Pathways to Care of Alcohol -Dependent Patients: An Exploratory Study From a Tertiary Care Substance Use Disorder Treatment Center

Objective: The current study aimed at comparison of retention rates for daily dispensing (DD) and alternate-day dispensing (AD) regimens for buprenorphine over a 1-year period at a tertiary care treatment center for management of substance use disorders. Additionally, it aimed at comparison of prescription refill proportions for these two buprenorphine dispensing regimens over a 1-year period.Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary level substance use disorder treatment center.Patients, participants: Case records of patients satisfying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria for opioid dependence syndrome were included in the study.Main outcome measures: Retention rates and prescription refill proportions were compared for the two buprenorphine dispensing regimens for different time intervals over a 52-week period.Results: Fifty-two subjects (45.61 percent) were started on DD regimen and 62 (54.38 percent) were put on AD regimen of buprenorphine. All subjects were opioid dependent. The two groups did not differ for prescription refill proportions as well as retention rates for any of the time intervals studied.Conclusion: The findings of the current study support feasibility and acceptance of alternate-day dosing strategy for buprenorphine dispensing for patients with opioid dependence.

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Designing an “Ideal” Substance Use Disorder Treatment Center: Perspectives of People Who Have Utilized Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732320971231 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 104973232097123

Author(s):

Barbara Andraka-Christou ◽

Olivia Randall-Kosich ◽

Rachel Totaram

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Harm Reduction ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Professional Education ◽

Opioid Use Disorder ◽

Treatment Center ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Substance Use Disorder Treatment ◽

History Of ◽

Disorder Treatment

Treatment preferences of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) have been underexplored, especially among those with a history of utilizing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Therefore, we sought to understand preferred characteristics of substance use disorder treatment centers among people recovering from OUD with a history of MOUD utilization. We recruited 30 individuals from eight states through snowball sampling initiated at three syringe exchange programs. Telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed in 2018–2019. Inductive thematic analysis in Dedoose software occurred iteratively with recruitment. The following were “ideal” treatment center themes: a menu of treatment options, including MOUD and nonspiritual peer support groups; an integrated system with multiple care levels (e.g., outpatient, residential); a harm reduction approach, including for goal setting and success measures; adjunctive support services (e.g., housing); and employees with recovery experience and professional education. Many preferences directly related to core principles of person-centered care and harm reduction.

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