Lead: Suicide in people prescribed opioid-agonist therapy in Scotland, United Kingdom, 2011–2020: A national retrospective cohort studyLead: Suicide in people prescribed opioid-agonist therapy in Scotland, United Kingdom, 2011–2020: A national retrospective cohort study
This Week in Addiction Medicine from ASAM
Explore how opioid-agonist therapy reduces suicide risk, brain features predict binge drinking, and other insights in addiction medicine.
7:05•19 Nov 2024
Protective Effects of Opioid-Agonist Therapy and Other Insights in Addiction Medicine
Episode Overview
- Opioid-agonist therapy is protective against suicide in people with opioid dependence.
- Brain MRI scans can predict future binge drinking behaviour.
- Cranial electrotherapy stimulation may reduce cravings in opioid use disorder.
- Medicaid waivers did not significantly impact MOUD use or nonfatal overdoses.
- Alcohol tolerance varies significantly between wasps and bees.
“People with opioid dependence in Scotland have a greater risk of suicide than the general population, but treatment is protective.”
This episode of 'This Week in Addiction Medicine' covers a range of compelling studies that shed light on various aspects of addiction treatment and its impact. The lead story dives into a national retrospective cohort study from Scotland, examining the relationship between opioid-agonist therapy (OAT) and suicide rates among individuals with opioid dependence.
The findings reveal that while those with opioid dependence have a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, OAT has a protective effect, reducing the rates of suicide among those undergoing treatment. This is a significant insight given the rising drug-related deaths in Scotland during the same period. Another intriguing study discussed is about neurostructural features predicting binge drinking in emerging adulthood.
The research highlights how brain MRI scans of first-year college students can predict future binge drinking behaviour based on the surface area of specific brain regions. This could potentially help in identifying individuals at risk for alcohol use problems early on. The episode also explores a randomised controlled trial on cranial electrotherapy stimulation's effect on depression, anxiety, and cravings in men undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.
The results indicate a significant decrease in craving symptoms for those receiving the intervention, suggesting it could be a useful additional therapy for opioid use disorder. Further discussions include the effects of Medicaid waivers on the use of medications for opioid use disorder and nonfatal overdoses, the alcohol tolerance of wasps compared to bees, and trends in alcohol use following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each study provides valuable insights into addiction medicine, offering hope and potential new avenues for treatment and prevention. Don't miss out on these fascinating findings and their implications for addiction treatment.
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