1. Prevalence and correlates of street-obtained buprenorphine use among current and former injectors in Baltimore, Maryland
- Author
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Genberg, Becky L, Gillespie, Mirinda, Schuster, Charles R, Johanson, Chris-Ellyn, Astemborski, Jacquie, Kirk, Gregory D, Vlahov, David, and Mehta, Shruti H
- Subjects
Biological Psychology ,Clinical and Health Psychology ,Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Psychology ,Clinical Research ,Sexually Transmitted Infections ,Infectious Diseases ,Health Services ,Drug Abuse (NIDA only) ,Brain Disorders ,Substance Misuse ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Opioids ,Opioid Misuse and Addiction ,HIV/AIDS ,Good Health and Well Being ,Baltimore ,Buprenorphine ,Epidemiologic Methods ,Female ,Health Knowledge ,Attitudes ,Practice ,Ill-Housed Persons ,Humans ,Illicit Drugs ,Male ,Middle Aged ,Narcotics ,Opioid-Related Disorders ,Substance Abuse ,Intravenous ,Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ,Buprenorphine Injection drug use ,Drug treatment ,Diversion ,Injection drug use ,Public Health and Health Services ,Substance Abuse ,Public health ,Biological psychology ,Clinical and health psychology - Abstract
ObjectivesThere are few systematic assessments of street-obtained buprenorphine use from community-based samples in the United States. The objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence, correlates, and reasons for street-obtained buprenorphine use among current and former injection drug users (IDUs) in Baltimore, Maryland.MethodsIn 2008, participants of the ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience) study, a community-based cohort of IDUs, were administered a survey on buprenorphine. Street-obtained buprenorphine represented self-reported use of buprenorphine obtained from the street or a friend in the prior three months.ResultsSix hundred and two respondents were predominantly male (65%), African-American (91%), and 30% were HIV-positive. Overall, nine percent reported recent street-obtained buprenorphine use, and only 2% reported using to get high. Among active opiate users, 23% reported recent use of street-obtained buprenorphine. Use of buprenorphine prescribed by a physician, injection and non-injection drug use, use of street-obtained methadone and prescription opiates, homelessness, and opioid withdrawal symptoms were positively associated, while methadone treatment, health insurance, outpatient care, and HIV-infection were negatively associated with recent street-obtained buprenorphine use in univariate analysis. After adjustment, active injection and heroin use were positively associated with street-obtained buprenorphine use. Ninety-one percent reported using street-obtained buprenorphine to manage withdrawal symptoms.ConclusionsWhile 9% reported recent street-obtained buprenorphine use, only a small minority reported using buprenorphine to get high, with the majority reporting use to manage withdrawal symptoms. There is limited evidence of diversion of buprenorphine in this sample and efforts to expand buprenorphine treatment should continue with further monitoring.
- Published
- 2013