Research on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Post-Overdose
Understanding Opioids and Their Risks
Researchers in the United States have explored the effectiveness of medications in treating opioid use disorder following opioid overdoses. Opioids, commonly prescribed for pain relief, can lead to dependence, overdose, and even death when misused. Individuals using either prescribed or illicit opioids face a risk of overdose, which manifests through various symptoms such as difficulty in walking, talking, and staying awake, along with dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, and weak breathing. In the U.S., opioid prescriptions have surged to 230 million annually, with over 42,000 overdose deaths reported in 2016, equating to approximately 150 daily.
The Unknown Effects of Opioid Treatment Medications
Opioid use disorder, frequently referred to as opioid addiction, is a chronic condition characterized by physical dependence on opioids. This dependence may arise from excessive medication usage or prolonged use beyond the prescribed duration. Common medications used to treat this disorder include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. However, the mortality effects of these treatments remain largely unclear.
Study Findings on Medication Effectiveness
A recent study published in the *Annals of Internal Medicine* examined the association between medications for opioid use disorder after overdoses and both all-cause and opioid-related mortality. Conducted by U.S. researchers, this study is the first to evaluate the relationship between all three FDA-approved medications and mortality in any context. Funded by a grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, the research analyzed data from approximately 17,500 adults in Massachusetts who survived an opioid overdose between 2012 and 2014.
Significant Results and Implications for Treatment
The findings revealed that patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine experienced a significant reduction in opioid overdose deaths compared to those not receiving medication for opioid use disorder. However, the study was unable to determine the impact of naltrexone due to a limited sample size. These results highlight important opportunities to enhance engagement and retention in treatments for opioid use disorders following nonfatal overdoses. Future research with larger cohorts treated with naltrexone is necessary to explore its potential effects on opioid-related and overall mortality.
Author Information
Written by Man-tik Choy, Ph.D.
Reference
Larochelle MR et al. (2018). Medication for Opioid Use Disorder After Nonfatal Opioid Overdose and Association With Mortality: A Cohort Study. *Annals of Internal Medicine* [Epub ahead of print 19 June 2018] doi: 10.7326/M17-3107.