Association of Medication-Assisted Treatment and Age With Treatment Completion Among Veterans Seeking Non-VA Treatment for Opioid use Disorder at Non-Veterans Health Administration Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph G Pickard ◽  
Carissa van den Berk-Clark ◽  
Monica M Matthieu
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment

ABSTRACT Background Medication-assisted treatment has been shown to be effective in treating opioid use disorder among both older adults and veterans of U.S. Armed Forces. However, limited evidence exists on MAT’s differential effect on treatment completion across age groups. This study aims to ascertain the role of MAT and age in treatment completion among veterans seeking treatment in non–Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities for opioid use disorder. Methods We used the Treatment Episode Data Set—Discharges (TEDS-D; 2006-2017) to examine trends in treatment and MAT usage over time and TEDS-2017 to determine the role of age and MAT in treatment completion. We examined a subset of those who self-identified as veterans and who sought treatment for an opioid use disorder. Results Veterans presented in treatment more often as heroin users than prescription opioid users, and older veterans were more likely to get MAT than younger veterans. We found that before propensity score matching, MAT initially appeared to be associated with a lower likelihood of treatment completion in inpatient ($\beta $ = −1.47, 95% CI −1.56 to −1.39) and outpatient ($\beta $ = −1.40, 95% CI −2.21 to −0.58) settings, and age (50+ years) appeared to mediate the effect of MAT on treatment completion ($\beta $ = −0.54, 95% CI −0.87 to −0.21). After matching, older veterans were more likely to complete substance use disorder treatment ($\beta $ = 0.21, 95% CI 0.01-0.42), while age no longer mediated the effect of MAT, and MAT had a significant positive impact on treatment completion in detox settings ($\beta $ = 1.36, 95% CI 1.15-1.50) and inpatient settings ($\beta $ = 1.54, 95% CI 1.37 -1.71). Conclusion The results show that age plays an important role in outpatient treatment completion, while MAT plays an important role in inpatient treatment completion. Implications for veterans are discussed.

Opioid tapering in patients with prescription opioid use disorder: A retrospective study

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehua Zhou ◽  
Peng Jia ◽  
Swati Bhargava ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Taslima Reza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trigger Point ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment ◽  
Opioid Tapering ◽  
Prescription Opioid Use

AbstractBackground and aimsOpioid use disorder (OUD) refers to a maladaptive pattern of opioid use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. OUD causes, and vice versa, misuses and abuse of opioid medications. Clinicians face daily challenges to treat patients with prescription opioid use disorder. An evidence-based management for people who are already addicted to opioids has been identified as the national priority in the US; however, options are limited in clinical practices. In this study, we aimed to explore the success rate and important adjuvant medications in the medication assisted treatment with temporary use of methadone for opioid discontinuation in patients with prescription OUD.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review performed at a private physician office for physical medicine and rehabilitation. We reviewed all medical records dated between December 1st, 2011 and August 30th, 2016. The initial evaluation of the included patients (N =140) was completed between December 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2014. They all have concumittant prescription OUD and chronic non-cancer pain. The patients (87 female and 53 male) were 46.7 ± 12.7 years old, and had a history of opioid use of 7.7 ±6.1 years. All patients received the comprehensive opioid taper treatments (including interventional pain management techniques, psychotherapy, acupuncture, physical modalities and exercises, and adjuvant medications) on top of the medication assisted treatment using methadone (transient use). Opioid tapering was considered successful when no opioid medication was used in the last patient visit.ResultsThe 140 patients had pain of 9.6 ± 8.4 years with 8/10 intensity before treatment which decreased after treatment in all comparisons (p < 0.001 for all). Opioids were successfully tapered off in 39 (27.9%) patients after 6.6 ±6.7 visits over 8.8 ±7.2 months; these patients maintained opioid abstinence over 14.3 ± 13.0 months with regular office visits. Among the 101 patients with unsuccessful opioid tapering, 13 patients only visited the outpatient clinic once. Significant differences were found between patients with and without successful opioid tapering in treatment duration, number of clinic visits, the use of mirtazepine, bupropion, topiramate, and trigger point injections with the univariate analyses. The use of mirtazepine (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.48–9.49), topiramate (OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 1.91–16.48), or bupropion (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.08–5.81) was significantly associated with successful opioid tapering. The associations remain significant for mirtazepine and topiramate (not bupropion) in different adjusted models.ConclusionsWith comprehensive treatments, 27.9% of patients had successful opioid tapering with opioid abstinence for over a year. The use of mirtazepine, topiramate, or likely bupropion was associated with successful opioid tapering in the medication assisted treatment with temporary use of methadone. Opioid tapering may be a practical option and should be considered for managing prescription OUD.ImplicationsFor patients with OUD, indefinite opioid maintenance treatment may not be necessary. Considering the ethical values of autonomy, nonmaleficence, and beneficence, clinicians should provide patients with OUD the option of opioid tapering.

Screening for homelessness among individuals initiating medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the Veterans Health Administration

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus A. Bachhuber, MD, MSHP ◽  
Christopher B. Roberts, MPH ◽  
Stephen Metraux, PhD ◽  
Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, PhD
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Women Veterans ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment ◽  
Male Veterans

Objective: To determine the prevalence of homelessness and risk for homelessness among veterans with opioid use disorder initiating treatment. Setting: Addiction treatment programs operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).Participants: All veterans initiating treatment with methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014 (n = 2,699) who were administered the VA’s national homelessness screener. Main outcome measures: Self-reported homelessness or imminent risk of homelessness.Results: The prevalence of homelessness was 10.2 percent and 5.3 percent were at risk for homelessness. Compared to male veterans, women veterans were less likely to report homelessness (8.9 percent vs 10.3 percent) but more likely to be at risk (11.8 percent vs 4.9 percent). By age group, veterans aged 18-34 and 45-54 years most frequently reported homelessness (12.0 and 11.7 percent, respectively) and veterans aged 45-54 and 55-64 years most frequently reported risk for homelessness (6.5 and 6.8 percent, respectively).Conclusions: The prevalence of homelessness in this population is approximately 10 times that of the general veteran population accessing care at VA. Screening identified a substantial number of veterans who could benefit from VA housing assistance and had not received it recently. Programs to address veteran homelessness should engage with veterans seeking addiction treatment. Integration of homelessness services into addiction treatment settings may, in turn, improve outcomes.

scholarly journals Pain and Opioid Use: Evidence for Integrating Acupuncture Into Treatment Planning

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 216495612110425
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Sommers ◽  
Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury ◽  
Jennifer Noborikawa
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Meta Analyses

The epidemics of pain and opioid use pose unique challenges. Comprehensive approaches are required to address minds, bodies and spirits of individuals who live with pain and/or opioid use. The lack of an effective “quick fix” for either condition necessitates developing effective, innovative and multi-disciplinary avenues for treatment. This analytic article reviews epidemiological and demographic factors associated with pain and with opioid use and additional challenges posed by the Covid-19 epidemic. Several large-scale studies and meta-analyses have examined the role of acupuncture as a nonpharmacological approach to pain management as well as a component of comprehensive strategies to address opioid use disorder. We review and describe these in the context of safety, effectiveness, access and cost-related factors. With one in four U.S. hospitals as well as 88% of Veterans Health Administration facilities incorporating acupuncture, the feasibility of mobilizing and scaling up these treatment resources is being developed and demonstrated. We also identify potential facilitators and barriers to implementing acupuncture treatment. As part of a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management and/or opioid use disorder, we suggest that integrating acupuncture into treatment protocols may represent a viable strategy that is based on and consistent with public health principles.

scholarly journals The Role of Primary Care in Improving Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Rural Medicaid Enrollees with Opioid Use Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 936-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan S. Cole ◽  
Ellen DiDomenico ◽  
Gerald Cochran ◽  
Adam J. Gordon ◽  
Walid F. Gellad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment

Court-Mandated Treatment Outcomes for Prescribed Opioid Use Disorder: A Gender Based Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002204262110444
Author(s):  
Viviana Ximena Lucabeche ◽  
Paul Victor Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Successful Completion ◽  
Mandated Treatment ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Court Mandated

This study provides empirical information suggesting court-mandated treatment may be a more effective treatment pathway for opioid use disorder (OUD). To examine the effects of mandated treatment for prescription opioid users, we consider the differences in discharge completion rates for court-mandated and non-mandated treatment for both males and females. We use the Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges (TEDS-D) from 2015 to 2017 with 13,239, 14,765, and 15,433 cases, respectively, to study successful completion rates for males and females with OUD. Logistic regression analysis confirms a greater completion rate for mandated treatment episodes. Of all mandated females, 59% completed treatment in each of the 3 years as compared to the 59%, 65%, and 64% of successful completion for mandated males, respectively, from 2015 to 2017. Our results suggest court-mandated treatment pathways are more effective on treatment completion for individuals with OUD, yet treatment completion disparity between sexes increases even when females are mandated.

scholarly journals Fluctuations in barriers to medication treatment for opioid use disorder prescribing over the course of a one-year external facilitation intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Gustavson ◽  
Marie E. Kenny ◽  
Jennifer P. Wisdom ◽  
Hope A. Salameh ◽  
Princess E. Ackland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Medication Treatment ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
Parihs Framework ◽  
External Facilitation ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is invested in expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to save lives. Access varies across VHA facilities and, thus, requires implementation strategies to promote system-wide adoption of MOUD. We conducted a 12-month study employing external facilitation that targeted MOUD treatment among low-adopting VHA facilities. In this study, we sought to evaluate the patterns of perceived barriers over 1 year of external implementation facilitation using the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework. Methods We randomly selected eight VHA facilities from the bottom quartile of the proportion of Veterans with an OUD diagnosis receiving MOUD (< 21%). The 1-year external implementation intervention included developmental evaluation to tailor the facilitation, an on-site visit, and monthly facilitation calls. Facilitators recorded detailed notes for each call on a structured template. Qualitative data was analyzed by coding and mapping barriers to the constructs in the i-PARIHS framework (Innovation, Recipients, Context). We identified emerging themes within each construct by month. Results Barriers related to the Innovation, such as provider perception of the need for MOUD in their setting, were minimal throughout the 12-month study. Barriers related to Recipients were predominant and fluctuated over time. Recipient barriers were common during the initial months when providers did not have the training and waivers necessary to prescribe MOUD. Once additional providers (Recipients) were trained and waivered to prescribe MOUD, Recipient barriers dropped and then resurfaced as the facilities worked to expand MOUD prescribing to other clinics. Context barriers, such as restrictions on which clinics could prescribe MOUD and fragmented communication across clinics regarding the management of patients receiving MOUD, emerged more prominently in the middle of the study. Conclusions VHA facilities participating in 12-month external facilitation interventions experienced fluctuations in barriers to MOUD prescribing with contextual barriers emerging after a facilitated reduction in recipient- level barriers. Adoption of MOUD prescribing in low-adopting VHA facilities requires continual reassessment, monitoring, and readjustment of implementation strategies over time to meet challenges. Although i-PARIHS was useful in categorizing most barriers, the lack of conceptual clarity was a concern for some constructs.

scholarly journals 3543 Translating the complex medical jargon of opioid use disorder and medication assisted treatment into locally relevant messages in rural Colorado using Boot Camp Translation

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 97-98
Author(s):  
Mary Fisher ◽  
Donald E. Nease ◽  
Linda Zittleman ◽  
Jack Westfall ◽  
Jennifer Ancona
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Boot Camp ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Research Network ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment ◽  
South Central

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a national epidemic and identified as a top priority by the practices and communities in rural Colorado. Until recently, few resources existed to address OUD in rural communities. In addition to training primary care and behavioral health practice teams in medication assisted treatment (MAT), Implementing Technology and Medication Assisted Treatment and Team Training and in Rural Colorado (IT MATTTRs Colorado) engaged local community members to alter the community conversation around OUD and treatment. For IT MATTTRs, the High Plains Research Network and the Colorado Research Network engaged community members in a 8-10 month process known as Boot Camp Translations (BCT) to translate medical information and jargon around OUD and MAT into concepts, messages, and materials that are meaningful and actionable to community members. The resulting community interventions are reported here. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: IT MATTTRs conducted separate BCTs in Eastern Colorado and the south central San Luis Valley. Community partners included non-health professionals with diverse backgrounds, public health and primary care professionals, law enforcement, and others. The BCT process includes a comprehensive education on OUD and MAT and facilitated meetings and calls to develop messages and dissemination strategies. Each BCT lasted around 8-10 months. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The BCT process elicited unique contextual ideas and constructs for messages, materials, and dissemination strategies. Themes common to both BCTs include the prevalence of OUD and that help is available in the local primary care office. Community-tailored messages are distributed through posters and flyer inserts, drink coasters, newspaper articles, letters to local judges, restaurant placemats, and websites. Examples of the materials and messages will be presented. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Local community members are eager to help address the OUD crisis. Built on community-based participatory research principles, BCT can be used to translate complex information and guidelines around OUD and MAT into messages and materials that reflect local culture and community needs.

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