufficient number of physicians now prescribing buprenophine in order to increase access to care in the context of ever-increasing morbidities and mortality associated with opioid use. APRNs are already involved in all other aspects of care for patients with opioid use disorder, and are known to be safe providers who are interested in providing this evidence-based treatment.