Association between hepatitis C virus and opioid use while in buprenorphine treatment: Preliminary findings.

The prevalence of hepatitis-C-virus (HCV) infections is high among opioid-dependent individuals. Prior research on the simultaneous treatment of both conditions has primarily assessed success as it pertains to HCV. However, it has been noted that favorable substance use therapy outcomes may improve the likelihood of HCV-treatment initiation and success. Therefore, current guidelines for the treatment of HCV among illicit drug users suggest that treatment for addiction be given the highest priority. This study aimed to determine whether opioid-dependent participants in a clinical trial of buprenorphine-treatment tapering regimens, who tested positive for the HCV antibody, experienced significantly different levels of opioid abstinence than those not infected. Data came from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network study CTN-0003, which compared two taper schedules for buprenorphine-naloxone (one rapid and one gradual, n=516). Participants with the HCV antibody were significantly less likely to submit opioid-negative urine analyses during and/or immediately following active treatment, indicating a higher rate of opioid use among this group.

Conclusions: Individualized opioid-dependence treatment strategies may be required for opioid-dependent individuals who test positive for the HCV antibody in order to ensure resources for both opioid-dependence and HCV therapies are used efficiently.