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ASAM Weekly for November 14, 2023

Nov 14, 2023

This Week in the ASAM Weekly

How we frame the problem significantly impacts individuals with addiction. A global review of legislative approaches toward gambling demonstrates how some countries are still warming to a systemic, public health approach while many are mostly focused on vulnerable individuals and promoting responsible gambling (Lancet Public Health). Such an individual-frame approach would seem almost silly (e.g., “vape responsibly”) if applied to the problem of youth and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). While regulations are having a hard time keeping up, ENDS manufacturing and social media have made it incredibly convenient for kids to use both cannabis and nicotine (JAMA Network Open).

How we fund the solutions also impacts individuals with addiction. Using a system dynamics approach, a study from Health Affairs demonstrates how funding policies perpetuate inequities for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Indigenous community-based organizations are oftentimes setup to not succeed because of capability traps, catch 22s, and competition. The study does not speculate on how funding policies breed corruption, but a New York Times article does, as it profiles an Arizona program that funds health care for low-income tribal members and the harms that have come from it.

On the other hand, there are many examples of when the framing (problem) and funding (solutions) seem aligned. A program in Montana is training “recovery doulas” to help fill a gap in supporting mothers with histories of addiction (Billings Gazette). Hancock County in Ohio is using opioid settlement funds to build a comprehensive system focused on both treatment and recovery (ABC News). The White House drug czar is even promoting “recovery-friendly” work environments nationwide because financial stability not only supports recovery, but also helps reduce addiction (STAT News).

While we’re talking about correctly framing problems and solutions, why is the US still using the term “drug czar”?

Thanks for reading,

Nicholas Athanasiou, MD, MBA, DFASAM
Editor in Chief

with Co-Editors: Brandon Aden, MD, MPH, FASAM, Debra R. Newman, PA-C, MSPAS, MPH, Jack Woodside, MD, John A. Fromson, MD

Journal of Addiction Medicine Call for Papers: “Research funded through the HEAL Initiative”

The Journal of Addiction Medicine is soliciting papers funded through the Helping to End Addiction Long- Term (HEAL) initiative. Papers should present results of HEAL-funded research, although narrative and systematic review articles conducted as part of HEAL-funded research will also be considered. To be considered for this special collection, potential authors of reviews should submit an outline to the editorial office for approval before submitting a manuscript. The outline can be sent to JAMReviewOutline@gmail.com. Please copy marends@scripps.edu. The editors will provide feedback on the outline and a recommendation regarding whether to write and submit a manuscript.

The New Issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine is Here!

Don't miss the latest research published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine! Browse the table of contents for the November/December issue here.

Lead

Public health approaches to gambling: a global review of legislative trends 🔓

The Lancet Public Health

Authors of this article systematically reviewed legislation of jurisdictions that introduced major gambling legislation change (i.e., restricting or extending gambling provision) between Jan 1, 2018, and Dec 31, 2021. More than 80% of countries worldwide now legally permit gambling. Harmful gambling was recognized as a health and wellbeing issue in most of the analyzed jurisdictions, but near-exclusive focus was given to individual-level harms rather than to wider social and economic harms or harms to others. Most of the proposed prevention measures focused on individual responsibility. Gambling policies worldwide are changing, but addressing gambling as a public health issue has not yet translated into comprehensive policy action across jurisdictions.

Research and Science

Bupropion for treatment of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

This meta-analysis examined the use of bupropion in the treatment of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder (ATSUD). A literature search identified eight randomized controlled trials of bupropion in ATSUD with 1,239 participants. The primary outcome measure was reduction in stimulant use verified by urine analysis. Bupropion compared to placebo was associated with a reduction in stimulant use (RR 0.90; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.96), with that reduction greatest when treatment lasted a full 12 weeks (RR 0.85). The study found a statistically significant reduction in stimulant craving at treatment completion. There was no significant effect on treatment retention or severity of depression. The authors described the quality of evidence as “relatively low,” and concluded that this modest (10%) reduction in stimulant use should have the clinical significance verified.

Postmortem toxicology findings from the Camden Opioid Research Initiative 🔓

PLOS One

Postmortem blood samples were obtained from opioid overdose decedents in Southern New Jersey between March 2019 and April 2021. The samples from 42 cases (35 male) were sent for expanded toxicological testing. Fentanyl was detected in all but one of the cases, and that case had high levels of methadone, the likely cause of death. Opioids other than fentanyl were found in 38% of cases. Naloxone was present in 19%, suggesting it may have been ineffective. Sedatives were found in 31% and xylazine in 14% of cases respectively. Cocaine was present in 31% and amphetamines in 14%. Evidence of MOUD (buprenorphine or methadone) was present in only 3 (7%) cases. These cases involved multiple substances with few having accessed MOUD.

The Impact of Severe Trauma Exposure in Late Childhood on Longitudinal Treatment Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults in Treatment for Drug Use Disorders: A Record-Linkage Study

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

This study aimed to assess the association between trauma history and treatment outcomes using registry data. Adolescents and young adults enrolled in treatment for drug use disorders during 2007 to 2018 (n = 6907) were tracked from enrollment to first registered drop-out from substance use disorder treatment, substance-related hospital care, psychiatric care, criminal conviction, and unemployment in the year after treatment enrolment. The impact of trauma exposure in late childhood on associations with outcomes was examined. Physical violence was associated with offending after treatment enrollment and unemployment. Sexual assault and abuse were associated with receiving hospital-based care for psychiatric diagnoses or substance use disorders.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and E-Liquid Modifications to Vape Cannabis Depicted in Online Videos 🔓

JAMA Network Open

This qualitative study investigated the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) employed by teens to vape cannabis, powered by the use of YouTube for instructional purposes. Close to one-third of these videos demonstrated modification of ENDS to use cannabis in place of nicotine. Of the 59 videos analyzed, 44% made statements endorsing the health benefits of cannabis, which included treatment of anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, and insomnia. Only roughly one-third of these videos included age restrictions, while nearly half included purchasing links for cannabis products. Of note, FDA regulation of ENDS does not include cannabis products, posing additional concerns that require attention. Finally, misinformation about the health benefits powered by social media may promote dangerous decisions related to health.

Nurse Care Management for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

JAMA Internal Medicine

In this cluster randomized study, researchers examined the effects of having an opioid use disorder (OUD) nurse care manager in primary care clinic (PC) settings that prescribe buprenorphine and extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX) for patients with OUD. The study was conducted across 6 health systems in 5 states, each with 2 PCs, one randomized to the intervention. Overall, the interventions groups had 8.2 more patient-years of medication (P=0.002). There was also a greater increase in the percentage of patients who received medication in the intervention group (10.1% to 31.1%) than in the control (16.2% to 19.0%). There was some variation in the impact across the systems, and having broad leadership support and easy pathways to access the nurses were vital to the success.

Learn More

How Funding Policy Maintains Structural Inequity Within Indigenous Community-Based Organizations 🔓

Health Affairs

While there have been increases in funding for Indigenous health, the benefits to Indigenous community-based organizations (ICBOs) are limited due to several barriers. One of the biggest challenges is the high burden of obtaining and managing grants, for which ICBOs often don’t have the infrastructure. ICBOs are not part of networks that disseminate funding opportunities, receive little indirect cost relative to larger academic institutions, and thus have limited resources to build that infrastructure. ICBOs also provide traditional psychosocial care based in cultural practices, which are often not covered as direct costs by grants. Potential ways to address these barriers include funding specifically to build that infrastructure, including training of staff for grant management; increasing indirect rates to ICBOs; and redefining direct services to cover cultural practices.

How Should the FDA Evaluate Psychedelic Medicine?

New England Journal of Medicine

In this perspective, the authors consider FDA draft guidance on psychedelics, issued June 2023. It includes discussion about administration of sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics to promote effective double-blinded studies; guidance on excluding participants with valvular heart disease or pulmonary hypertension from trials (given psychedelics’ high affinity for serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B receptors); and the inclusion of psychological support such that it could reduce the risk of serious adverse events. If the FDA determines that psychedelics can treat a range of mental health conditions with limited psychological support, it could mimic current recommendations for the treatment of OUD. The authors contend that changes in several areas, including psychological support and adverse-event reporting, will help improve research efforts.