This is an independent scientist award to assist in the continued research of Dr. Sandra Springer, who focuses her research on interventions that will improve linkages to care for HIV+ criminal justice populations (CJS) with co-morbid substance use disorders who are transitioning to the community. This award will also increase her time to devote towards mentoring young investigators who share this interest. HIV and drug abuse is concentrated within the CJS, therefore, it is an important place to target and empirically test interventions that address strategies to reduce HIV transmission within the community. When HIV is maximally suppressed decreased infectiousness is the result. HIV+ prisoners successfully achieve suppression during incarceration, however 3 months post-release viral suppression is lost, mostly due to relapse to drugs and alcohol. Opioid dependence (OD) and alcohol dependence (AD) are present in 50-70% of HIV+ prisoners nationally. Relapse to substance use is associated with discontinuation of HAART adherence and increased HIV risk behaviors, the perfect storm for HIV transmission. Effectively treating OD and AD interrupts this relationship and has great potential to improve HIV outcomes. Opioid substitution therapy, especially methadone, has had limited uptake within the CJS due to philosophical, safety, regulatory and staffing concerns. Similarly, pharmacologic interventions to target treatment of AD are essentially nonexistent within the CJS. Therefore, strategies examining the efficacy of naltrexone (NTX), an opioid antagonist approved by the FDA for treatment of both OD and AD, to improve adherence and retention in care, has great appeal to benefit the individual and to reduce HIV transmission within the community. Dr. Springer has been awarded 2 R01s (Project 1, NIDA R01 DA030762; and Project 2, R01 AA018944) that serve as the research platform for this independent scientist award.
The specific aim of both studies is to conduct a placebo-controlled RCT of extended-release NTX (XR- NTX) for HIV+ prisoners with OD (project 1) and AD (project 2) who are transitioning to the community. The placebo-control methodology further strengthens any findings that should be demonstrated. HIV treatment, substance abuse, adverse side effects and HIV risk behavior outcomes will be compared in subjects within CJS in New Haven, Hartford and Springfield. This therapeutic approach has great appeal by the CJS, given the ease of monthly injections, lack of diversion, few side effects and no antagonistic philosophical concerns about its use. The strength of this proposal is that Dr. Springer is experienced in HIV, addiction and the CJS; the novel use of pharmacologic interventions to prevent relapse to OD and AD as a means to improve HIV outcomes; over 7 years of conducting research in the CJS; and the novelty of using XR-NTX for the treatment of OD and AD. These trials may demonstrate efficacy and safety, and then XR-NTX is likely to become an evidence-based intervention with released HIV+ prisoners. As such, the individual, our health care system and society have a high likelihood to benefit - especially on the reduction of HIV within the community.

Public Health Relevance

This award will assist in increasing mentorship of young investigators who are interested in a research career involving interventions that will assist in treatment of HIV+ CJS populations with co-occurring substance use disorders. Using randomized, placebo-controlled trials, HIV treatment, opioid and alcohol treatment and HIV risk behavior outcomes are examined among HIV-infected prisoners with opioid dependence and alcohol dependence who are treated with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) as they are transitioning from the correctional to the community setting. The public health relevance is that outcomes from these studies will establish the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pharmacological therapy using XR-NTX treatment among HIV+ persons within the CJS and establish XR-NTX treatment as an effective, evidence-based treatment for opioid and alcohol dependence for released HIV+ prisoners - a population who shares a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality and has fared poorly using the existing standard of care. 1

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02DA032322-05
Application #
8882374
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Aklin, Will
Project Start
2011-07-01
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$154,235
Indirect Cost
$11,425
Name
Yale University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06510
Mbaba, Mary; Brown, Shan-Estelle; Wooditch, Alese et al. (2018) Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment Rates of Mood Disorders among Opioid Users under Criminal Justice Supervision. Subst Use Misuse 53:1519-1528
Springer, Sandra A; Di Paola, Angela; Barbour, Russell et al. (2018) Extended-release Naltrexone Improves Viral Suppression Among Incarcerated Persons Living with HIV and Alcohol use Disorders Transitioning to the Community: Results From a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 79:92-100
Marcus, Ruthanne; Bojko, Martha J; Mazhnaya, Alyona et al. (2018) A qualitative assessment of attitudes about and preferences for extended-release naltrexone, a new pharmacotherapy to treat opioid use disorders in Ukraine. J Subst Abuse Treat 86:86-93
Springer, Sandra A; Di Paola, Angela; Azar, Marwan M et al. (2018) Extended-Release Naltrexone Improves Viral Suppression Among Incarcerated Persons Living With HIV With Opioid Use Disorders Transitioning to the Community: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 78:43-53
Marcus, Ruthanne; Makarenko, Iuliia; Mazhnaya, Alyona et al. (2017) Patient preferences and extended-release naltrexone: A new opportunity to treat opioid use disorders in Ukraine. Drug Alcohol Depend 179:213-219
Vagenas, Panagiotis; Di Paola, Angela; Herme, Maua et al. (2017) Corrigendum to 'An evaluation of hepatic enzyme elevations among HIV-infected released prisoners enrolled in two randomized placebo-controlled trials of extended release naltrexone' [Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 47 (2014) 35-40]. J Subst Abuse Treat 77:44
Loeliger, Kelsey B; Biggs, Mary L; Young, Rebekah et al. (2017) Gender Differences in HIV Risk Behaviors Among Persons Involved in the U.S. Criminal Justice System and Living with HIV or at Risk for HIV: A ""Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain"" Harmonization Consortium. AIDS Behav 21:2945-2957
Springer, Sandra A; Di Paola, Angela; Azar, Marwan M et al. (2017) Extended-release naltrexone reduces alcohol consumption among released prisoners with HIV disease as they transition to the community. Drug Alcohol Depend 174:158-170
(2016) Erratum to “Correlates of retention on extended-release naltrexone among persons living with HIV infection transitioning to the community from the criminal justice system” [Drug Alcohol Depend. 157 (2015) 158–165] Drug Alcohol Depend 161:372
Springer, Sandra A; Brown, Shan-Estelle; Di Paola, Angela et al. (2015) Correlates of retention on extended-release naltrexone among persons living with HIV infection transitioning to the community from the criminal justice system. Drug Alcohol Depend 157:158-65

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