HIV and the Opioid Epidemic: 5 Key Points

Issue Brief
  1. SAMHSA. 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2016/NSDUH-FFR1-2016.pdf

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  2. Kaiser Family Foundation. State Health Facts. Opioid Overdose Deaths. https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/opioid-overdose-deaths-by-gender/

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  3. Peters, P., et al. (2016.) “HIV Infection Linked to Injection Use of Oxymorphone in Indiana, 2014–2015.” New England Journal of Medicine. 375:229-239.

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  4. Van Handle, M., et al. (2016). “County-level Vulnerability Assessment for Rapid Dissemination of HIV or HCV Infections among Persons who Inject Drugs, United States.” Journal of AIDS. 73:3, 323-331

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  5. Peters, P., et al. (2016.) “HIV Infection Linked to Injection Use of Oxymorphone in Indiana, 2014–2015.” New England Journal of Medicine. 375:229-239.

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  6. See for example, Zibell, J., et al. (2018). “Increases in Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection Related to a Growing Opioid Epidemic and Associated Injection Drug Use, United States, 2004 to 2014. AJPH: Hepatitis C and Opioids. 108:2,175-181 and Van Handle, M., et al. (2016). “County-level Vulnerability Assessment for Rapid Dissemination of HIV or HCV Infections among Persons who Inject Drugs, United States.” Journal of AIDS. 73:3, 323-331.

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  7. Van Handle, M., et al. (2016). “County-level Vulnerability Assessment for Rapid Dissemination of HIV or HCV Infections among Persons who Inject Drugs, United States.” Journal of AIDS. 73:3, 323-331.

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  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NCHHSTP AtlasPlus. Updated 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/index.htm. Accessed February 2018.

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  9. Wejnert, et al. (2016). MMWR. “Vital signs: Trends in HIV Diagnoses, Risk Behaviors. And Prevention Among Persons Who Inject Drugs –United States.” 65:47,1336-1342.

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  10. Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data available from amfAR’s Opioid & Health Indicators Database. Maps from amfAR database, available here: http://opioid.amfar.org/. 220 Vulnerable Counties originally identified in Van Handle, M., et al. (2016). “County-level Vulnerability Assessment for Rapid Dissemination of HIV or HCV Infections among Persons who Inject Drugs, United States.” Journal of AIDS. 73:3, 323-331.

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  11. The original article identifying these counties also notes that 43% of the counties did not have a buprenorphine-waivered physician (another indicator of limited capacity to respond to an emerging opioid epidemic).

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  12. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2018. Medicaid’s Role in Addressing Opioid Addiction. https://www.kff.org/infographic/medicaids-role-in-addressing-opioid-epidemic/

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  13. Peters, R. Wengle, E. 2016. The Urban Institute. Coverage of Substance-Use Disorder Treatments in Marketplace Plans in Six Cities. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/81856/2000838-Coverage-of-Substance-Use-Disorder-Treatments-in-Marketplace-Plans-in-Six-Cities.pdf

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  14. The three common MATs are buprenorphine; Methadone, and Naltrexone.

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  15. 23 ADAP formularies include buprenorphine, 16 include Methadone, and 20 cover Naltrexone. NASTAD’s 2018 ADAP formulary database: https://www.nastad.org/adap-formulary-database.

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