Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, experts at Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI)—one of the largest systems in the U.S. for delivering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)—quickly realized the need for streamlining methadone delivery in their 10 opioid treatment programs (OTPs). They reasoned that a new age—and the COVID-19 era certainly qualifies—calls for out-of-the-box … [Read more...] about Mount Sinai Beth Israel Streamlines Procedures in COVID-19, Speeds Medication Delivery to OTP Patients
Two Studies Look at Effects of Relaxed COVID-19 Restrictions on OTPs—and Come Up With Different Answers
“No Home to Take Methadone to,” a story recently published on this website, investigated the effects of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on opioid treatment programs (OTPs). That story shows it’s essential to listen to what patients, not just providers, say about patients’ treatment experiences. It also shows that most participants found their experience with addiction service … [Read more...] about Two Studies Look at Effects of Relaxed COVID-19 Restrictions on OTPs—and Come Up With Different Answers
“No Home to Take Methadone to”: Study Reveals Inequities in Addiction Care
Key inequities in addiction care could be managed by correcting shortcomings uncovered in a recent qualitative study. The study was published in Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, and was conducted by researchers at Boston University and Boston Medical Center. It was drawn from a parent study, REpeated dose Behavioral intervention to reduce Opioid Overdose … [Read more...] about “No Home to Take Methadone to”: Study Reveals Inequities in Addiction Care
STUDY: OUD Disclosure Can Be Helpful, or Devastating; Study Participants Offer Advice
Stigma—negative beliefs and misperceptions, based on misinformation or lack of information—has long plagued people with opioid use disorders (OUDs), whether they’re in treatment or not. A new study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment highlights two troubling aspects of stigma: the reactions of others when people disclose their OUD history or current treatment, and the … [Read more...] about STUDY: OUD Disclosure Can Be Helpful, or Devastating; Study Participants Offer Advice
REVIEW ARTICLE: How Long Should OAT Last? A Month? A Year? Or…Forever?
The review article summarized here delves into a timely question: How long should treatment for opioid addiction last? The authors, Anjali Dhanda, MD, and Edwin Salsitz, MD, look at best practices for treatment duration, discuss factors affecting the ideal length of treatment, and cover some of the many barriers to treatment—barriers that lead many people to either avoid … [Read more...] about REVIEW ARTICLE: How Long Should OAT Last? A Month? A Year? Or…Forever?
