Adapting a Low-threshold Buprenorphine Program for Vulnerable Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Journal
Journal of addiction medicine
ISSN: 1935-3227
Titre abrégé: J Addict Med
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101306759
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
pubmed:
13
11
2020
medline:
9
10
2021
entrez:
12
11
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To examine patient characteristics and outcomes among opioid use disorder patients enrolled in low-threshold buprenorphine treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes the adaptation of the Project Connections (PC) program, a low-threshold buprenorphine program in Baltimore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines patient characteristics and initial outcomes of patients served during a rapid protocol shift to telehealth that allowed buprenorphine initiation without an in-person encounter following a state-mandated stay-at-home order. Patient characteristics were compared to a subsample of patients enrolled in the program before the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, there was a sharp increase in new enrollments to the PC program. A total of 143 patients completed an intake assessment between March and May 2020 and 140 began treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. Those who completed an intake assessment were primarily male (68.5%), Black (83.2%), had a mean age of 43.2 years (SD = 11.7), and reported a mean of 17.0 years of opioid use (SD = 12.9). The majority of patients were unemployed (72.7%) and reported previous criminal justice involvement (69.2%). Of those who completed an intake assessment, 96.5% returned for a second visit. Among those for whom 30-day retention data was available (n = 113), 63.7% were engaged for 30 days or longer. The PC program illustrates that offering on-demand, flexible treatment is an opportunity to increase opioid use disorder treatment access, even during a public health emergency that disrupted access to services. Relaxation of buprenorphine telehealth regulations allowed for flexibility in treatment and benefits vulnerable populations.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33177436
pii: 01271255-202110000-00004
doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000774
pmc: PMC8489578
doi:
Substances chimiques
Buprenorphine
40D3SCR4GZ
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
364-369Subventions
Organisme : NIDA NIH HHS
ID : T32 DA007292
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
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