New research reveals that prescribing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) after hospitalization can be life-saving. Researchers analyzed data from 22,235 patients who had opioid use disorder-related hospital visits between January 2017 and December 2019.
Despite the potential benefits, only 1,184 patients, or 5%, received MOUD within seven days of their emergency department visit or hospitalization. Among these patients, almost 58% received buprenorphine, 39% received methadone, and nearly 4% received long-acting injectable naltrexone.
The study found a decrease in drug overdoses at six months for those prescribed buprenorphine, but not for patients given methadone. “This lack of association could be related to a small number of outcomes. However, it may also represent less effectiveness of methadone started in the hospital setting,” the researchers noted.
Although initiating MOUD was associated with lower odds of overdose at six months, no such association was observed at twelve months. Researchers suggest this might be due to the small sample size or the lack of long-term treatment.
“We only evaluated whether MOUD was obtained immediately after hospitalization, but patients were not followed up longitudinally to assess whether they continued receiving MOUD. Retention in treatment is a significant factor associated with decreased mortality,” the researchers explained.
The study authors urge emergency departments to consider implementing programs and protocols to offer MOUD to patients struggling with opioid addiction, emphasizing the potential to save lives through timely and sustained treatment.
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