National Institute on Drug Abuse International Program

Abstract

Purpose of review For more than 25 years, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has supported research-training programs, establishing a global research network and expanding the knowledge base on substance use disorders. International research to inform approaches to opioid addiction is particularly important and relevant to the United States, where opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose constitute an emerging public health crisis. This article summarizes the NIDA International Program and illustrates its impact by reviewing recent articles about treatment approaches for opioid use disorders (OUD). Recent findings Studies in several countries have demonstrated the effectiveness of physician office-based opioid substitution therapies. Other research has demonstrated the effectiveness of different formulations and doses of the opioid antagonist naltrexone, as well as different approaches to providing naloxone to treat opioid overdose. Continuing research into implementation of evidence-based treatment in international settings with limited resources is applicable to US regions that face similar structural, legal, and fiscal constraints. Summary The current review describes international research on OUD treatment and opioid overdose, most coauthored by former NIDA fellows. The findings from outside the United States have important implications for best practices domestically and in other countries that are experiencing increases in OUD prevalence and related overdose deaths.

Overcoming Heroin Addiction without the Use of Pharmaceuticals: A Qualitative Interview Study

“…Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) programs using Methadone, the most researched substitute for heroin, are life-saving as they keep people in treatment programs and reduce heroin use (Marotta and McCullagh 2018;Mattick et al 2009). Internationally, authorities endorse the use of OMT (Gust and McCormally 2018). In Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare recommends OMT as the first-line choice of treatment for heroin addiction.…”

Prevalence of Polydrug Use in Patients Undergoing Methadone Assisted Therapy in Nairobi County

“…Opioids use lead to opioids use disorder impacting heavily on a country's economy through medical illness, loss of productivity, injuries and fatalities from automobile and other accidents, overdose inflicted deaths, suicides and violence (UNODC, 2019c). In 2017 alone, the study by Gust and Mccormally (2018) revealed that 72,000 overdose deaths occurred and 2.1 million Americans aged 12 years and older met the diagnosis of OUD. National Institute on Drug Abuse International program (NIDA, 2018b) on advancing addiction science findings reveal that opioid misuse, addiction and overdose constitute an emerging health crisis.…”

Article Commentary: Increasing Evidence-Based Substance use Interventions Globally: The National Institute on Drug Abuse Postdoctoral Fellowships

“…18,[26][27][28]33,34,37 The NIDA International Program has consistently monitored fellowship outcomes internally and has previously reported on fellowship outcomes in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. [38][39][40][41][42] However, this is the first comprehensive effort to assess the NIDA INVEST postdoctoral fellowships from the combined perspectives of career outcomes, migration patterns, publications, cost per publication, and funding.…”

“…Following the protocol for a publication analysis that we published in 2018, 39 we conducted individual searches in PubMed for articles coauthored by former NIDA INVEST fellows during 2018 and 2019. A total of 746 publications were identified.…”