Lessons Learned from the Response to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic that Can Inform Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sandra A. Springer, Yale University; Carlos del Rio, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-09-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2020.06.015
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 637
• End Page: 647
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K02 DA032322 for Springer’s career development). The funders were not involved in the research design, analysis, or interpretation of the data, or the decision to publish the article.
• Keywords: Epidemic; HCV; HIV; Opioid use disorder; Stigma; MOUD; Infectious disease; Medication treatment of opioid use disorder
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical

Abstract

The lessons learned from the response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic are important to quell the opioid use disorder epidemic in the United States. This article identifies similar barriers to treatment and care that persons living with HIV experienced in the 1980s and early 1990s that are currently being experienced by persons living with opioid use disorder. In addition, this article reviews the ways in which those barriers were overcome to reduce the mortality and morbidity from HIV and highlights similar strategies that can also help persons living with opioid use disorder in this country.