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. 2023 Apr 12;20(1):47.
doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00778-x.

Descriptive study: the novel "full spectrum people-with-opioid-use-disorder care model"

Richard Gadomski  1 , Snehal Bhatt  2 , Jessica Gross  2 , Juan Antonio Dixon  3 , Phillip Fiuty  3 , Max Shapiro  4 , Rafael Fernandez-Mancha  2 , Julie Salvador  2
Affiliations

Descriptive study: the novel "full spectrum people-with-opioid-use-disorder care model"

Richard Gadomski et al. Harm Reduct J. .

Abstract

Background: People with Opioid Use Disorder (PWOUD) represent an underserved and marginalized population for whom treatment gaps exist. Low-barrier programs like mobile care units and street outreach programs have yielded increased access to buprenorphine and social services, however, OUD pertinent co-occurring behavioral health and medical conditions are frequently left unaddressed. A novel, tailored, comprehensive care delivery model may reduce disparities and improve access to care across a range of pathologies in this historically difficult to reach population and enhance efforts to provide universal treatment access in a harm reduction setting.

Methods: Descriptive data were collected and analyzed regarding patient demographics, retention in treatment and services rendered at a new, wrap-around, low-barrier buprenorphine clinic established at an existing harm reduction site in New Mexico between August 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021.

Results: 203 people used any service at the newly implemented program, 137 of whom specifically obtained medical and/or behavioral health care services including prescriptions for buprenorphine at least once from the physician onsite. Thirty-seven unique medical and psychiatric conditions were treated, representing a total of 565 separate encounters. The most common service utilized was buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (81%), followed by treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (62%), anxiety (44.5%) and depression (40.9%). Retention in buprenorphine treatment was 31.2% at 6 months.

Conclusions: An innovative, multidisciplinary, buprenorphine-centric care model, which targets a wide range of OUD pertinent pathologies while employing a harm reduction approach, can enhance utilization of these services among an underserved PWOUD population in a manner which moves our health system toward universal OUD treatment access thereby potentially reducing overdose and existing disparities.

Keywords: Buprenorphine; Harm reduction; Low-barrier; Opioid use disorder; Overdose.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any financial competing interest or relationships to disclose.

Figures

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Fig. 1
n = 37
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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