Background

Opioid overdose remains a public health crisis in diverse communities. Between 2019 and 2020, there was an almost 40% increase in drug fatalities primarily due to opioid analogues of both stimulants and opioids. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; e.g., buprenorphine) are effective, evidence-based treatments that can be delivered in office-based primary care settings. We investigated disparities in the proportion of national prescribers who have obtained a waiver issued to prescribe MOUD by demographic characteristics.

Methods

Data for the secondary data analyses were...

Background

When used in combination with other therapies for drug use disorders, neurofeedback (NF) has been classified as "probably effective," according to recent research in the community of people with opioid use disorder. Despite these encouraging results, the severity of the opioid crisis, and the high risk of relapse even with the most effective medication-assisted maintenance therapy, NF remains a little-studied therapeutic option. The possibility of incorporating Alpha/Theta Neurofeedback into standard opioid addiction therapy in an outpatient urban treatment facility is examined in...

Background

The long-running opioid epidemic and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic are two interrelated events with major public health implications for people who use opioids (OUD). The majority of studies on the interaction of these two public health concerns have employed pre-existing data to focus on community, state, or national patterns. Complementary qualitative research is needed to determine how persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) comprehend, experience, and navigate this unique period. The current study investigates people with OUD's perceptions and experiences as they negotiated...