Careful management of methadone induction and stabilization, coupled with patient education and increased clinical vigilance, can save lives in this vulnerable patient population.
The survey revealed that UDT is widely used and highly integrated into the assessment and management of people with addictions undergoing treatment by ASAM members. Greater than 94% of respondents use testing to determine adherence, to monitor abstinence, and to detect an early relapse. The majority felt confident in their ability to interpret and use UDT results, and the vast majority had reportedly used it in changing patient management. Education gaps do exist, however, and should be the focus of future education efforts on UDT.
The question of whether or not doctors and other health care professionals on medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) are safe to practice medicine has been debated for the last few years since the advent of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved MAT for opioid use disorder (OUD). The newly approved medications have been primarily buprenorphine formulations for OUD, naltrexone formulations for OUD and alcohol use disorder (AUD), and, most recently, an alpha 2‐adrenergic medication that specifically targets amelioration of opioid‐withdrawal symptoms from OUD (lofexidine). Quite frankly, the question of safety about medications to treat substance use disorder (SUD) has been asked since the development of methadone for OUD treatment more than 30 years ago.
Chapter 12 describes patient monitoring in the setting of addiction or addiction risk, and pain management, to include drug testing. The advantages, disadvantages, and types of available testing for drug use are described, with a discussion of their limitations. Body fluids and tissues for sampling include hair, blood, saliva, sweat, and urine; all yield information regarding drug use within unique limitations and at different levels of convenience. The test methodology imposes a need to know respective sensitivities and specificities, particularly in a forensic setting. Breath testing (alcohol) is not within the scope of this chapter. Recommended frequencies of urine testing are addressed. The utility of other forms of monitoring (self-report, collateral sources, PDMP) is assessed in the final section. Two tables are provided, (1) urine drug detection times, and (2) sources of false positive tests in urine immunoassay studies. Supplemental information sources are cited in a text box.
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