Author/Authors :
Shahid, Hamnah Department of Arts and Science- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Bhatt, Meha Department of Health Research Methods-Evidence and Impact-McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Sanger, nitika Department of Medical Sciences- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Zielinski, Laura Department of Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Luo, Candice Department of Health Sciences- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Bantoto, Bianca department of Integrated Science- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Shams, Ieta Department of Psychology- Neuroscience and Behaviour- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Mouravska, Natalia Department of Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada , Tam, Sabrina Lue Department of Medicine-McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Hudson, Jacqueline Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, Hamilton, Canada , Thabane, Lehana Department of Health Research Methods-Evidence and Impact-McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada , Samaan, Zainab Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences- McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Abstract :
Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is increasingly prevalent in North America. Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT)
is an opioid substitution therapy used to relieve symptoms of withdrawal, and to manage OUD symptoms. Despite MMT’s overall
effectiveness, individual treatment outcomes vary, and little research explores why these differences exist.
Objectives: Considering the association between genetic vulnerability, including family factors, and substance use disorders
(SUDs), this study investigated the relationship between family factors and treatment outcomes in individuals with OUD receiving
MMT.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 973 adult patients with OUD in MMT. Family factors were
defined as number of relatives with an SUD, and their degree of genetic relatedness to the proband. Patient-related outcomes were
determined by measuring illicit opioid and non-opioid use during MMT.
Results: A significant association was found between number of family members with an SUD and the proband’s illicit opioid use
(OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.16; P = 0.03). No significant association was found between genetic relatedness and the proband’s illicit
opioid and non-opioid use, nor between number of family members with an SUD and the proband’s non-opioid use.
Conclusions: These results suggest a role of shared familialenvironmental factors inOUDtreatment outcomes. Specifically,OUDpatients
with a family history of substance use are at higher risk of relapse duringMMT. Based on these findings, healthcare providers
should consider stratifying their OUD patients based on family history of SUDs, and providing additional support to those with a
positive history to improve their MMT outcomes
Keywords :
Recurrence , Risk Factors , Narcotics , Methadone , STreatment Outcome , Family , ubstance-Related Disorders
