Two Different Buprenorphine Treatment Settings With Similar Retention Rates: Implications for Expanding Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable need for effective and accessible treatment for opioid use disorder. AIMS: Our study explored differences in buprenorphine treatment retention and duration, with a focus on selected sociodemographic factors and treatment indicators, in two different settings: an office-based buprenorphine induction and stabilization clinic (OBIC) and a community-based primary care clinic (CPC). METHOD: This nonexperimental retrospective chart review compared demographic information and buprenorphine treatment details, including treatment retention and duration. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in buprenorphine treatment indicators between the OBIC and CPC groups, with two exceptions: the number of written buprenorphine prescriptions was significantly greater for the OBIC group, as was the number of filled buprenorphine prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: Given similar treatment retention and duration in two different buprenorphine treatment settings, our findings suggest that access to buprenorphine treatment in standard integrated care settings can be supplemented by novel treatment structures such as the OBIC in order to increase access to care during the current opioid epidemic.