Continuous Abstinence During Early Alcohol Treatment is Significantly Associated with Positive Treatment Outcomes, Independent of Duration of Abstinence.

Aims: Neither the predictive value of early continuous abstinence in alcohol use disorder (AUD) or the point at which this effect may emerge has been evaluated. This analysis of the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) clinical trial evaluated whether abstinence early in treatment was a predictor of longer term abstinence.

Methods: Participants who stated a goal of total abstinence (N = 954) were dichotomized into Early Abstainer vs.

Recruitment techniques for alcohol pharmacotherapy clinical trials: A cost-benefit analysis.

Objectives: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) represent a large public health burden with relatively few efficacious pharmacotherapies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for new AUD therapies can be hampered by ineffective recruitment, leading to increased trial costs. The current analyses examined the effectiveness of recruitment efforts during two consecutive outpatient RCTs of novel AUD pharmacotherapies conducted between 2009 and 2012.

Inhaled vs. oral alprazolam: subjective, behavioral and cognitive effects, and modestly increased abuse potential.

Rationale: Infrahuman and human studies suggest that a determinant of the abuse potential of a drug is rate of onset of subjective effects.

Objectives: This study sought to determine if the rate of onset of subjective effects and abuse potential of alprazolam would be increased when administered via inhalation vs. the oral route.

Human abuse liability assessment of oxycodone combined with ultra-low-dose naltrexone.

Rationale: Prescription opioid abuse has risen dramatically in the United States as clinicians have increased opioid prescribing for alleviation of both acute and chronic pain. Opioid analgesics with decreased risk for abuse are needed.

Objective: Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that opioids combined with ultra-low-dose naltrexone (NTX) may have increased analgesic potency and have suggested reduced abuse or dependence liability.

Concurrent validation of the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) and single-item indices against the Clinical Institute Narcotic Assessment (CINA) opioid withdrawal instrument.

Introduction: The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is an 11-item clinician-administered scale assessing opioid withdrawal. Though commonly used in clinical practice, it has not been systematically validated. The present study validated the COWS in comparison to the validated Clinical Institute Narcotic Assessment (CINA) scale.

Opioid detoxification via single 7-day application of a buprenorphine transdermal patch: an open-label evaluation.

Rationale: Managed withdrawal (i.e., detoxification) from opioid dependence is a widespread clinical procedure that is a necessary step for those pursuing abstinence.

Evaluation of a transdermal buprenorphine formulation in opioid detoxification.

Aims: Buprenorphine is marketed in a sublingual formulation for treatment of opioid dependence. A transdermal formulation has been developed that may provide extended relief from opioid withdrawal, reduce required clinic visits and improve adherence, while having less potential for diversion and abuse. This study evaluated the safety and biodelivery (blood levels) of this transdermal buprenorphine formulation (i.