title: Alcohol use in opioid agonist treatment.
abstract: Alcohol misuse among individuals receiving agonist treatment for an opioid use disorder is common and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. At present, though substantial research highlights effective strategies for the screening, diagnosis and management of an alcohol or opioid use disorder individually, less is known about how best to care for those with a dual diagnosis especially since common treatments for opioid addiction may be contraindicated in a setting of alcohol use. This review summarizes existing research and characterizes the prevalence, clinical implications and management of alcohol misuse among individuals with opioid addiction. Furthermore, it highlights clinically relevant management strategies in need of future research to advance care for this unique, but important, patient population.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. seonaidn@gmail.com.|Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. seonaidn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seonaid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.|School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Coombe Healthcare Centre, Dolphins Barn, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klimas
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.|Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists
keywords: Alcohol misuse; Alcohol use; Alcohol use disorder; Buprenorphine/naloxone; Methadone; Opioid agonist treatment