Elisabeth Poorman1, Sara N Glick2, Jonathan K D Hiser1, Elenore Bhatraju1, Judith I Tsui1. 1. University of Washington, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, 325 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. 2. Public Health-Seattle & King County, HIV/STD Program, 401 Fifth Ave, Suite 1250, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; University of Washington, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, 325 9th Avenue, Box 359777, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. Electronic address: snglick@uw.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe utilization patterns of methadone and buprenorphine among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the Seattle area in 2018, compared to 2015. METHODS: Data from the 2018 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system were used to compare the proportions of PWID reporting treatment with buprenorphine or methadone to survey responses in 2015. Temporal trends were assessed by calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The sample included 498 PWID, of whom 39.2% (95% CI: 34.8-43.6%) reported past-year treatment with methadone and 21.9% (95% CI: 18.3-25.8%) reported buprenorphine. Participants in 2018 were significantly more likely to report past year receipt of buprenorphine (aPR = 4.43, 95% CI: 2.81-7.01) or methadone (aPR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02-1.87) compared to 2015. Most buprenorphine treated participants (67.6%) reported that they had received buprenorphine through low-barrier, community, or nonprofit programs. CONCLUSIONS: Among PWID who use opioids in the Seattle area, methadone use increased 38%, and buprenorphine use more than quadrupled from 2015 to 2018. Approximately half of surveyed PWID who use opioids still reported no treatment with either medication, highlighting remaining treatment gaps.
OBJECTIVE: To describe utilization patterns of methadone and buprenorphine among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the Seattle area in 2018, compared to 2015. METHODS: Data from the 2018 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system were used to compare the proportions of PWID reporting treatment with buprenorphine or methadone to survey responses in 2015. Temporal trends were assessed by calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The sample included 498 PWID, of whom 39.2% (95% CI: 34.8-43.6%) reported past-year treatment with methadone and 21.9% (95% CI: 18.3-25.8%) reported buprenorphine. Participants in 2018 were significantly more likely to report past year receipt of buprenorphine (aPR = 4.43, 95% CI: 2.81-7.01) or methadone (aPR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02-1.87) compared to 2015. Most buprenorphine treated participants (67.6%) reported that they had received buprenorphine through low-barrier, community, or nonprofit programs. CONCLUSIONS: Among PWID who use opioids in the Seattle area, methadone use increased 38%, and buprenorphine use more than quadrupled from 2015 to 2018. Approximately half of surveyed PWID who use opioids still reported no treatment with either medication, highlighting remaining treatment gaps.
Authors: Bjorn E Payne; Jared W Klein; Claire B Simon; Jocelyn R James; Sara L Jackson; Joseph O Merrill; Rui Zhuang; Judith I Tsui Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-05-01 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Arthur Robin Williams; Edward V Nunes; Adam Bisaga; Frances R Levin; Mark Olfson Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2019-01-24 Impact factor: 3.829