Association of Race and Ethnicity With Withdrawal Symptoms, Attrition, Opioid Use, and Side-Effects During Buprenorphine Therapy

• NCJ Number: 231370
• Journal: Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 2010 Pages: 106-114
• Author(s): E. Sherwood Brown; Carlos Tirado; Abu Minhajuddin; Maureen Hillhouse; Bryon Adinoff; Walter Ling; Geetha Doraimani; Christie Thomas
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined acute withdrawal symptoms and persistent withdrawal symptoms following 4 weeks of byprenorphine treatment in non-Hispanic Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic participants.

Abstract

Some studies report differences in opioid withdrawal between racial/ethnic groups. However, it is not known if these differences are reflected in differential treatment response. Data from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network-003 were used to examine racial/ethnic differences before and during stabilization with buprenorphine. At induction, non-Hispanic Caucasians had higher objective and subjective withdrawal scores and greater opioid craving than minority participants. No significant between-group differences were observed on these scales following buprenorphine. Non-Hispanic Caucasians and Hispanics reported more adverse events than African-Americans. Although ethnic and racial differences were observed prior to buprenorphine treatment, scores following buprenorphine treatment were similar between groups. Figure, tables, and references (Published Abstract)