Joanna Starrels, MD, MSDr. Joanna Starrels recently
received her first R01 grant, a four-year, $2.3 million award for her study on opioid
analgesic use and HIV.
The United States is
facing an epidemic of opioid analgesic misuse, disorders, and overdose. HIV-infected
patients are greatly impacted because half have chronic pain and up to 30% are prescribed
opioid analgesics. Although it is well established that illicit drug use leads to poor HIV outcomes, it is unknown how prescribed opioid analgesic use, misuse,
and disorders influence HIV and pain outcomes in HIV-infected patients with
chronic pain. Dr. Starrels’ four-year study will examine patterns of
prescription opioid use in HIV-infected patients with chronic pain, and the
complex biopsychosocial and medical context in which they occur, to understand
their relationship with HIV and pain outcomes over time. Findings from this study
will help to guide clinical care, develop interventions, and improve outcomes
for HIV-infected patients with chronic pain. This project will also provide a
model for future studies to examine the consequences of other types of
prescription drug use and misuse.
Dr.
Starrels is Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine), and is
board-certified in both internal medicine and addiction medicine. Her particular
expertise is in the safety and effectiveness of opioid analgesics for patients
with chronic pain. Her previous research has examined use of treatment
agreements and urine drug testing for patients with chronic pain, a
collaborative care intervention to integrate behavioral health and pain care,
and treatment for opioid use disorders in primary care settings.
Posted October 4, 2015
