Study Finds Opioid Therapy Reduces HIV-Related Mortality among Injection Drug Users

published on July 20, 2015

Vancouver, BC [July 20, 2015] A new study from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) presented at the 2015 International AIDS Society Conference finds, among HIV positive people who inject drugs, engagement in methadone maintenance treatment (also known as opioid agonist therapy or OAT) leads to a steep decrease in HIV- and drug-related mortality. Through analysis of population-level data for BC from 1996 to 2010, the study found OAT alone reduced all-cause mortality by 66 per cent, while antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone reduced all-cause mortality by 54 per cent. However, the risk of death was lowest when HIV-positive people who use drugs (PWUD) received both OAT and ART, reducing all-cause mortality by 84 per cent.

“Our study adds to a growing body of evidence showing access to opioid agonist therapy has positive downstream effects on HIV-health related outcomes,” said Dr. Bohdan Nosyk, Research Scientist with the BC-CfE and lead author of the study. “These findings strongly suggest opioid agonist therapy is an essential component to improving HIV outcomes among people who inject drugs.”

A previous BC-CfE study led by Dr. Nosyk had demonstrated engagement in OAT nearly doubles the odds of HAART adherence among HIV positive people who inject drugs. This study, published last May in the journal AIDS, found engagement in OAT increased ART adherence by 68 per cent among HIV positive people who inject drugs. Nosyk and colleagues believe OAT improved patients’ ART adherence by enhancing their linkage to the health care system, while also alleviating drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can hinder ART adherence.

“BC-CfE researchers are able to explore a relatively unique situation in which injection drug users can have universal access to both opioid antagonist treatment and, under the province’s Treatment as Prevention® strategy, antiretroviral medication,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the BC-CfE. “This research indicates the benefits of continuing to keep these channels of access free and open. If we are to truly address the HIV epidemic among people who use drugs, we must provide these supports.”

“The findings indicate integration of HIV care and addictions is a promising way to improve health care access among the vulnerable and hard-to-reach population of people who inject drugs,” said Dr. Bohdan Nosyk. “Further research is needed to determine how this can be implemented in a cost-effective way.”

About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians.

For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:

Caroline Dobuzinskis
BC-CfE
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Cell: 604-366-6540
Email: cdobuzin@cfenet.ubc.ca

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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Study Finds Opioid Therapy Reduces HIV-Related Mortality among Injection Drug Users

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