The Oxford Handbook of Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder

"Opioids have a long and rich history of being used throughout the world for analgesic as well as recreational purposes. Similarly, the problematic use of opioids (currently referred to as Opioid Use Disorder) has also long been recognized as a behavioral and medical illness that warrants strong intervention. Opioids and OUD are the focus of rigorous research and clinical practices across several different disciplines, ranging from preclinical paradigms, to clinical trial interventions, clinical practice, epidemiological surveillance systems, health systems evaluations, and harm reduction programs. This handbook synthesizes together 38 chapters from experts within these respective disciplines to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the science and practice of opioids and OUD. The authors are international experts in their fields and together this handbook represents one of the most integrated sources of information on opioids and OUD available to date. The handbook is categorized into seven overarching categories. These include I. General Overviews (historical context, epidemiological trends in use and treatment access, in-depth understanding of the OUD diagnosis, and current standards for medical student training in opioids), II. Core Features of Opioids and OUD (in-depth explorations of opioid neurobiology and genetics, the opioid withdrawal syndrome in adults and infants, opioid craving, and effects of opioids on cognition and sleep), III. Unique Opioid Compounds (individual chapters devoted to fentanyl, tramadol, kratom, ibogaine and noribogaine, and abuse deterrent formulations), IV. Medications for OUD (commonly structured chapters on methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, clonidine, lofexidine, and injectable opioid treatments), V. OUD Treatment Methods (specific discussions of long-term treatment options, supervised withdrawal, psychosocial and behavioral treatment programs, contingency management, treatment strategies for pregnant and postpartum women, and pharmacy-based treatment delivery options), VI. Harm Reduction approaches (including opioid overdose mechanisms and naloxone, overdose intervention strategies, and supervised consumption sites), and VII. Considerations for Unique Populations (examining psychiatric comorbidities, sex and gender, challenges in rural settings, differences in persons engaged in heroin or prescription opioid use, and the impact of OUD on families and children). By uniting these fields together, this handbook serves as a valuable resource to promote comprehensive understanding for persons seeking to learn more about opioids and OUD and the current state of science and practice in these areas"--