Should Opioid Dependent Patients Receive Immediate Access to Medical Treatment?
New research supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found through a comparison of treatment approaches for opioid dependence that, in an emergency setting, combining the medication buprenorphine with on-going care is more effective than referring patients to centres for addiction, with or without a brief intervention.
The investigation showed that those who received buprenorphine over the course of up to 12 weeks, together with a brief initial intervention to discuss the dangers of substance abuse, were ultimately more like to seek follow-up addiction treatment and self-reported a decrease in illegal opioid use.
According to the authors, the study supports previous research that suggests opioid dependent patients may benefit from starting a course of medication immediately, while in the meantime awaiting more comprehensive treatment.
