ORN Spring 2022 #1 - The impact of illicit fentanyl use on opioid use disorder treatment-Event Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Andrew Woon, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, gave a webinar on the impact of illicit fentanyl use on opioid use disorder treatment. The webinar discussed the prevalence of fentanyl in the drug supply and its effects on drug use behaviors and treatment outcomes. Dr. Woon highlighted research showing that people who use opioids do not necessarily seek out fentanyl and that they often dislike its effects. He also discussed the behavioral economics of fentanyl use and how discussing the risk of overdose death can reduce risky behaviors. Additionally, Dr. Woon touched on the challenges of buprenorphine precipitated withdrawal when transitioning from fentanyl to buprenorphine treatment. He presented research showing that many individuals who have used fentanyl experience withdrawal symptoms when taking buprenorphine, highlighting the need for more effective strategies for transitioning to buprenorphine treatment. The webinar also briefly discussed the proliferation of fentanyl analogs in the drug supply and the challenges they present for drug testing and treatment. Dr. Woon highlighted the need for harm reduction services and the availability of naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths. The webinar provided valuable insights into the impact of fentanyl on opioid use disorder treatment and the challenges faced by both individuals and healthcare providers in addressing this issue.

Keywords

illicit fentanyl use

opioid use disorder treatment

drug supply

behavioral economics

risk of overdose death

buprenorphine precipitated withdrawal

withdrawal symptoms

fentanyl analogs

harm reduction services

opioid overdose deaths