Project Status: 

Dr. Moyo Dow graduated as CADRE Research Project Lead after receiving an R01 in 2023. 

Description:

Dr. Dow’s project examined trends in opioid prescribing safety and the use of non-drug treatments in adults with both chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). Using 2015 to 2018 Medicare enrollment data combined with inpatient, outpatient, and prescription claims data from a 20% national sample, this project aimed to assess racial and ethnic disparities in the types of chronic pain treatments provided to people with comorbid OUD. It also sought to evaluate whether the implementation of the CDC guideline influenced racial/ethnic disparities in the treatment of chronic pain for those with OUD. It is hypothesized that racial/ethnic minorities with OUD will be less likely to receive guideline-concordant opioid management and non-drug therapy compared to White patients with OUD. It is also anticipated that increased disparities in chronic pain treatment following the CDC guideline release will exist. If confirmed, potential factors contributing to these disparities (e.g., co-prescribing naloxone and involving pain and addiction specialists) will also be explored. 

Mentor:

Brandon Marshall, Ph.D., Brown University

Collaborators & Consultants:

Julie Lima, Ph.D., Brown University
Jeffrey Hiris, Brown University
Miriam George, MPH, Brown University
Alison Fisher, Brown University
Barbara Freiwald, Brown University
Jessica Merlin, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, University of Pittsburgh